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Online distance learning policies were formulated and implemented among some Malaysian universities long ago, but their value emerged since COVID-19. Emanating from the diffusion of innovation theory, this study examined the perception of higher education students on the influence and relationship between six independent variables (compatibility, observability, relative advantage, complexity, trialability, and digital skills) and one dependent variable (digital literacy). A total of 524 respondents were sampled, comprising students from six public and private Malaysian universities. The findings from the correlation analysis show a significant positive relationship between the six independent variables and the dependent variable. Meanwhile, in the regression analysis, three of the independent variables (observability, trialability, and digital skill) have a significant and positive effect on digital literacy. This study placed the diffusion of innovation in a specific context that supports designing online distance learning and digital literacy policies.

The imperative advancement of gamma-ray shielding materials is pivotal for ensuring radioactive and nuclear safety. In this study, our objective was to ascertain key gamma ray shielding parameters, including the mass attenuation coefficient (μm), effective atomic number (Zeff), half-value layer (HVL), effective electronic density (Neff), mean free path (MFP), and exposure buildup factor (EBF), for four oxyanion complexes (CaMoO4, PbCrO4, PbMoO4, or CaWO4). These calculations were performed using Phy-X software within the photon interaction range of 0.015-15 MeV. The investigated ternary chromate, tungstate, and molybdate complexes with the molecular formula ABO4, where A = Ca or Pb and B = Mo, Cr, or W, exhibited an exponential decrease in μm with increasing photon energy in the low-energy region. Lead molybdate demonstrated the highest μm followed by PbCrO4, CaWO4, and CaMoO4, correlating with their respective mean atomic numbers and densities. The mean free path values followed the order of PbMoO4, PbCrO4, CaWO4, and CaMoO4, indicating superior shielding properties due to effective medium-photon interactions. The HVL increased with rising photon energy, with the minimum HVL observed in the presence of lead, primarily attributed to the photoelectric effect. Zeff exhibited a decrease with diminishing mean atomic number and density, with PbMoO4 displaying the highest Zeff, signifying superior γ-ray shielding capability. The exposure buildup factor (EBF) highlighted the interference of photons by calcium compared to lead compounds. The controlled parameters at low and high energy exposures were attributed to the anion and cation properties of the ternary ABO4, respectively. Among the evaluated materials, PbMoO4 emerged as the most effective gamma shielding material in the context of nuclear safety.

Breast cancer, the most frequent disease in women worldwide, represents a significant public health concern on a global scale. Breast cancer was the most frequent type of cancer among Iraqi women in 2018, accounting for the highest percentage of malignant tumors in women. Breast cancer is a set of physiological and molecular heterogeneous diseases that begin in the breast. Advanced breast cancer with distant organ metastases is considered incurable with current therapies. Aside from new treatment improvements, the next global challenge in breast cancer care is equal worldwide access to therapeutic advances. The incidence of breast cancer continues to rise in every part of the world. Despite advances in its identification and treatment, which have resulted in lower mortality rates, it appears vital to seek out new therapeutic approaches, predictive and prognostic indicators. The article provides a literature review of breast carcinoma, a condition that affects women worldwide. As a result, women should be aware of the disease's course, the importance of regular screenings for early detection of breast cancer, and the best treatment options.

AbstractObjectives The present study aimed to calculate the estimated size and confidence interval for the effects of adding visual aid to counselling on anxiety, stress and fear of patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The secondary aim was to calculate confidence interval for endoscopy-related variables that predict which patients are likely to benefit from visual aids.Method In a randomized, single-blind, two arm, parallel group, superiority trial, 232 consecutive patients who were scheduled to undergo either gastroscopy or colonoscopy were randomly divided into two intervention groups; counselling with video of endoscopic procedure and counselling with no-video (n = 116 in each group). Primary outcome was anxiety and secondary outcomes were stress and fear.Results One-way ANCOVA showed that there was significant between group differences of anxiety, stress and fear after controlling for the effect of covariates. Planned contrasts revealed that counselling along with visual aid of endoscopy procedure significantly decreased anxiety [Mean difference at post; −4.26 (−4.47, −4.05), p < .001, partial η2 = 0.88], stress [−5.35 (−5.63, −5.07), p < .001, partial η2 = 0.86] and fear [−2.82 (−2.97, −2.67), p < .001, partial η2 = 0.86] compared to counselling alone. Linear regression showed that gender, nature of complaints and concern over seniority of endoscopist were significant negative predictors, however, satisfaction on briefing of endoscopy procedure was significant positive predictor of outcome variables in visual aid condition.Conclusion The increase in anxiety, acute stress and fear related to endoscopic procedures can be alleviated with psychological counselling coupled with visual aids before the procedure. Visual aid could lead to supplementary benefits in reducing anxiety scores.Trial Registration ClinicalTrial.gov Number: NCT05241158. Registered 16/11/2022; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05241158KEY MESSAGESCounselling along with visual aid of endoscopy procedure significantly decreased anxiety, stress and fear as compared to counselling alone.Male patients were less stressed after visual aid intervention as compared to female patients. Patients who had chronic GI symptoms were less stressed after visual aid intervention as compared to those who had acute GI symptoms. Patients who had concern over seniority of endoscopist were less stressed after visual aid intervention as compared to those who had no concerns over seniority.Satisfaction on briefing of endoscopy procedure was significant positive predictor of stress and fear.

