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Phononic crystals (PnCs) emerge as an innovative sensor technology, especially for high-performance sensing applications. This study strives to advance this field by developing new designs of PnC structures that exhibit stability in the face of construction imperfections and deformations, focusing on the evolution of topological PnCs (TPnCs). These designs could be promising to overcome the problem of instability involved in most of the theoretical PnC sensors when they emerge in experimental verification. In particular, the fabrication process of any design could collide with some fluctuations in controlling the size of each component. Thus, Fano resonance is introduced through a one-dimensional (1D) quasiperiodic TPnC. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to observe Fano modes in liquid cavities through 1D PnCs. Various quasiperiodic PnC designs are employed to detect the temperature of alcohols (specifically propanol) across an extensive temperature range (160–240 °C). The effects of many geometrical parameters on the sensor stability, such as material thicknesses, are studied. Numerical findings demonstrated that the designed quasiperiodic topological PnCs based on Fibonacci sequence of the second order proved superior performance. This sensing tool provides sensitivity, quality factor and figure-of-merit values of 104,533.33 Hz/°C, 223.69 and 0.5221 (/°C), respectively, through temperature detection of propanol in the range of 160–240 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the individual and combined effects of micro and nano lead monoxide (PbO) and granodiorite (GD) on concrete's mechanical and radiation shielding properties. Both materials were partially substituted for cement at varying ratios. Additionally, mixtures with optimal radiation shielding performance were prepared to explore the synergy of combining them. The mentioned materials are used for the first time in an extensive study at the nano scale to investigate their impact on concrete's mechanical properties, microstructure, and gamma radiation attenuation. Two gamma ray sources of uranium (U238) and cesium (Cs137) were used measure the radiation attenuation coefficients for all designed concrete mixes. A simple methodology was followed to assess the concrete shields efficiency via utilizing portable handheld gamma‐ray spectrometer that offers two reading modes. Results indicated that increasing the ratio of PbO is directly proportional to the concrete ability to attenuate radiation, where the optimal individual replacement ratios were recorded at 5% for micro and nano particle sizes. At this ratio, the linear attenuation coefficient (μ) values were improved by 39.57% and 24.78% for the nano and micro PbO, respectively. Additionally, the optimal ratio for improving mechanical properties was at 3% and 2% for nano and micro PbO, while the higher ratios showed a decline in mechanical properties especially at 5% micro PbO with 7.02% reduction in the compressive strength value. Regarding GD powder, the optimal replacement ratios for improving concrete radiation shielding were consistent with those enhancing its mechanical properties at 4% and 7% in both nano and micro scales, respectively. The combined mixes further enhanced the overall concrete performance, especially its radiation shielding ability. Compared to the control mix, the compressive strength, tensile strength, and μ were increased by 25.7%, 16.2%, and 44.7% at the optimal mixture of 5% nano PbO + 4% nano GD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new copper (II) complex containing the mono basic ligand (HL) azo naringenin was synthesized and structurally characterized by analytical, magnetic, and various spectroscopic techniques. An octahedron geometry was proposed for the assigned molecular formula [Cu(L)(CH3COO)(OH2)2]. Processing of powder X‐ray diffraction data for the copper (II) complex in question by the Expo 2014 computer program confirmed the proposed structure inferred from the spectroscopic studies. The DNA binding ability of the free ligand and its copper (II) complex was tested, and the results obtained demonstrated the stronger DNA binding ability of the copper (II) complex over the azo naringenin ligand. The antioxidant potency of copper (II) complex was investigated via the DPPH free radical‐scavenging assay. The present azo naringenin ligand and its copper (II) complex have shown diverse biological potentials including antitumor, antifungal, and antibacterial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In open Radio access network (oRAN) 5G networks, a fronthaul segment between virtual Distribution unit (vDU) edge cloud and other external Remote radio units (RRUs) sites is very important to transmit high data rate to achieve 5G requirements. Performance parameters such as Quality factor (Q-factor) and Bit error rate (BER) of an optical fiber fronthaul segment are the main important parameters to enhance latency and bit rate. An Apodized fiber bragg grating (AFBG) is utilized with different apodization profiles to optimize linewidth of an optical signal leading to enhance performance. The designed AFBG is used with a data rate of 25 Gb/s optical Ethernet module at the vDU edge cloud to optimize the linewidth of the optical signal between the vDU and the RRU in the fronthaul optical fiber segment. The