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Abstract Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in humans, yet the molecular basis of AF remains incompletely understood. To determine the cell type-specific transcriptional changes underlying AF, we perform single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) on left atrial (LA) samples from patients with AF and controls. From more than 175,000 nuclei we find that only cardiomyocytes (CMs) and macrophages (MΦs) have a significant number of differentially expressed genes in patients with AF. Attractin Like 1 (ATRNL1) was overexpressed in CMs among patients with AF and localized to the intercalated disks. Further, in both knockdown and overexpression experiments we identify a potent role for ATRNL1 in cell stress response, and in the modulation of the cardiac action potential. Finally, we detect an unexpected expression pattern for a leading AF candidate gene, KCNN3. In sum, we uncover a role for ATRNL1 which may serve as potential therapeutic target for this common arrhythmia.

Abstract Background Virtual Community of Practices (VCoP) simply is a method to use social media in extension, yet its roots depend on a combination of four concepts: community of practice, social media, social learning theory, and pluralistic extension. The technical action research design was followed to put the VCoP into action and explore its profile. This study aimed to introduce a community of practice using social network applications to policy makers in the agricultural sector. Methodology Action research was conducted to validate the use of a VCoP in the National Campaign of Wheat in Egypt. A baseline survey, a content analysis of VCoP conversations, and an assessment study were used to collect the data. The frequency, range, percentage, mean, and average score were used for statistical analysis. Results The VCoP reached 22.22% and 10.40% of the wheat farmers in the two target villages, respectively. A high degree of knowledge exchange was detected among members, while messages crossed the VCoP borders as friends were invited to join the group. The VCoP helped its members establish new relationships with other stakeholders, and they expressed their need to expand membership to include other stakeholders. The media used in the VCoP was satisfactory; however, the need for more video messages and internet links was expressed. Extension agents believe that the VCoP complements other extension methods. Farmers see greater potential for cooperation than conflict, while bias is minimal among research, extension, traders, and company agents. Conclusions Farmers and other service providers in a village can be aggregated in a VCoP. This approach has proven to be valid as an extension community method for generating and sharing information with high “reach”. Coordination and training are essential for running and managing groups. Yearly programs, rather than seasonal programs, are more suitable for sustainability.

Flipped classroom is a recent trend in educational technology that tends to improve students learning. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of flipped classroom on grade 9 students' critical thinking skills, psychological stress and academic achievement in four subjects: Science, Math, IT and English. Quasi-experimental method was used in this study with pretest- posttest design for quantitative data, and the thematic analysis approach for qualitative data. The respondents are 16 teachers and 385 students from 4 public male and female schools. The study was conducted during the second semester 2019. The video lessons that developed or selected from internet were presented on closed Facebook group per subject for students to view and prepare before coming to classroom session. Seven research tools were prepared: open questionnaire tool for teachers and six research tools for students were prepared and conducted twice for experimental and control groups: before and after flipped classroom implementation. The tools were critical thinking skills test, psychological stress questionnaire and academic achievement test per subject. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used. The flipped classroom implementation results in statistically significant difference at the level of significance ([alpha] <0.05) between controlled and experimental groups in favor of the latter one in critical thinking skills, Math achievement and psychological stress.