This study aimed to examine the relationships between facilitating writing anxiety (FWA), debilitating writing anxiety (DWA), mastery-approach goal (MAG), performance-approach goal (APPG) and performance-avoidance goal (AVOG). In total, 300 Iraqi undergraduate students participated in the study. A quantitative approach was applied in particular correlational design. Two questionnaires were utilized for data collection: The Second Language Writing Anxiety Inventory (SLWAI) and Achievement Goal Questionnaire (AGQ). The results of the study indicated that some students showed a high rate of debilitating anxiety, which led them to pursue performance-avoidance goal. Yet, the two factors of performance-avoidance goal and debilitating writing anxiety were negatively associated with the set of the three factors: mastery-approach goal, performance-approach goal and facilitating writing anxiety. Conversely, there were positive relationships between mastery-approach goal, performance-approach goal and facilitating writing anxiety. In the light of these findings, this study proposes that EFL learners need to consider the affective factors of debilitating anxiety and performance avoidance goal that are likely to undermine their confidence and motivation which may lead them to a maladaptive behavior.

Introduction: The study discusses the uneven impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across various demographic groups in the US, focusing on Boone County, Missouri. The aim is to identify any correlation between factors such as gender, age, ethnicity, and religious beliefs with COVID-19 infection rates over a span of 22 months (from March 15, 2020, to December 2, 2021). Methods: The research methodology involves time trend analysis graphs for each demographic group, benchmarked against significant events like vaccine launches, the introduction of the delta variant, vaccine boosters, and the arrival of the omicron variant. Results: Preliminary findings suggest that males and certain racial groups, including Black or African Americans and the “All-Other” category, exhibit higher COVID-19 positivity rates throughout these defined periods. The study also delves into unique patterns among demographic groups during various phases of the pandemic. Conclusion: Our results supported the hypothesis that males and minority races such as Black or African Americans and All-Other are more likely to have a higher COVID-19 positivity rate across our defined epochs.

Background and Objective: Healthy kidneys filter wastes of various molecular masses (up to 40-60 kDa). Traditional hemodialysis only removes low-molecular-weight molecules (500 Da), not middle-weight substances (>500 Da). Therefore, most of these compounds remain as expected uremic toxins. Therefore, this study aims to determine the association of Hepcidin and anemia with inflammatory markers in dialysis cases on high flux hemodialysis (HD) compared with hemodiafiltration (HDF). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 203 patients in the age range of 20-70 years old with end-stage kidney disease who were undergoing hemodialysis using high flux and hemodiafiltration methods. Venous blood samples were taken without anticoagulation and ferritin, CRP and hepcidin levels were analyzed and compared. Findings: This study involved 203 cases with end-stage renal disease, with 103 in the HD group and 100 in the HDF group. The mean age of the cases was 49.5±15.5 years. Among the patients in the HD group, 79.9% had hypertension, while only 23% of the patients in the HDF group had hypertension. Additionally, 35.9% of the cases in the HD group had diabetes mellitus (DM), while 75% of the cases in the HDF group had DM. There were significant differences between the mean number of white blood cells (8.27±7.95 vs. 6.20±4.14), CRP (13.88±17.45 vs. 6.48±10.40) and hepcidin (2981.47±2325.38 vs. 1010.45±1136.18) between the groups (p

The research aims to demonstrate the impact associated with the adoption of the application of "International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)" on audit fees, by identifying the theoretical aspects of the concepts associated with each of the international financial reporting standards and audit fees, as well as indicating the extent of the impact of the adoption of "International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) IFRS) "in preparing the financial statements of companies to determine audit fees and study some of the factors related to that, and the researchers relied on two factors, the first is the size of the audit office and the second is the size of the company under audit, and in order to achieve the goals sought by the research, the researchers have conducted a field study through A questionnaire form to express the opinions of a sample of a group of Iraqi auditing offices and companies in determining the impact associated with the application of "International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)" on auditing fees. The researchers reached a set of conclusions, the most important of which is that "the application of international financial reporting standards" in the preparation of financial statements and related matters led to an increase in the fees of the audit process through a set of procedures and requirements that accompany the process of auditing the financial statements that are used according to the standards. The researchers need to involve auditors and accountants in specialized training courses, as well as their involvement in workshops related to international financial reporting standards and the requirements for their application, as well as the need for audit offices and companies to work to increase the expertise necessary to implement international financial reporting standards in order to overcome any weaknesses that may occur in the reports and information provided. required by international financial reporting standards.

