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In this paper, two well-known topologies of proposed Double Sided Field Excited Linear Flux Switching Machine with Segmented Secondary (FELFSMSS) i.e. Dual Stator and Dual Mover are quantitatively compared with a valid decision of selecting Dual Stator FELFSMSS (DSFELFSMSS) based on low numerical values of detent force, thrust force ripples, and normal force, and high values of open circuit flux linkage, average thrust force, and thrust force density. In order to uplift overall thrust force profile of selected DSFELFSMSS at the rate of minimum thrust force ripple ratio, geometry based deterministic optimization and appropriate selection of AC and DC current density approach is adopted. Finally, a novel technique of auxiliary end tooth DC winding is applied to limit thrust force ripple ratio less than 10 percent.

Abstract Background This study’s purposes were to evaluate the impact of biological therapies on outcomes in patients with severe asthma (SA) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and to compare these effects among those with NP (CRSwNP) versus those without NP (CRSsNP) in the “real-world” setting in Saudi Arabian patients. Methods From March to September 2022, a retrospective observational cohort study was undertaken at the severe asthma clinics of the Armed Forces Hospital—Southern Region (AFHSR) and King Khalid University Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia, to delineate the effects of dupilumab therapy. Outcomes were assessed, including clinical outcomes, FEV1, and laboratory findings before and one year after dupilumab. Post-therapy effects were compared between CRSwNP and CRSsNP. Results Fifty subjects were enrolled, with a mean age of 46.56. There were 27 (54%) females and 23(46%) males. Significant improvements in clinical parameters (frequency of asthma exacerbations and hospitalizations, the use of OCs, anosmia, SNOTT-22, and the ACT), FEV1, and laboratory ones (serum IgE and eosinophilic count) were observed 6 and 12 months after using dupilumab (p

Abstract Background Hepatic cancer endures a major health scourge as the consequence of a high incidence of > 1 million cases by 2025. Plant-based products are typically effective in ameliorating health conditions. Pomegranate peel extract (PE) with its high polyphenolic content has anticancer effects against different types of cancer. Herein, we aimed to maximize the PE chemotherapeutic efficacy by loading it in a suitable delivery system to overcome the limitations of PE, to control its release and to achieve liver targeting. Method A nanoprecipitation procedure was adopted to incorporate PE into biodegradable and biocompatible natural polymeric zein (ZN)-based nanoparticles (NPs) (PE-ZN NPs). A full factorial design (22 × 31) was developed to study the effects of the formulation variables, namely pH of dispersion, PE-to-ZN ratio and surfactant concentration. Results The optimization revealed a surfactant-free stable PE-ZN NPs formula with a small particle size of 99.5 ± 6.43 nm, high PE encapsulation efficiency % of 99.31% ± 3.64 (w/w) and controlled release of PE over 24 h. Conclusion Moreover, the cytotoxicity of the optimum formula against hepatic cancer HepG2 cell lines was assessed and attained about a 2.5-fold reduction in the inhibitory concentration (IC50) values compared to the free PE affording a promising green platform to combat hepatic cancer. Graphical abstract