Background: Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (CME) is considered a multisystemic, life-threatening, rickettsial, and tick-borne disease that affects canine species and is caused by Ehrlichia canis (E. canis). Clinical signs of CME vary from asymptomatic to severe illness with three clinical phases. E. canis has the potential to infect humans. Aim: This this study aimed to provide recent information as there are limited data about the disease in Egypt. Therefore, this work was conducted to study the molecular prevalence of E. canis and evaluate the corresponding risk factors, hematology, biochemistry, and molecular characterization of the genus Ehrlichia and E. canis species among Egyptian dogs. Methods: One hundred eighty dogs of both sexes from 3 months to 8 years from different breeds: stray and foreign breeds were examined for clinical signs in all seasons in two delta governorates: El-Dakahlia and El-Gharbia. Blood samples were collected from dogs for microscopic and haemato-biochemical analysis, and then molecular characterization of the genus Ehrlichia and species-specific E. canis was performed, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results: Out of 180 samples examined by PCR assay, 42 (23.33%) were positive for the genus of Ehrlichia and the species-specific E. canis. Only twenty-four dogs (13.33%) were positive for PCR, infested with ticks, and showed fever, anemia, loss of body weight, pale mucous membrane of gum and conjunctiva, blindness, paralysis, hemoglobinuria, and Melena. The univariate logistic regression revealed that all variables, including age, season, tick infestation, hemorrhage from natural orifices, and ectoparasitic treatments per year, showed statistical significance (P≤ 0.05), except breed and sex, which also didn't exhibit any relation between CME infection in multivariate logistic regression. The presence of morulae inside leukocytes in 66 dogs out of the total examined 180 (36.67%), only 39 (59.1%) were positive for morulae and PCR-positive for E. canis. Dogs positive for E. canis suffered from anemia, severe thrombocytopenia, the absolute value of WBCs and their fractions, ALT, AST, ALKP, γ-GT, total. P, T.BIL, urea, globulin, and creatinine were significantly increased in dogs infected with E. canis when compared to those with negative PCR results, while the levels of albumin and A: G ratios were significantly decreased. Conclusion: The current study proves the existence of E. canis in El-Dakahlia and El-Gharbia governorates, and this is the first large-scale study concerning the epidemiological, clinicopathological examination, molecular characterization, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of reported from the center of the Delta of the Nile in Egypt. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(8.000): 1819-1835]

Abstract Background There is insufficient evidence recommending a framework material and a CAD/CAM manufacturing technique for mandibular implant-supported prostheses. The study objective was to evaluate the clinical application of different materials and construction techniques used for mandibular All-on-4 prosthesis on circumferential peri-implant bony changes after 5 years. Methods Thirty-six male patients with all-on-4 mandibular implant-supported prostheses were recalled and divided into three groups. Group PK (patients with frameworks milled from PEEK blocks), Group PSM (patients with frameworks milled from soft metal blocks), and Group SLM (patients with frameworks constructed with additive manufacturing; selective laser melting). The circumferential bone level on all implant faces was assessed with a CBCT. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare vertical bone loss (VBL) and horizontal bone loss (HBL) between different groups, implant positions, and observation times followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons. Results For all observation times, there was a significant difference in VBL between groups for both anterior and posterior implants (P

Abstract The drug efflux pump is a crucial mechanism implicated in resistance to multiple antimicrobials. Thymoquinone (TQ) has evidently demonstrated multiple activities, antibacterial being the most effective. Knowledge about TQ activity against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is very scarce. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate TQ resistance modulation in ciprofloxacin (CIP) and doxycycline (DO) multidrug-resistant S. aureus. Forty-seven samples were collected from different sources, and S. aureus was isolated and identified. Then, S. aureus resistance profiles to antimicrobials, N. sativa essential oil, and TQ; the correlation between TQ-MIC readings and disc diffusion; cartwheel and ethidium bromide (EtBr) accumulation assays; and norA gene expression were all described within silico molecular docking for TQ interactions with norA efflux pump protein. TQ-MICs ranged from 5–320 µg/ml. TQ down-regulated norA gene expression, resulting in a drop in efflux pump activity of 77.5–90.6% in the examined strains, comparable to that observed with verapamil. Exposure of S. aureus strains to CIP and DO raises the initial basal efflux pumping expression to 34.2 and 22.9 times, respectively. This induced efflux pumping overexpression was substantially reduced by 97.7% when TQ was combined with CIP or DO. There was a significant reduction of MICs of CIP and DO MICs by 2–15 and 2–4 folds, respectively, after treatment with 0.5XMIC-TQ in resistance modulation assays. These results refer to TQ ligand inhibitory interactions with NorA protein in molecular docking. Interpretations of inhibition zone diameters (IZDs) of disc diffusion and TQ-MICs exhibit independence of MICs from IZDs, as indicated by invalid linear regression analysis. TQ significantly reduced efflux pumping S. aureus induced by CIP and DO, but further investigations are needed to improve TQ-pharmacokinetics to restore CIP and DO activity and suppress fluoroquinolone and doxycycline-resistant S. aureus selection in clinical and animal settings.