AFBG is investigated at different connections pre, post, and symmetrical connections, where different apodization functions are used in the AFBG design. It is found that the best results for the maximum Q-factor and minimum BER are 9.2 and 2.72e− 21, respectively, obtained from uniform function in the symmetrical connection. Finally, the proposed model linewidth is 0.408 nm, which is better than 1.56 nm that is evaluated by related work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the application of abrasive waterjet drilling (AWJD) for varied patterns of GF/Al mesh hybrid composites (neat glass NG, AG: Al in the exterior surface, and GA: Al in the center). Key parameters such as jet pressure (P), standoff distance (S), and traverse speed (V) are systematically varied, influencing material removal rate (MRR), hole taper ratio (Tr), and roundness error (Re). Employing a Taguchi approach with an L9 design. It was indicated that the optimal conditions for maximum MRR are (P: 150 MPa, S: 2 mm, and V: 900 mm/min). V and S are the main influential parameters on Tr and Re. Gray relational analysis (GRA) is employed for simultaneous optimization, enhancing drilling performance. The optimal parameters P of 150 MPa, S of 2 mm, and V of 300 mm/min are determined. Validation trials confirm the effectiveness of the determined parameters. A robust multiple regression equation is formulated, providing a predictive model that aligns closely with experimental observations. Highlights: The hybrid composites were drilled via a nontraditional process.The attributes of the hole geometry and the material removal impacts were studied.Operation parameters were optimized to improve MRR, Re, and Tr.A multiple regression model and a confirmation test were performed and validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processing of renewable, abundant, and low-cost biomass into graphene materials such as porous carbon materials for application in the environmental field, electronics and clean energy has been attracting interest in the last few decades. In this study, activated carbons (ACs) were produced via the carbonization of rice husk carbon (ash-less without silica), followed by chemical activation with KOH at 650 °C and 750 °C for 2 h/N2 gas flow. Then, utilizing an improved Hummers' method (Tour method) with modifications, graphene oxide (GO) samples were synthesized from the rice husk-based activated carbons as an alternative to graphite. Also, applying the Tour method, followed by a catalytic hydrothermal step, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was obtained. FESEM and TEM images exhibited the formation of graphene oxide sheets after the oxidation of AC-KOH650 °C and AC-KOH650 °C. Furthermore, Raman, FTIR and UV-vis spectra characterized the presence of defects, oxygen functional surface groups and absorption bands, indicating the enhanced properties of graphene oxide prepared from graphite flakes through the improved Hummers' method. In comparison to pure GO, the graphitized activated carbons from rice husk were successfully oxidized to GO samples and reduced to rGO after hydrothermal treatment with high yield and good quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radical mastoidectomy is the outstanding standard technique for management of cholesteatoma. Long term studies showed increasing incidence of discharging cavities (1). Modified radical mastoidectomy was described to prevent recurrent cholesteatoma along with reconstruction of the ossicular hearing mechanismre. Exteriorization of the disease bearing areas is essential for effective follow up (2). However, there are many recesses which cannot be exteriorized regarding its anatomical location such as the mesotympanum. It will be a source of discharge or accumulation of keratin. Covering these recesses by grafting is an essential rather than optional step in all radical mastoidectomies to prevent problematic cavities. Aim of work: Demonstrate the necessity of grafting in radical mastoidectomy for obtaining dry cavity. Methods: A prospective, comparative study conducted from March 2016 to October 2019 on 60 cholesteatoma patients. Patients were randomized into 2 equal groups of 30 patients each. In group A, patients undergone modified radical mastoidectomy with grafting, while patients in group B have undergone radical mastoidectomy without grafting. Regular follow-up was done monthly for 1 year for both groups. Results: In group A, 22 patients have intact grafts, and dry well epithelialized cavities, 2 patients had perforated grafts, 5 patients had small discharging granulations and 1 patient had a keratin pearl under the graft. In group B, 19 patients suffered persistent discharging cavity, 8 patients had less discharge with keratin debris and granulations and 3 patients had dry cavities. Conclusions: Grafting is an essential step in radical mastoidectomy to prevent cavity problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric illness with a considerable risk of alexithymia, and suicide may make this risk worse. This study aimed to assess alexithymia, resilience, and suicidal ideation among patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder. A cross-sectional study was established at the psychiatric outpatient clinic at Zagazig University Hospitals in addition to Abbasyia Hospital for Mental Health in Cairo City. A purposive sample of 