Article accepted. The article will be published here soon. Pending final quality checks.

In this work, argon flow within different microchannels with square cross-section is simulated by the molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) method. The first simulation is done within ideal microchannel and then, internal surfaces of this microchannel are roughened by cone, cubic and spherical barriers respectively to report influences of roughness with different geometries on the distribution of fluid flows. It is reported that cone and spherical geometry of barriers do not strongly affect flow characteristics of argon fluid within the microchannel, while the cubic geometry of barriers delays density distribution of argon flow in the middle region of the microchannel due to their destructive role against translocation of fluid particles between lateral and central layers of the microchannel. For the density results, it is reported that two physical phenomenon of thermal and external energies play important roles on the distribution of fluid particles in different sections of microchannel due to their different applying directions. Moreover, it is observed that the temperature profile of fluid flow within microchannel with cubic barriers touched a maximum temperature of 420 K at the central layers which are in the highest temperature level among all cases studied. Results of this study are applicable for practical application in small scale designs such as medical probes to inject destructive fluid for destroying tumors in cold surgeries.

Purpose:This study examines the impact of liquidity, cash flow operations, and cash holding on a firm’s profitability, with a moderating role of net working capital.The trade-off and pecking order theories are studied to formulate hypotheses to test the explanatory variables that affect a firm’s profitability of companies in Pakistan Stock Market. Methodology:The quantitative approach was used in this study and the panel data of selected companies were extracted from the Osiris database from 2009 to 2018. Findings:The results show a significant positive connection between liquidity, cash flow operations, cash holdings, net working capital and ROA. As a result, the study’s model was accepted, explaining that liquidity, cash holdings, and cash flow operations positively and significantly affect the ROA. Implications/Originality/Value:Limited evidence is available regarding the impact of net working capital on the affiliation between cash holding and profitability within the Pakistan Stock Market. The present study endeavors to address the above gap by investigating the moderating impact of net working capital on the association between selected factors of cash holding and profitability.

Desiccant systems, as a promising air conditioning technology have opened new aspects as a replacement for vapor compression systems. The liquid desiccant energy exchanger system with natural convection flow is proposed here; the system is a loop with two hollow fiber membrane air-desiccant exchanger of shell-and-tube type that works as the humidifier and regenerator. The LiCl aqueous solution as desiccant directed over the fibers and the air is inside the fibers; the water stream flows outside the modules to provide the required heat exchange. The heat sink and source as merged subparts of the exchangers have a major influence on system performance. The system is examined from the energetic and exergetic viewpoints at different heat sink and heat source temperatures. Keeping the fixed air flow rate and using the standard air properties, the cold and hot water temperatures of 15–25 °C and 50–70 were employed and the effectiveness coefficients including the latent, sensible and total and 2nd law efficiency evaluated. It was shown that the values of NTU and Cr* depend on each other and attenuating effect of NTU reduction is higher than enhancing effect of Cr* increase on effectiveness values. The prominent factor on exergy performance which hinders the effect of the other parameters is the solution flow rate. Also, the highest and lowest values of 2 nd law efficiency are 81% and 5% which are for temperature pairs of (52, 20) and (65,25), respectively.

The present study numerically investigated the simulation of two-phase nanofluid (NF) flow to examine the thermal performance of Cu–water NF within an enhanced tube with W- and C-shaped ribs in the heat exchangers (HEX). In this research, the effect of volume fraction (φ = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8%), and diameter (15, 20, 25 and 30 nm) of copper nanoparticles and the type and size of the turbulators (TRB) (W- and C-shaped ribs together), which were designed for the first time on Heat transfer (HT), were discussed. Heat transfer flow (HTF) entered the test section at Tin = 290 K in various velocities related to different Reynolds numbers (Re) 5000, 10000, 15000 and 20000. Based on the Eulerian-Eulerian two-phase method, the governing equations were solved. Different rib geometrical parameters were determined, and the optimization was performed to achieve the maximum performance evaluation criteria (PEC). According to obtained results, the PECs were more than 1, which indicated that these TRB were impressive from a hydraulic-thermal performance. Furthermore, the PEC variations of C- and W-shaped models were not similar. For the C-shaped configuration, the PEC values always enhanced with Re enhancement, while for the W-shaped model, the PEC values enhanced till Re = 10000, and then decreased till Re = 20000. The PEC values of the optimum model (W-shaped, NB = 6 and R = 15 mm) filled by NF at φ = 0.8% and dnp = 30 nm in Re = 5000, 10000, 15000 and 20000 are 1.491, 1.498, 1.482 and 1.469, respectively.