Background This study aims to examine whether a communication skills course (Early Clinical Exposure–ECE) might support shaping medical students’ attitudes towards patient-centered care at Taibah University, Saudi Arabia. Attitudes were measured before and after the course using the Patient Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS), which assesses students’ orientation towards patient-centeredness. Methods This prospective observational study collected data at two points: the start of year two and the start of year four from the same cohort. The PPOS, divided into the sharing subscale (physician shares information, power, and control with the patient) and the caring subscale (physician considers the patient’s emotions, preferences, and expectations), was used to evaluate students’ attitudes. Mean scores were calculated, and independent sample t-tests were employed to assess statistical significance. Results Of the students targeted, 153 participated at year two (response rate = 93.5%) and 143 at year four (response rate = 89.5%). Significant progress was observed in the sharing subscale, with scores increasing from 3.23 ± 0.53 to 3.40 ± 0.60 (p = 0.015). However, the caring subscale exhibited a significant decline, with scores dropping from 4.06 ± 0.53 to 3.76 ± 0.68 (p < 0.001). As a result, there was no significant overall change in the total PPOS score (p = 0.282). Female students showed more progress in the sharing subscale than males. Conclusions The communication skills course might have had a positive impact on students’ attitudes towards sharing information in decision-making with patients, but notably, the medical students’ caring attitudes declined. This indicates a need for further emphasis on patient-centered communication, especially on the caring aspects, in the medical curriculum.

Identifying novel natural sources from the marine environment with unique immunomodulatory and antioxidant efficacies is of interest in intensive fish farming. In this sense, marine sponge extract derived from Smenospongia (SS-extract) was tested for its potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities during the concurrent infection with Trichodina sp. and Flavobacterium columnare in Nile tilapia. A total of 625 Nile tilapia fingerlings were distributed into five groups: the control group (with no additives) and four groups fed the control diet fortified with SS-extract at 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg, respectively, for 60 days. The parasitic challenge with Trichodina sp was done at the endpoint of the feeding trial and at 7 days post-infection (dpi); the fish were coinfected with F. columnare. A significant improvement in growth-related parameters of Nile tilapia was detected in the groups that received SS-extract at the levels of 150 and 200 mg/kg. The scavenging ability for free radicals (2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)) was maximized with higher SS-extract supplementation levels. Simultaneously, the antioxidant defense of the Nile tilapia fed 150 and 200 mg/kg was augmented with a decline in oxidation-associated indicators [reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA)]. The higher concentrations of SS-extract in the feed potentiated the immune response of Nile tilapia before infection and even after coinfection and was paralleled by a subsiding in the exaggerated inflammatory response after concurrent infection. Concurrently, the mRNA expression of autophagy-encountered genes (Atg5 and 12, LC3-II and BCLN1) had its highest expression in the fish fed the 200 mg/kg diet with the lowest expression of the mTOR gene in the same fish. The lowest infection intensity and rate and mucus score were displayed in fish fed 200 mg/kg SS-extract at 20 dpi. Interestingly, higher levels of SS-extract triggered antimicrobial peptides (upregulation of Hepcidin and β-defensin-1). In contrast, excessive expression of endoplasmic reticulum genes (atf4, JAK1, PERK, and eif2α) in the control infected group was downregulated by 200 mg/kg of SS-extract. The quantification of F. columnare indicated that columnaris coinfection severity displayed its lowest rate in the group supplemented with 200 mg/kg of SS-extract. In conclusion, a strategic siting based on fortification of the diet of Nile tilapia with SS-extract was elucidated to reinforce its immune and antioxidant defenses during a concurrent infection.