Abstract Background Coconut oil, a natural component abundant in terpenoids, possesses various physiological functions. The global concern over the spread of viral infections and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and fungi has highlighted the need for novel treatments. Coconut oil, with its known antimicrobial properties, presents an attractive candidate for combating these pathogens. This study aims to investigate the potential of coconut oil-loaded silica nanoemulsion (ON@SiO2) as a novel therapeutic agent against viral, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, and fungal pathogens. Results The study synthesized coconut oil-loaded silica nanoemulsion (ON@SiO2) using an eco-friendly, cost-effective method with native coconut oil (CO). Characterization confirmed successful synthesis on the nanoscale with good distribution. Three nanoemulsion samples (ON-1@SiO2, ON-2@SiO2, and ON-3@SiO2) were prepared, with average particle sizes of 193 nm, 200 nm, and 325 nm, respectively. Evaluation of cytotoxicity on Vero-E6 cell lines indicated safety of ON-0@SiO2 and ON-3@SiO2, with CC50 values of 97.5 mg/ml and 89.1 mg/ml, respectively. ON-3@SiO2 demonstrated anti-Herpes I and II (HSV1 and HSV2) activity, with IC50 values of 1.9 mg/ml and 2.1 mg/ml, respectively. Additionally, ON-3@SiO2 exhibited promising antibacterial activity against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and B. subtilis, with MIC values of 25 mg/ml, 12.5 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, and 3.12 mg/ml, respectively. Conclusions ON-3@SiO2 showed potential antifungal activity against C. albicans, a unicellular fungus, with an MIC of 12.5 mg/ml. Overall, ON@SiO2 possesses antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the potential anti-fibrotic activity of vinpocetine in an experimental model of pulmonary fibrosis by bleomycin and in the MRC-5 cell line. Pulmonary fibrosis was induced in BALB/c mice by oropharyngeal aspiration of a single dose of bleomycin (5 mg/kg). The remaining induced animals received a daily dose of pirfenidone (as a standard anti-fibrotic drug) (300 mg/kg/PO) and vinpocetine (20 mg/kg/PO) on day 7 of the induction till the end of the experiment (day 21). The results of the experiment revealed that vinpocetine managed to alleviate the fibrotic endpoints by statistically improving (P ≤ 0.05) the weight index, histopathological score, reduced expression of fibrotic-related proteins in immune-stained lung sections, as well as fibrotic markers measured in serum samples. It also alleviated tissue levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory and pro-fibrotic mediators significantly elevated in bleomycin-only induced animals (P ≤ 0.05). Vinpocetine managed to express a remarkable attenuating effect in pulmonary fibrosis both in vivo and in vitro either directly by interfering with the classical TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway or indirectly by upregulating the expression of Nrf2 enhancing the antioxidant system, activating PPAR-γ and downregulating the NLRP3/NF-κB pathway making it a candidate for further clinical investigation in cases of pulmonary fibrosis.

Abstract This study aimed to assess the influence of pollution on the quality of sediments and the risks associated with El-Qusier and Safaga Cities, Red Sea, Egypt, during 2021, divided into four sectors, using multiple pollution indices. To achieve that, we evaluated the metal pollution index (MPI), contamination factor (Cf), pollution load index (PLI), contamination security index (CSI), and anthropogenicity (Anp%). Moreover, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks are used for human health hazards. Results indicated that Mn and Fe recorded the highest concentrations, whereas Cd had the lowest. El-Quseir City sediments were found the following metal ions: Fe > Mn > Ni > Zn > Cu > Co > Pb > Cd, where the order in the Safaga City was: Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > Cd. MPI > 1, this is alarming in the study area due to heavy metal pollution. In addition, C f HI dermal. CSR for different pathways was recorded as dermal > ingestion, in which total CSR for all paths is considered harmful, and the cancer risk is troublesome and higher than the reference ranges of 1 × 10–6–1 × 10–4. In conclusion, the examined heavy metals provide environmental hazards across the assessed locations.

Economic Dispatch (ED) in Combined Heat and Power Systems (CHPSs) is critical for optimising fuel costs while managing Power-Only (PO), CHP, and Heat-Only (HO) stations. Robust optimisation strategies are necessary to tackle the growing non-convexity of the ED issue, particularly when considering transmission losses. This research introduces a Modified Artificial Hummingbird Optimisation Algorithm (MAHOA) that integrates a linear controlling strategy and various territorial foraging tactics to enhance global and local search capabilities. These enhancements facilitate coordinated diversification and intensification activities, leading to more effective problem-solving. The MAHOA is compared to the conventional AHOA through testing on 7-station and 24-station CHPS systems. Three distinct power and heat loading levels are investigated. For the 7-station CHPS, the MAHOA showed significant improvements in robustness, with the lowest standard deviations of 0.0017, 3.373, and 0.0233 $/hr, indicating 99.83 %, 35.92 %, and 98.22 % improvements over the AHOA. For the 24-station CHPS, it also shows significant improvements of 0.381 %, 0.45 %, 0.448 %, and 2.815 % in terms of mean, minimum, standard deviation, and maximum values. The MAHOA outperforms the AHOA in 95 % of the simulation runs with faster convergence to optimal solutions. Compared to other methods reported in the literature, the MAHOA offers a viable and superior solution mechanism.

