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Studies have shown that carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induces hepatic and renal damage arising from oxidative stress. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of omega-3 fatty acids and/or soya isoflavones on CCl4 induced toxicity in male albino rat liver and kidney. For this purpose, 42 rats were divided as follows: group 1, rats serves as the control without any treatment; group 2, rats were administered a single dose of CCl4 intraperitoneally (1 mg/kg b. wt.); group 3, rats were supplemented daily with omega-300 orally (400 mg/kg b. wt.); group 4, rats were supplemented daily with pro-S orally (50 mg/kg b. wt.); group 5, rats were supplemented daily with omega-300 orally for four weeks, then after 24 hours treated with a single dose of CCl4 at the same tested doses. group 6, rats were supplemented daily with pro- S orally for four weeks, then after 24 hours treated with a single dose of CCl4 at the same tested doses; group 7, rats were supplemented daily with an oral combination of omega-300 and pro-S orally for four weeks, then after 24 hours treated with a single dose of CCl4 at the same tested doses. Results showed that CCl4 administration induces hepatic damage indicated by a significant increase in the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Aalanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes and glucose level, with a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels and a significant decrease of reduced glutathione (GSH) level in liver tissue. Also, CCl4 toxicity induce renal damage manifested in a significant increase in serum urea, creatinine, uric acid, and oxidative stress of kidney tissue reflected by increase of MDA, NO and the decrease of GSH levels. The pre-treatment with omega-3 fatty acids and/or soya isoflavones revealed ameliorative effect against deleterious effects of CCl4 toxicity on hepatic and renal tissues and all tested parameters. Results of the current study revealed also that the pre-treatment with omega-3 fatty acids and/or soya isoflavones to rats improved liver and kidney function and produced high antioxidant activity. Resumo Estudos demonstram que o tetracloreto de carbono (CCl4) induz danos hepáticos e renais decorrentes do estresse oxidativo. O presente estudo almejou examinar o efeito de ácidos graxos ômega-3 e/ou isoflavonas de soja na toxicidade induzida por CCl4 no fígado e no rim de ratos albinos machos. Para tanto, 42 ratos foram divididos da seguinte forma: grupo 1, indivíduos que servem como controle sem nenhum tratamento; grupo 2, indivíduos que receberam uma dose única de CCl4 intraperitonealmente (1 ml/kg do peso corporal); grupo 3, indivíduos que foram suplementados diariamente com ômega-300 por via oral (400 mg/kg do peso corporal); grupo 4, indivíduos que foram foram suplementados diariamente com pró-S por via oral (50 mg/kg do peso corporal); grupo 5, indivíduos que foram suplementados diariamente com ômega-300 por via oral por quatro semanas, depois de tratados por 24 horas com uma dose única de CCl4 nas mesmas doses testadas; grupo 6, os indivíduos foram suplementados diariamente com pro-S por via oral por quatro semanas, depois de tratados por 24 horas com uma dose única de CCl4 com as mesmas doses testadas; grupo 7, os indivíduos foram suplementados diariamente com uma combinação oral de ômega-300 e pró-S por via oral por quatro semanas, depois de tratados por 24 horas com uma dose única de CCl4 com as mesmas doses testadas. Os resultados mostraram que a administração de CCl4 induz dano hepático, indicado por um aumento significativo nas atividades das enzimas fosfatase alcalina (ALP), aspartato aminotransferase (AST) e Alanina aminotransferase (ALT) e nível de glicose, com aumento significativo de malondialdeído (MDA) e nítrico, e dos níveis de óxido (NO), além da diminuição significativa do nível de glutationa reduzida (GSH) no tecido hepático. Além disso, a toxicidade do CCl4 induz dano renal manifestado em um aumento significativo da ureia sérica, creatinina, ácido úrico e estresse oxidativo do tecido renal, refletindo no aumento de MDA, NO e diminuição dos níveis de GSH. O pré-tratamento com ácidos graxos como ômega-3 e/ou isoflavonas de soja revelou efeito melhorador contra os efeitos deletérios da toxicidade do CCl4 nos tecidos hepático e renal e em todos os parâmetros testados. Os resultados do presente estudo demonstraram também que o pré-tratamento com ácidos graxos ômega-3 e/ou isoflavonas de soja em ratos melhorou a função hepática e renal e produziu alta atividade antioxidante.