Hani Salem Atwa,1,2 Bhagath Kumar Potu,3 Raouf Abdelrahman Fadel,3,4 Abdelhalim Salem Deifalla,3,4 Ayesha Fatima,3 Manal Ahmed Othman,3 Nasir Abdul Latif Sarwani,3 Wael Amin Nasr El-Din3,4 1Medical Education Department, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain; 2Medical Education Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt; 3Anatomy Department, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain; 4Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, EgyptCorrespondence: Hani Salem Atwa, Medical Education Department, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, Tel +97335635809, Email hanysma@agu.edu.bhBackground: Formative assessment with feedback is part of the assessment program in medical education to improve students’ learning. Limited research has focused on its application and impact on practical anatomy education.Methods: This study aimed to examine medical students’ perceptions of formative assessment in practical anatomy sessions of body systems-based educational units and explore its influence on final practical exam performance. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. Data was collected from 173 Year 2 medical students through a survey that addressed their perception of process and importance of formative assessment and feedback. The survey employed a 5-point Likert scale. Two open-ended questions were appended at the end of the survey. Students’ performance in Unit 3 (where formative assessment was conducted) was compared to their performance in Unit 2 (where no formative assessment was conducted) and with the performance of the previous academic year’s students in Unit 3 (where no formative assessment was conducted). Descriptive statistics were used. The level of statistical significance was set at p-value < 0.05. Responses to open-ended questions (qualitative data) were counted, categorized as themes, and presented as frequencies and percentages.Results: The survey showed high internal consistency, and its validity was established through exploratory factor analysis. Results showed that the mean mark for the unit with formative assessment and feedback was significantly higher than for the units without formative assessment and feedback. Students showed positive perception of formative assessment and feedback conducted after practical anatomy sessions. They reported useful insights regarding the benefits they gained from formative assessment and feedback as well as constructive suggestions for future improvements.Conclusion: The study indicates that students positively perceived formative assessment and feedback sessions after practical anatomy sessions. Findings also refer to a positive effect of formative assessment on students’ performance in summative practical assessment in anatomy.Keywords: anatomy education, anatomy practical sessions, formative assessment, feedback, exam performance

Abstract Background To estimate the diagnostic utility of chest CT qualitative assessment and chest CT total severity score (TSS) to predict mortality in oncology patients with COVID-19 infection. Methods This retrospective study included 151 oncology patients with COVID-19 infection. 67, 84 were male and female, respectively. Their mean age (years) ± SD was 49.7 ± 14.9. Two radiologists individually reviewed the chest CT and scored the pulmonary abnormalities using TSS. Inter-observer agreement was determined using the Bland–Altman plot. Correlation between TSS and COVID-19 severity, complication, mortality, cancer status and effect in anticancer therapy plan was done. Results There was a statistically significant excellent agreement between the independent observers in quantitative pulmonary assessment using TSS with interclass correlation (ICC) > 0.9 (P

Aim: To investigate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on pain reduction in orthodontic patients during molar distalization. Materials and methods: Twenty patients requiring bilateral maxillary first molar distalization were randomly assigned to two groups: the intervention group (mean age 15.61 ± 1.03 years) received multiple LLLT after every activation of the distalizing appliance (immediately and on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days) and the control group (mean age 15.64 ± 1.08 years) who did not receive LLLT. Patients reported pain levels every day for 7 days following activation of the appliance using an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS), then the pain experience of both the intervention and control groups was compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The mean pain scores on the 1st day were higher in the intervention group (9.27 ± 1.01) compared to that of the control group (8.80 ± 1.03). However, the mean pain scores of the intervention group (6.55 ± 1.29, 4.00 ± 1.26, 2.55 ± 1.29, 0.91 ± 1.04, 0.00 ± 0.00 and 0.00 ± 0.00, respectively) were lower than the control group (7.40 ± 1.90, 5.60 ± 2.07, 4.20 ± 1.99, 2.80 ± 1.93, 1.60 ± 1.58 and 0.40 ± 0.84, respectively) from the 2nd to the 7th day. All the differences were not statistically significant except on the 6th day (P-value = 0.003). The peak pain level was experienced by both groups on the 1st day, followed by a statistically significant gradual decrease in pain levels. Patients in the intervention group reported a shorter overall duration of pain. Conclusion: Although LLLT, with the used parameters, reduced the overall duration of pain experience following maxillary first molar distalization, it was not effective during peak pain levels.