Abstract Background The inferior turbinate is located in the inferior part of the nose, and contribute to the nasal valve formation. Inferior turbinate hypertrophy causes chronic nasal obstruction. Aim We aimed to assess the effectiveness of coblation-assisted reduction of the inferior turbinate hypertrophy using a specially designed coblator probe. Additionally, this study aimed to compare this technique with traditional surgical partial turbinectomy as the control arm and follow up with patients to identify potential complications. Methods This study involved 40 patients with nasal obstruction, those patients attended the Otorhinolaryngology Department of Al Azhar University Hospital in Assiut and diagnosed with enlarged inferior turbinate that did not respond to medical treatment. Also, Pre- and post-operative CT scanning was performed to objectively evaluate the improvement. Results Coblation group has more advantages over the traditional group like less operative time, less intraoperative blood loss, less post-op pain, less post-op nasal crusts, early return to daily activity (P value

Christopher S Ahmad,1 Justin E Hellwinkel,1 Rifat Ahmed,1 Frank J Alexander,1 Alan W Reynolds,1 Dana P Piasecki,2,3 Thomas S Bottiglieri,1 T Sean Lynch,1 Charles A Popkin,1 Bryan M Saltzman,2,3 David P Trofa1 1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA; 2Sports Medicine Center, OrthoCarolina, Charlotte, NC, 28207, USA; 3Musculoskeletal Institute, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, 28207, USACorrespondence: David P Trofa, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 622 West 168 St, PH-11, New York, NY, 10032, Email dpt2103@cumc.columbia.eduObjective: Social distancing protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in premature ending of athletic seasons and cancellation of upcoming seasons, placing significant stress on young athletes. Inability to play or forced early retirement has significant consequences on athlete’s mental health, as demonstrated by an extensive body of injury literature. We hypothesize that premature suspension and cancellation of athletic events due to the COVID-19 pandemic leads to higher incidence of depressive symptoms among high-school and collegiate athletes. Further, athletes who strongly derive their sense of self-worth centered around athletics would have higher rates of depressive symptoms.Methods: High school and collegiate athletes were evaluated for depressive symptoms, emotional health and athletic identity measures through validated assessment instruments from May 2020 through July 2020. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression Computer Adaptive Test (PROMIS-10 Depression CAT), Veterans RAND-12 (VR-12), which comprises both a physical and mental health component, and Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) were utilized.Results: Mental health assessments were completed by 515 athletes (52.4% male, 47.6% female; .84.5% collegiate, 15.5% high school). Female athletes scored significantly worse than males on VR-12 mental health assessments, as well as PROMIS-10 Depression scores; however, males scored significantly lower than females on VR-12 physical health assessments, irrespective of education level. Athletes who had strong associations with athletics as central to their personal identity exhibited worse psychologic impact on VR-12 mental health and PROMIS-10 Depression measures and female athletes in this cohort reported greater depressive symptoms than males.Conclusion: Social distancing protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic have limited athlete’s ability to participate in sports at the training and competition level. Higher rates of depressive symptoms in high school and college athletes have resulted among female athletes and those who identify strongly as an athlete.Keywords: COVID-19, mental health, return to play, involuntary retirement, psychological impact, depression