Life cycle assessment was carried out for a conventional wooden furniture set produced in Mardan division of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan during 2018-19. Primary data regarding inputs and outputs were collected through questionnaire surveys from 100 conventional wooden furniture set manufacturers, 50 in district Mardan and 50 in district Swabi. In the present study, cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment approach was applied for a functional unit of one conventional wooden furniture set. Production weighted average data were modelled in the environmental impacts modelling software i.e., SimaPro v.8.5. The results showed that textile used in sofa set, wood preservative for polishing and preventing insects attack and petrol used in generator had the highest contribution to all the environmental impact categories evaluated. Total cumulative energy demand for wooden furniture set manufactured was 30,005 MJ with most of the energy acquired from non-renewable fossil fuel resources. Resumo A abordagem de avaliação do ciclo de vida foi realizada para um conjunto de móveis de madeira convencional produzido na divisão Mardan da província de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa do Paquistão durante 2018-19. Os dados primários sobre entradas e saídas foram coletados por meio de pesquisas por questionário de 100 fabricantes de conjuntos de móveis de madeira convencionais, 50 no distrito de Mardan e 50 no distrito de Swabi. No presente estudo, a abordagem de avaliação do ciclo de vida do berço ao portão foi aplicada para uma unidade funcional de um conjunto de móveis de madeira convencional. Os dados da média ponderada da produção foram modelados no software de modelagem de impactos ambientais, isto é, SimaPro v.8.5. Os resultados mostraram que os têxteis usados no conjunto de sofás, o preservativo de madeira para polir e prevenir o ataque de insetos e a gasolina usada no gerador tiveram a maior contribuição em todas as categorias de impacto ambiental avaliadas. A demanda total acumulada de energia para o conjunto de móveis de madeira fabricado foi de 30.005 MJ, com a maior parte da energia adquirida de recursos de combustíveis fósseis não renováveis.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a significantly increased incidence rate across the world over the past few years. Toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection are globally prevalent and have been associated with diverse neurological and psychiatric disorders. A few studies have demonstrated the role of toxoplasmosis and CMV as potential etiological factors for autism. Accordingly, this study was performed to estimate the relationship between toxoplasmosis and CMV infection in children with autism as well as to assess their impact on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) score. A total of 45 autistic children (6 girls, 39 boys) and 45 (21 girls, 24 boys) healthy control children were enrolled in our study. Their blood samples were collected and tested for the presence of Toxoplasma and CMV (IgG and IgM) antibodies and DNA by ELISA and real-time PCR (RT-PCR), respectively. Toxoplasmosis was detected in 11 (24.4%) autistic children through the ELISA [10 (22.2%) IgG + /IgM − and 1 (2.2%) IgG + /IgM +]; however, RT-PCR assay recorded only 1 positive case (2.2%), while it was detected in 10 (22.2%) control children through ELISA [9 (20%) IgG + /IgM − and 1 (2.2%) IgG + /IgM +] and 1 (2.2%) by RT-PCR. On the other hand, CMV infection was detected in all autistic children with 44 (97.8%) testing positive by ELISA [24 (53.3%) IgG + /IgM − , 18 (40%) IgG + /IgM + and 2 (4.4%) IgG − /IgM +] and 25 (55.6%) testing positive by RT-PCR assay. In addition, ELISA assay recorded 43 (95.6%) [19 (42.2%) IgG + /IgM + and 22 (48.9%) IgG + /IgM − and 2 (4.4%) IgG-/IgM +] and RT-PCR recorded 21 (46.7%) positive samples in control children with CMV. No significant difference was noted between autistic and control children for the overall prevalence of Toxoplasma or/and CMV infection. Similarly, the CARS score indicated a non-significant difference with Toxoplasma or/and CMV infection. Our data does not show an association between autism and toxoplasmosis or/and CMV infection. Nevertheless, considering that autistic children are at a high risk of contracting these infections, further studies with a larger sample size are recommended.