Background: Equine influenza (EI) is a transmissible viral respiratory sickness of the Equidae family. Two viruses, H7N7, and H3N8 caused EI, however, H7N7 has not been detected for decades. H3N8 has circulated and bifurcated into Eurasian and American lineages. The latter subsequently diversified into Kentucky, South America, and Florida sub-lineages. Florida clade 1 (FC1) and Florida clade 2 (FC2) strains are the only circulating equine influenza viruses in the meantime. Immunization is considered the major means for the prevention and control of EI infection. Using disparate technologies and platforms, several vaccines have been developed and commercialized. According to the recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), all commercial vaccines shall comprise representatives of both FC1 and FC2 strains. Unfortunately, most of the commercially available vaccines were not updated to incorporate a representative of FC2 strains. Aim: The purpose of this research was to develop a new EI vaccine candidate that incorporates the hemagglutinin (HA) antigen from the currently circulating FC2. Methods: In this study, we report the expression of the full-length recombinant HA gene of FC2 in the baculovirus expression system. Results: The HA recombinant protein has been proven to maintain its biological characteristics by hemadsorption and hemagglutination tests. Moreover, using a reference-specific serum, the specificity of the HA has been confirmed through the implementation of immunoperoxidase and western immunoblotting assays. Conclusion: In conclusion, we report the expression of specific biologically active recombinant HA of FC2, which would act as a foundation for the generation of an updated EI subunit or virus vector vaccine candidates. [Open Vet J 2024; 14(1.000): 350-359]

Abstract Background Intermittent fasting (IF) is a commonly used dietary practice that alternates between periods of unrestricted dietary consumption and abstinence from caloric intake. IF reduces caloric intake along with metabolic switch from utilization of glucose to fatty acids and ketones and resulting in reduction in adiposity and subsequently insulin resistance. Thus, it has been hypothesized that IF regimens can improve body composition in obese and overweight individuals. Aim To assess the effect of IF on lipid biokinetics in obese and overweight patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Patients and methods Thirty overweight or obese T2D patients were recruited from the diabetes outpatient clinics at the Specialized Medical Hospital, Mansoura University. Patients were subjected to time restricted fasting for 16 h (from dawn to sunset) during Ramadan. Anthropometric data were measured for participants before and 3 weeks after Ramadan fasting. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, lipid profile, leptin, beta hydroxybutyrate (βHB) and high sensitive CRP levels were measured 1 week before and 3 weeks after Ramadan fasting. Results 30 diabetic patients were recruited with a mean age of 54.3 ± 7.2 years. 24 (80%) were females. Obesity was diagnosed in 27 cases (90%). The median diabetes duration was 10 years. The study showed a statistically significant decrease in post-fasting body weight (BW), Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) & hip circumference (HC). There was a statistically significant decrease of post-fasting low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), Total cholesterol (TC), and leptin. The study also showed a statistically significant increase of post-fasting high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and βHB. No significant change was found in post-fasting levels of HbA1c, FPG, triglycerides (TG) or high sensitive CRP. Post-fasting leptin was positively correlated with post-fasting BW, BMI, WC, and HC. Post-fasting βHB was positively correlated with post-fasting TG, HbA1c, and LDL-C. Leptin levels change (pre vs post fasting) was positively correlated with the change in LDL-C levels. Conclusion IF reduced leptin and increased β-hydroxybutyrate levels. IF is an effective tool for losing weight and visceral fat and improving lipid profile in obese and overweight patients with T2D.