140 obsessive–compulsive patients. Five tools were used for data collection, including the socio-demographic questionnaire, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Resilience Scale, and the Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI). Results: The study findings demonstrated that in excess of two-thirds of the studied subjects had mild obsessive–compulsive disorder, slightly more than two-thirds of them suffered from alexithymia, more than half of patients had a moderate level of resilience, and the majority of them had suicidal ideation. Patients' obsessive–compulsive score was a statistically significant positive predictor for suicidal ideation. Conclusions: A positive and significant correlation was found between patients' obsessive–compulsive scores and both alexithymia and suicidal ideation scores. Negatively significant correlations were found between resilience and each patient's obsessive–compulsive score, alexithymia, and suicidal ideation. Therefore, it is recommended implementing longitudinal studies to establish the causality between OCD Sufferers' resilience, alexithymia, and ideations of suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric illness with a considerable risk of alexithymia, and suicide may make this risk worse. This study aimed to assess alexithymia, resilience, and suicidal ideation among patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder. A cross-sectional study was established at the psychiatric outpatient clinic at Zagazig University Hospitals in addition to Abbasyia Hospital for Mental Health in Cairo City. A purposive sample of 140 obsessive–compulsive patients. Five tools were used for data collection, including the socio-demographic questionnaire, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Resilience Scale, and the Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI). Results: The study findings demonstrated that in excess of two-thirds of the studied subjects had mild obsessive–compulsive disorder, slightly more than two-thirds of them suffered from alexithymia, more than half of patients had a moderate level of resilience, and the majority of them had suicidal ideation. Patients' obsessive–compulsive score was a statistically significant positive predictor for suicidal ideation. Conclusions: A positive and significant correlation was found between patients' obsessive–compulsive scores and both alexithymia and suicidal ideation scores. Negatively significant correlations were found between resilience and each patient's obsessive–compulsive score, alexithymia, and suicidal ideation. Therefore, it is recommended implementing longitudinal studies to establish the causality between OCD Sufferers' resilience, alexithymia, and ideations of suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) with its etiology not yet fully understood. Interleukin (IL)-35 is an inhibitory cytokine that belongs to the IL-12 family. Elevated IL-35 in the plasma and the tumor microenvironment increases tumorigenesis and indicates poor prognosis in different types of malignancies. The objective of this study is to estimate the expression levels of IL-35 in tissue and serum of MF patients versus healthy controls. This case-control study included 35 patients with patch, plaque, and tumor MF as well as 30 healthy controls. Patients were fully assessed, and serum samples and lesional skin biopsies were taken prior to starting treatment. The IL-35 levels were measured in both serum and tissue biopsies by ELISA technique. Both tissue and serum IL-35 levels were significantly higher in MF patients than in controls (P < 0.001) and tissue IL-35 was significantly higher than serum IL-35 in MF patients (P < 0.001). Tissue IL-35 was significantly higher in female patients and patients with recurrent MF compared to male patients and those without recurrent disease (P < 0.001). Since both tissue and serum IL-35 levels are increased in MF, IL-35 is suggested to have a possible role in MF pathogenesis. IL-35 can be a useful diagnostic marker for MF. Tissue IL-35 can also be an indicator of disease recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This work aimed to analyze serum S100B levels and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with lumbar disc prolapse to test their predictive values concerning the therapeutic efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency. Methods: This prospective interventional study was carried out on 50 patients candidates for radiofrequency for treating symptomatic lumbar disc prolapse. Pain severity and functional disability were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Functional rating index (FRI) before as well as two weeks, 1, 3, and 6 months after the radiofrequency. Quantitative assessment of serum S100B level and BDNF was done for all the included patients one day before radiofrequency. Results: The scores of NRS and FRI were significantly improved at two weeks, 1, 3, and 6 months following radiofrequency (P-value < 0.001 in all comparisons). Statistically significant positive correlations were found between duration of pain, NRS, and S100B serum level before radiofrequency, and both NRS (P-value = 0.001, 0.035, < 0.001 respectively) and FRI (P-value = < 0.001, 0.009, 0.001 respectively) 6 months following radiofrequency. Whereas there were statistically significant negative correlations between BDNF serum level