Drugs with low aqueous solubility show limited oral bioavaibility and dissolution enhancement is a promising strategy for improving drug bioavailability. Co-crystallization is a promising technique used to improve the oral solubility and dissolution rate of the drugs and hence their oral bioavailability. In general pharmaceutical co-crystals improve the physical properties such as crystallinity, solubility, wettability and dissolution behaviors of the drug without altering its pharmacological activity. The aim of this study was to enhance the solubility, dissolution rate and limited oral bioavailability of glimepiride (GLM) by cocrystallization with different carboxylic acid co-formers. Different co-crystal formulations were successfully prepared by ultrasound assisted suspension co-crystallization technique and then suspected to solubility study to choose the best formula to complete the study. Co-crystal of glimepiride -oxalic acid was characterized by X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and then further evaluated for dissolution behavior. The result showed that co-crystal could increase solubility and dissolution rate of glimepiride. The results of XRPD, FTIR and DSC indicating the presence of a new crystalline phase and formation of cocrystal while the SEM micrograph revealed the definite shape with crystalline composition of co-crystal. In vivo bioavailability study in rats showed higher Cmax , longer t1/2 el and MRT0-∞ and increased AUC0-∞ of 2.66 fold compared to the plain GLM. Therefore, co-crystallization technique can be expected to represent a promising tool for enhanced delivery of glimepiride.

People in Africa and other developing countries depend on medicinal plants. Extract of Parkia biglobosa stem bark is used in Nigerian traditional medicine to treat malaria, diarrhea and pains. This study aimed at determining the effect of aqueous stem bark extract of P.biglobosa on the histological morphology of liver in animal models. A total of 28 wistar rats weighing between 100 – 150g were used for this study out of which 12 were used for acute toxicity testing using Lorke’s method (1983), the test was carried out in two phases. In phase I, 9 adult wistar rats were divided into 3 groups and administered with 10mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 1000mg/kg orally while in phase II, 3 wistar rats were assigned into 3 groups and administered with 1600mg/kg, 2600mg/kg and 5000mg/kg respectively and both they were observed for signs of toxicity/mortality within 24hrs. The remaining 16 rats were divided into 4 groups; A, B, C and D. Group A served as control and groups B, C and D served as test groups. For 21 days, group A received normal feed and water only and then group B, C and D received oral doses of 1000mg/kg, 500mg/kg and 250mg/kg of aqueous extract of P.biglobosa stem bark respectively. A significant increase in the level of ALP, ALT and AST was observed in comparison with the control, P< 0.005 was considered statistically significant. It was shown that liver sections in group A (control) presents no histological changes while the liver section of animals treated with (1000mg/kg and 500mg/kg) of P.biglobosa aqueous extract for 21 days revealed an inflammation, vascular degeneration and vacoulation respectively. It was found that at higher doses P.biglobosa aqueous stem bark extract could be hepatotoxic.

Nowadays, the use of e-learning techniques and methods is a very important challenge due to the importance of digital transformation to all countries. Firstly, the spread of the COVID-19 virus all over the world. Secondly, all students need to study their courses remotely from home to reduce the communication with others to save their life. All teachers need to engage their students effectively to study an online course, get more knowledge and high results at the end of these courses. Data mining is the best tool used to find a hidden pattern. We used an educational data mining tool to help teachers find the pros and cons of using an e-learning course with their students. We need to classify students on these online courses according to their ability to understand materials and quizzes, or assessment methods of the course, by making adaptive e-learning courses. In this paper, we will show the importance of using adaptive e-learning courses and the challenges faced by authors to build these systems, and we will list the different methods used with adaptive learning like gamification, brain-hex models, facial emotions, and we will also list a survey about other authors' techniques and methods used to find the student's learner style. We build a new proposed model of ILOs(Intended Learning Outcomes) adaptive learning with the emotion-based system to let the system find the student's learning style and build the material according to their skills and knowledge outcomes from the course and engage the use of facial emotion while taking the quiz to predict the student's results and the topics he/she needs to study more via our system to achieve high grades and knowledge. Our system finds that the visual students have the highest grades with 75%, followed by kinesthetic with 70% and the lowest grades in auditory with 50%.