This research attempts to better understand how students in Saudi Arabia benefit from narrative and story aspects in gamified learning environments. Data from a sample of 500 persons with varying levels of education are analyzed using quantitative methods such as descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The findings point to strong positive correlations between the use of gamification in education, the influence of storytelling, narrative variables, and the acquisition of new skills. There has been a significant shift toward the use of narrative variables as measures of mastery in gamified classrooms. This study's results show that using gamified learning with story elements may increase students' interest, motivation, and knowledge retention. Efforts are now being made by Saudi Arabia to update its educational system and provide its youth with the tools they'll need to succeed in the country's emerging knowledge-based economy. The use of game-based learning and narrative-rich experiences has promising results in this setting.

Background: Neurogenic locus notch homology 4 (Notch-4) is crucial in maintaining stem cells. Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 (SATB-2) is a transcription factor that binds to the nuclear matrix and serves various functions, including brain development. Glutaminase-1 (GLS-1) plays a pivotal role in cancer cell metabolism, growth, and proliferation. This study aims to assess the expression of these markers in colorectal cancer, establishing correlations with clinicopathological characteristics and patient survival.Method: In this retrospective study, we retrieved and analyzed 68 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of primary colorectal adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified cases, and adjacent normal mucosa. Notch-4, SATB-2 and GLS-1 expressions were analyzed using immunohistochemistry at the Zagazig School of Medicine, Egypt.Results: High expressions of Notch-4 and GLS-1 and low expression of SATB-2 were observed in colonic adenocarcinoma but not in adjacent non-neoplastic mucosa (P < 0.001). High expressions of Notch-4 and GLS-1, along with low expression of SATB-2, were associated with a higher tumor grade, advanced stage (P < 0.001), lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and poor disease-free survival and overall survival rates (P < 0.001).Conclusion: High expression of Notch-4 and GLS-1 is correlated with a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer, while high expression of SATB-2 is associated with a favorable prognosis for colorectal carcinoma. These markers can aid in predicting tumor prognosis and guiding targeted therapy for colorectal carcinoma.

Eggs are a rich food source of proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. However, the egg industry faces some challenges such as microbial invasion due to environmental factors, leading to damage and reduced usability. Therefore, detecting the freshness of raw eggs using various technologies, including traditional and non-destructive methods, can overcome these challenges. As the traditional methods of assessing egg freshness are often subjective and time-consuming, modern non-destructive technologies, including near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, computer vision (color imaging), hyperspectral imaging, electronic noses, and nuclear magnetic resonance, have offered objective and rapid results to address these limitations. The current review summarizes and discusses the recent advances and developments in applying non-destructive technologies for detecting raw egg freshness. Some of these technologies such as NIR spectroscopy, computer vision, and hyperspectral imaging have achieved an accuracy of more than 96% in detecting egg freshness. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the current trends in the state-of-the-art non-destructive technologies recently utilized in detecting the freshness of raw eggs. This review can contribute significantly to the field of emerging technologies in this research track and pique the interests of both food scientists and industry professionals.

There is a lot of research on pathways students' transition to universities, however, little is known about those students' initial transition to the Academic Pathway Program (APP). This study investigated students' transition to an Academic Pathway Program (APP) offered at a College affiliated to a metropolitan university in Sydney, Australia. Data collected from a sample of students using the Transition, Wellbeing, Help-seeking, and Adjustments Survey (TWHAS) were analysed both descriptively and inferentially. Most students reported positive moods, emotional coping, and were able to seek help without many barriers. Also, most students reported adjusting positively to the College, despite facing a few personal and social challenges such as finding time to exercise, balance study with family commitments and socialise with friends outside the College. Further, a possible association between students' adjustments and their initial feelings when beginning the College, proficiency in written and spoken English, and help-seeking was noted. Additionally, differences in the students' transitional challenges, wellbeing, help-seeking behaviors, adjustments across gender, age, and type of enrollment were evident. The implications of these findings for supporting students' transition to the Academic Pathway Programs and recommendations for future research addressing the limited sample size are discussed.