Abstract In the present study, Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from Tilapia zillii and Mugil cephalus samples collected during different seasons from various Suez Canal areas in Egypt. The prevalence of A. hydrophila, virulence genes, and antibiotic resistance profile of the isolates to the commonly used antibiotics in aquaculture were investigated to identify multiple drug resistance (MDR) and extensive drug-resistant (XDR) strains. In addition, a pathogenicity test was conducted using A. hydrophila, which was isolated and selected based on the prevalence of virulence and resistance genes, and morbidity of natural infected fish. The results revealed that A. hydrophila was isolated from 38 of the 120 collected fish samples (31.6%) and confirmed phenotypically and biochemically. Several virulence genes were detected in retrieved A. hydrophila isolates, including aerolysin aerA (57.9%), ser (28.9%), alt (26.3%), ast (13.1%), act (7.9%), hlyA (7.9%), and nuc (18.4%). Detection of antibiotic-resistant genes revealed that all isolates were positive for bla pse1 (100%), bla SHV (42.1%), tetA (60.5%), and sul1 (42.1%). 63.1% of recovered isolates were considered MDR, while 28.9% of recovered isolates were considered XDR. Some isolates harbor both virulence and MDR genes; the highest percentage carried 11, followed by isolates harboring 9 virulence and resistance genes. It could be concluded that the high prevalence of A. hydrophila in aquaculture species and their diverse antibiotic resistance and virulence genes suggest the high risk of Aeromonas infection and could have important implications for aquaculture and public health.

Understanding how different livestock species and breeds respond to consumption of brackish water could improve usage of this resource. Therefore, Angora, Boer, and Spanish goat doelings and Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix ewe lambs (6 animals per animal type [AT]; initial age = 296 ± 2.1 days) consuming water with varying concentrations of minerals of a natural brackish water source (BR) and sodium chloride (NaCl; SL) were used to determine effects on water and feed intake, nutrient digestion, heat energy, methane emission, ruminal fluid conditions, and blood constituent concentrations. There were 6 simultaneous 6 (water treatments [WT]) × 6 (AT) Latin squares with 3-wk periods. The WT were fresh (FR), BR alone (100-BR), a similar total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration as 100-BR via NaCl addition to FR (100-SL), BR with concentrations of all minerals increased by approximately 50% (150-BR), a similar TDS level as 150-BR by NaCl addition to FR (150-SL), and a similar 150 TDS level achieved by addition of a 1:1 mixture of BR minerals and NaCl to 100-BR (150-BR/SL). Concentrations (mg/kg) in BR were 4928 TDS, 85.9 bicarbonate, 224.9 calcium, 1175 chloride, 60.5 magnesium, 4.59 potassium, 1387 sodium, 1962 sulfate, and 8.3 boron, and TDS in other WT were 209, 5684, 7508, 8309, and 7319 mg/kg for FR, 100-SL, 150-BR, 150-SL, and 150-BR/SL, respectively. There were very few significant effects of WT or AT × WT interactions, although AT had numerous effects. Water intake was affected by AT (P = 0.02) and WT (P = 0.04), with greater water intake for 150-SL than for FR, 100-BR, 100-SL, and 150-BR. Dry matter intake among AT was lowest (P

Abstract A novel hybrid ternary metallic electrocatalyst of amorphous Mo/Co oxides and crystallized Cu metal was deposited over Ni foam using a one-pot, simple, and scalable solvothermal technique. The chemical structure of the prepared ternary electrocatalyst was systematically characterized and confirmed via XRD, FTIR, EDS, and XPS analysis techniques. FESEM images of (Mo/Co)Ox–Cu@NF display the formation of 3D hierarchical structure with a particle size range of 3–5 µm. The developed (Mo/Co)Ox–Cu@NF ternary electrocatalyst exhibits the maximum activity with 188 mV and 410 mV overpotentials at 50 mA cm−2 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results for the (Mo/Co)Ox–Cu@NF sample demonstrate the minimum charge transfer resistance (Rct) and maximum constant phase element (CPE) values. A two-electrode cell based on the ternary electrocatalyst just needs a voltage of about 1.86 V at 50 mA cm−2 for overall water splitting (OWS). The electrocatalyst shows satisfactory durability during the OWS for 24 h at 10 mA cm−2 with an increase of only 33 mV in the cell potential.