Boost converters are employed in DC motors, switch-mode power supplies, and other applications. Practical implementation difficulties, reliance on variable-frequency units, and delayed dynamic responses to changes in load and voltage are the main drawbacks of different control methods for the boost converter. In this paper, two techniques were proposed with the target of controlling the boost converter to improve the efficiency of the converter's performance. The two techniques used in this paper depended on fixedfrequency mode instead of variable-frequency mode because of the demerits of the latter factor. The first technique is the sliding-mode control for the ACDC converter to achieve power factor correction and reduce the harmonic ratio significantly while regulating the output voltage. This technique was used for the DC-DC converter to obtain a rapid dynamic response to control sudden or considerable changes in loads or input voltages with a regulated output voltage. Moreover, the two-loop cascade control is the second proposed technique for the DC-DC converter to achieve an excellent dynamic response under step loads or input voltage variations with an excellently regulated output voltage. Re-simulation results validated the proposed design approach and illustrated the proposed controller's robustness and faster response time.

The AC line input voltage is frequently rectified by single-phase diode rectifiers and filtered using sizable electrolytic capacitors. The capacitor draws current in brief pulses, so harmonics distort the line current, resulting in high losses. Harmonics and line current distortions harm the unity power factor and efficiency. This article adopts a simple single-stage AC-DC converter with a high-power factor and low total harmonic distortion. The PI hysteresis current control was utilized to reduce the total harmonic distortion and increase the power factor at full load. The PI controller was added to the outer voltage loop to regulate the output voltage. Ziegler-Nichol's tuning method was used to determine the controller gain levels. Simulation results were obtained for the AC-DC converter at a constant switching frequency to show the benefits of the proposed control method, which has a low total harmonic distortion and a high-power factor compared with cases without a controller. The proposed control method is accurate and efficient for achieving the power factor correction converter. Besides, the proposed control was stable during dynamic and steady-state responses.

The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and correlates of relapse among patients with schizophrenia during the COVID-19 pandemic.This retrospective study included 90 adults who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia. The participants were evaluated using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Compliance Rating Scale (CRS) and World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) before and after the onset of COVID-19 pandemic.The mean score of CRS was decreased after the onset of COVID-19 pandemic compared to before COVID 19 (The relapse rate had increased among patients with schizophrenia during COVID-19 pandemic. Non-compliance with medications and lack of family support were the main correlates of relapse in schizophrenia.Key PointsPatients with schizophrenia are at high risk for relapse during Covid-19 pandemic.Non-compliance with medications, lack of family support, COVID-19-related illness or death of family members and following the news of the pandemic are correlates of relapse in patients with schizophrenia.Psychoeducation, availability of medications and mental health services and family support may help to prevent relapse in patients with schizophrenia during pandemics.Prospective studies are needed to confirm the findings of this study.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are regarded as one of the most serious infections worldwide. Uro Pathogenic E. coli (UPEC) accounts for nearly 80% of UTI infections in females. This study investigated the antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus (l. acidophilus) and Lactobacillus plantarum (lb. plantarum) on multidrug-resistant E. coli obtained from urine samples. Complete bacteriological identification was conducted on 45 E. coli isolated from 80 urine samples of females with UTIs. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed on all isolates by nine antibiotics. Ten out of the 45 isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR). L. acidophilus and Lb. plantarum showed marked inhibition of MDR E. coli isolates on agar by a diffusion method (16 ± 0.04: 23 ± 0.05 mm). Moreover, L. acidophilus and Lb. plantarum strains inhibited the ability of UPEC to form a biofilm by 56.3% and 39.63%, respectively. The expression of biofilm genes of E. coli are as follows: csgA, crl, csgD showed remarkable downregulation after treatment with probiotics suspension: 0.00364: 0.19078 fold, 0.0005: 0.1894 fold, and 0.0490: 0.0883 for L. acidophilus, respectively. On the other hand, downregulation of biofilm gene expression for csgA, crl, csgD after treatment with Lb. plantarum suspension were expressed by fold changes as follows: 0.0769: 0.3535 fold, 0.05440: 0.12940 fold, and 0.06745: 0.4146, respectively. These findings show that L. acidophilus and Lb. plantarum exhibit potent antibacterial and antibiofilm action against MDR UPEC at both genotypic and phenotypic levels, and appear to be a promising solution in therapeutic applications for recurrent and persistent UTIs.