Periodontitis is an inflammation-related condition, caused by an infectious microbiome and host defense that causes damage to periodontium. The natural processes of the mouth, like saliva production and eating, significantly diminish therapeutic medication residency in the region of periodontal disease. Furthermore, the complexity and diversity of pathological mechanisms make successful periodontitis treatment challenging. As a result, developing enhanced local drug delivery technologies and logical therapy procedures provides the foundation for effective periodontitis treatment. Being biocompatible, biodegradable, and easily administered to the periodontal tissues, hydrogels have sparked substantial an intense curiosity in the discipline of periodontal therapy. The primary objective of hydrogel research has changed in recent years to intelligent thermosensitive hydrogels, that involve local adjustable sol-gel transformations and regulate medication release in reaction to temperature, we present a thorough introduction to the creation and efficient construction of new intelligent thermosensitive hydrogels for periodontal regeneration. We also address cutting-edge smart hydrogel treatment options based on periodontitis pathophysiology. Furthermore, the problems and prospective study objectives are reviewed, with a focus on establishing effective hydrogel delivery methods and prospective clinical applications.

Accurate prediction of electricity generation from diverse renewable energy sources (RES) plays a pivotal role in optimizing power schedules within RES, contributing to the collective effort to combat climate change. While prior research often focused on individual energy sources in isolation, neglecting intricate interactions among multiple sources, this limitation frequently leads to inaccurate estimations of total power generation. In this study, we introduce a hybrid architecture designed to address these challenges, incorporating advanced artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. The hybrid model seamlessly integrates a gated recurrent unit (GRU) and a ResNext model, and it is tuned with the modified jaya algorithm (MJA) to capture localized correlations among different energy sources. Leveraging its nonlinear time-series properties, the model integrates meteorological conditions and specific energy source data. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA) is employed to extract linear time-series data characteristics for each energy source. Application of the proposed AI-infused approach to a renewable energy system demonstrates its effectiveness and feasibility in the context of climate change mitigation. Results reveal the superior accuracy of the hybrid framework compared to more complex models such as decision trees and ResNet. Specifically, our proposed method achieved remarkable performance, boasting the lowest error rates with a normalized RMSE of 6.51 and a normalized MAPE of 4.34 for solar photovoltaic (PV), highlighting its exceptional precision in terms of mean absolute errors. A detailed sensitivity analysis is carried out to evaluate the influence of every element in the hybrid framework, emphasizing the importance of energy correlation patterns. Comparative assessments underscore the increased accuracy and stability of the suggested AI-infused framework when compared to other methods.

IntroductionProblem-based learning (PBL) tutorials are recognized as an effective strategy for building clinical and research skills in modern-day medical education. Despite the wide adoption of this instructional strategy, worldwide research findings reported noticeable differences in the perceptions towards online versus face-to-face modes of PBL conduction among students and their tutors.MethodsThis cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University (CMMS-AGU), Kingdom of Bahrain, during the academic year 2022-2023. The study examined the differences in perceptions and preferences among students and tutors regarding online and face-to-face modes of PBL tutorials. The study also compared the performance of 3rd and 4th year medical students who were exposed to PBL tutorials through both modes.ResultsThe performance of students in tutorials in both modes revealed no statistically significant difference. The study found that tutors reported more positive perception toward the face-to-face mode compared to the online mode of conducting PBL tutorials than students, while students reported more positive perception toward the online mode compared to the face-to-face mode of conducting PBL tutorials than tutors. Several advantages and challenges of both modes were recounted by the students and tutors.ConclusionOur study concludes that students were in favor of the online mode of conducting PBL sessions, while tutors were in favor of the face-to-face mode. Comparable performance of students in PBL tutorials implies that the online mode of conducting PBL tutorials might be as effective as the face-to-face mode for meeting teaching objectives and students’ learning outcomes. The difference between perceptions of students and faculty can be attributed to multiple factors including generation difference, previous experiences, and digital literacy. It is recommended that faculty receive proper training for effectively adopting online modes of learning.