Abstract Background Although pulmonary artery banding (PAB) has been generally acknowledged as an initial palliative treatment for patients having single ventricle (SV) physiology and unrestrictive pulmonary blood flow (UPBF), it may result in unfavorable outcomes. Performing bidirectional Glenn (BDG) surgery without initial PAB in some selected cases may avoid the complications associated with PAB and reduce the number of operative procedures for these patients. This research aimed to assess the outcome of BDG surgery performed directly without doing initial PAB in patients with SV-UPBF. Methods This Multicenter retrospective cohort includes all patients with SV-UPBF who had BDG surgery. Patients were separated into two groups. Patients in Group 1 included patients who survived till they received BDG (20 Patients) after initial PAB (28 patients), whereas patients in Group 2 got direct BDG surgery without first performing PAB (16 patients). Cardiac catheterization was done for all patients before BDG surgery. Patients with indexed pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRi) ≥ 5 WU.m2 at baseline or > 3 WU.m2 after vasoreactivity testing were excluded. Results Compared with patients who had direct BDG surgery, PAB patients had a higher cumulative mortality rate (32% vs. 0%, P = 0.016), with eight deaths after PAB and one mortality after BDG. There were no statistically significant differences between the patient groups who underwent BDG surgery regarding pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary artery pressure, postoperative usage of sildenafil or nitric oxide, intensive care unit stay, or hospital stay after BDG surgery. However, the cumulative durations in the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital were more prolonged in patients with BDG after PAB (P = 0.003, P = 0.001respectively). Conclusion Direct BDG surgery without the first PAB is related to improved survival and shorter hospital stays in some selected SV-UPBF patients.

Work-life balance has gained increasing popularity among scholars and practitioners since the beginning of the century. Despite significant attempts to consolidate this burgeoning field, the scholarly knowledge on work-life balance research remains fragmented and detached due to extant number of publications in the area and the mostly subjective approaches used to encapsulate the literature. As such, the current study presents an objective overview of work-life balance research between 2000 and 2020. Using bibliometric techniques, the authors examined 1190 articles indexed in Scopus database to identify the conceptual structure and current dynamics in the field. During the critical period between the reconceptualization of word-life balance and the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, the findings reveal that the field was growing exponentially as a multidisciplinary research area. Most of the scholarly work originated in the US, UK, and Australia with a ''locally-centralized-globally-discrete'' collaboration pattern among scholars. The most relevant and developed research themes included, in addition to work-life balance, topics related to gender and family life. Furthermore, new emerging research directions had evolved beyond the traditional constructs including job security, flexible working hours, individual productivity, and work-life conflicts. The study contributes to the current knowledge on work-life balance by providing critical insights into the evolution of the field and offers potential avenues for scholars who are interested in this critical research domain and the changes it has experienced post pandemic.

This article introduces an innovative application of the Enhanced Gorilla Troops Algorithm (EGTA) in addressing engineering challenges related to the allocation of Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitors (TCSC) in power grids. Drawing inspiration from gorilla group behaviors, EGTA incorporates various methods, such as relocation to new areas, movement towards other gorillas, migration to specific locations, following the silverback, and engaging in competitive interactions for adult females. Enhancements to EGTA involve support for the exploitation and the exploration, respectively, through two additional strategies of periodic Tangent Flight Operator (TFO), and Fitness-based Crossover Strategy (FCS). The paper initially evaluates the effectiveness of EGTA by comparing it to the original GTA using numerical CEC 2017 single-objective benchmarks. Additionally, various recent optimizers are scrutinized. Subsequently, the suitability of the proposed EGTA for the allocation of TCSC apparatuses in transmission power systems is assessed through simulations on two IEEE power grids of 30 and 57 buses, employing various TCSC apparatus quantities. A comprehensive comparison is conducted between EGTA, GTA, and several other prevalent techniques in the literature for all applications. According to the average attained losses, the presented EGTA displays notable reductions in power losses for both the first and second systems when compared to the original GTA. Specifically, for the first system, the proposed EGTA achieves reductions of 1.659 %, 2.545 %, and 4.6 % when optimizing one, two, and three TCSC apparatuses, respectively. Similarly, in the second system, the suggested EGTA achieves reductions of 6.096 %, 7.107 %, and 4.62 %, respectively, when compared to the original GTA's findings considering one, two, and three TCSC apparatuses. The findings underscore the superior effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed EGTA over both the original GTA and several other contemporary systems.