Progression in Computer networks and emerging of new technologies in this field helps to find out new protocols and frameworks that provides new computer network-based services. E-government services, a modernized version of conventional government, are created through the steady evolution of technology in addition to the growing need of societies for numerous services. Government services are deeply related to citizens’ daily lives; therefore, it is important to evolve with technological developments—it is necessary to move from the traditional methods of managing government work to cutting-edge technical approaches that improve the effectiveness of government systems for providing services to citizens. Blockchain technology is among the modern technologies highly suitable for developing digital governance services, and its technological ability to sustain information stability is vital in digital governance systems since it improves integrity and transparency measures while preventing corruption. In this study, computer networking protocols are built to form a peer-to-peer network framework for managing official documents. using blockchain technology was built to illustrate how any element of government work may be developed using it. The suggested framework comprises the addition of a new official document, and the verification of an existing document. The system was created in socket programming using Java and tested the response times for many simultaneous requests. The system was tested using transactions per second (throughput) measurement. The result showed that the proposed system processed 200 document verification transactions within 50 seconds. In addition, the test of the proposed system presented the time required for document retrieval—about three seconds to answer 100 document retrieval transactions. Furthermore, the results of throughput were compared to the results of the same measurement of some popular applications such as bitcoin. And the result of the proposed system was within the average value of output throughput of the other compared applications.

It is crucial to identify an efficient system for the sensing of formaldehyde (FD). The feasibility of utilising a B3S monolayer (B3SML) detector of FD was evaluated by analysing the adsorption, optical properties, gas-sensing behaviour, and electronic properties of FD and other gas molecules on the B3SML under density functional theory (DFT). The pristine B3SML was found to have satisfactory sensing toward FD molecules. The analysis of the adsorption mechanisms, geometric systems, adsorption energy, electronic and optical properties, charge transfer, and electron density differences revealed that the B3SML could potentially serve as an FD detector. It can be said that the B3SML is a promising sensor for detecting FD molecules. The present study contributes to the existing knowledge of gas-surface interactions and helps develop 2D sensor structures to detect FD gas molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are of potential interest because of their effective antibacterial and antiviral activities. Capping agents are used for exhibiting a better antibacterial activity than uncapped Ag NPs. There are very few reports that have shown the usage of AgNPs for in-vivo antibacterial therapy. Citrate-capped silver nanoparticles were synthesized chemically by citrate reduction method; the size of Cit-AgNPs was determined by an atomic force microscope (AFM) and was between 15 - 90 nm. Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) isolates were the only sensitive species to Cit-AgNPs. MICs and MBC of Cit-AgNPs were determined by using A. baumannii. The results showed an additive effect of Cit-AgNPs. Four mice groups were infected with a sub-lethal dose of A. baumannii intraperitoneally, IP. The single daily dose of Cit-AgNPs and imipenem plus Cit-AgNPs combination were administered IP. Imipenem and phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was used as positive control and negative control, respectively. Interestingly, only the PBS-treated group showed growth of A. baumannii in the liver and spleen of sacrificed mice. Histopathologically, Cit-AgNPs showed antibacterial activity and had an additive effect when combined with imipenem in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the Cit-AgNPs showed dose-dependent activity and the organs differed in the illumination of the toxicity effect of Cit-AgNPs even after high dose administration. In conclusion, Cit-capped AgNPs had antibacterial activity against multiple drug resistant (MDR) A. baumannii but not against K. pneumoniae and E. coli. Cit-capped AgNPs increased the inhibition zone of imipenem in additive effect; the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration of Cit-capped AgNPs were relatively low. Cit-capped AgNPs eliminated A. baumannii infection in vivo when it was given alone or in combination with imipenem. The cytotoxicity of Cit-AgNPs was dose-dependent and the organs differed in the illumination of the inflammatory effect of Cit-AgNPs after high dose administration. It is not recommended to use Cit-capped AgNPs systemically despite their valuable additive antibacterial effect especially with a high dose and the combination with imipenem, Topical administration needs to be evaluated.