Abstract Background Patients and their families get stigmatized and socially excluded due to their fear of COVID-19, which exposes them to psychological discomfort, rage, depression, and anxiety. The purpose of this study was to assess the fear the Egyptian population had of COVID-19 and its risk factors during the pandemic. Methods In this study, 1002 Egyptian adults joined part via a cross-sectional online survey. The survey included questions related to sociodemographic and clinical data, the Health Belief Model (HBM), The Arabic Big Five Personality Inventory (ABFPI), and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Results Marriage status, rural residence, non-medical work, lack of satisfaction with personal information about COVID-19, high perceived severity, perceived benefits of social distance, and high scores of neuroticism significantly increased the risk of fear from COVID-19, while low perceived susceptibility and high conscientiousness were protective factors against the fear of covid-19. Conclusions Personality traits and health beliefs play an important role in COVID-19-related fear during the pandemic. These findings might help in the planning of prevention programs in the future.

Abstract Aim To assess the effect of parental and peer support on children's self‐esteem during the isolation period in COVID‐19‐infected children is the main objective of this study. Design This is a descriptive cross‐sectional study. One hundred ninety children with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID‐19 were included. Methods A survey questionnaire to assess family and children's demographic characteristics was used for this study. A 13‐item scale to assess parental support during the isolation period and a 10‐item scale to assess peers' support during the isolation period were evaluated. Along with it, a 10‐item scale to assess self‐esteem during the isolation period was also measured. Results Home isolation was associated with higher parental and peer support scores than hospital isolation. The mean age of study participants was 13.23 ± 4.05 years; 52.6% were isolated at home versus 47.4% in hospital isolation. Phone calling and WhatsApp/messenger chat were methods of communication for 44.2% and 33.2% of patients, respectively. 6.3% of them had no method of communication. Child self‐esteem was significantly affected by both parental and peer support during isolation. The increase in pronounced negative psychological effects such as disorientation, anger, low self‐esteem and post‐traumatic distress may be caused by a lack of parental care. No patient or public contribution to this study Patients or the general public were not involved in the design, analysis or interpretation of the data in this study. The study's aim and objectives were developed based on children's self‐esteem, which was limited by questionnaire data information, so the researchers completed demographic and disease‐related questionnaires by interviewing them.

This study investigates the geometrical and mechanical properties of two cassava varieties: ‘Newly Elected No. 48’ and ‘Jin Yue HRMUS’. We analyzed various properties, including width, length, geometric diameter, thickness, compression firmness, shape ratio, surface area, shear strength, rupture force, and shear rupture force (SRF), at different moisture content (MC) levels ranging from 35.0 to 80.0% wet basis. Our findings indicate that all mechanical properties of cassava (MPC) were significantly influenced by moisture content within this range. Specifically, as moisture content decreases, the compression rupture force (CRF) increases linearly in the vertical direction, while a quadratic relationship is observed in the horizontal direction, characterized by an initial increase followed by a decrease. Additionally, a quadratic relationship was established between moisture content and firmness. In contrast, shear fracture force and strength exhibited a quadratic relationship that decreased initially and then increased with rising moisture content. Furthermore, both compression and shear fracture forces were significantly higher in the vertical loading direction compared to the horizontal direction. Notably, the ‘Jin Yue HRMUS’ variety demonstrated greater mechanical strength than the ‘Newly Elected No. 48’. These findings provide valuable insights for developing, optimizing, and evaluating cassava harvesting and processing machinery.