before radiofrequency and both NRS and FRI 6 months following radiofrequency (P-value = 0.022, 0.041 respectively). NRS and S100B serum levels before radiofrequency were found to be independent predictors of NRS 6 months following radiofrequency (P-value = 0.040. <0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Serum level of S100B is a promising biomarker that can predict functional outcomes after pulsed radiofrequency in patients with lumbar disc prolapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiazole derivatives have long been a hot topic in pharmaceutical research and remain among the greatest active fields in heterocyclic chemistry. Thiazole derivatives, as one of the potentially favored structure, have been extensively desirable by industrial and medicinal researchers and have gained significant success in the previous decades due to their various biological activities, such as anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-HIV, antiulcer, and anti-inflammatory activity. In addition, many thiazole drugs are well-known pharmaceuticals on the market.This review summarizes the freshly synthesized routes and prospective biological activities of thiazole derivatives. In addition, it highlights thiazoles as treatment drugs in clinical trials or approved by the FDA and spotlights on some of their industrial applications. On the other hand, one of the goals of this review is to open up prospects for the future design, development, and usage of thiazole derivatives as potent drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and durability of GreenLight laser prostatectomy for the management of acute urinary retention (AUR) and chronic urinary retention (CUR) and to determine outcomes compared to patients without preoperative urinary retention (UR). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of prospectively collected data from individuals who underwent GreenLight laser prostatectomy at our institution from May 2018 to July 2022. Patient demographics and outcome measures were recorded, including indications for the procedure, median urinary volume drained, or median postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) before catheterization or GreenLight laser prostatectomy. CUR was defined as PVR >300 mL in males able to void and initial catheter drainage >1000 mL in males unable to void in the absence of pain. All patients had postoperative followup visits at one, three, six, and 12 months. Our evaluation included the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality-of-life (QoL) assessment, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), PVR, and catheter-free status. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-eight males who underwent GreenLight laser prostatectomy were included in our study. The UR group consisted of 88 patients (50 AUR and 38 CUR), and the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) group was comprised of 80 individuals. There were no statistically significant differences between the AUR and CUR subgroups regarding demographics. The UR group had a significantly higher age and a significantly higher postoperative catheterization time compared to the LUTS cohort. The CUR subgroup had a significantly higher PVR at one, three, and six months compared to the AUR subgroup, although other outcome measures were similar between the two cohorts. During three- and six-month followup visits, the UR group had a significantly higher PVR than the LUTS cohort. At 12 months postoperative, the LUTS group had a higher catheter-free rate than the UR group (p=0.001). The successful first trial of void (TOV) rate for the UR and LUTS groups were 83% and 80%, respectively. At 12-month followup, the catheter-free rate for the UR and LUTS cohorts was 87.5% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: GreenLight laser prostatectomy is an effective and durable treatment for UR, with a high catheter-free rate and comparable outcomes when performed to manage LUTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) is an immune checkpoint protein, PD-1 interaction with PD ligand-1 (PD-L1) is essential for maintaining immunological tolerance. The study aimed to study and compare the levels of PD-1 and PD-L1 in lesional and nonlesional skin of lichen planus (LP) patients and compare these levels to normal healthy controls to assess their role in the pathogenesis of LP. This case–control study involved 30 patients with LP and 30 healthy age-and sex-matched controls. After clinical assessment of the severity by LP severity index score (LPSI), skin biopsies were taken from lesional and nonlesional skin of LP patients and from normal skin in healthy controls for assessment of the tissue levels of PD-1 and PD-L1 by ELISA. The tissue levels of both PD-1 and PD-L1 were significantly higher in healthy controls than in both lesional and nonlesional skin of LP patients (P < 0.001). Also, significantly higher PD-l and PD-L1 levels in nonlesional skin than in lesional skin of LP patients were reported (P < 0.001). No significant correlations were found between lesional and nonlesional PD-1, PD-L1 levels, or LPSI score. Based on the fact that PD-1/PD-L1 interaction is important to maintain tolerance and protection against autoimmune diseases, in addition to our study results that revealed lower levels of PD-1/PD-L1 in LP skin than in healthy skin, we can conclude that PD-1/PDL-1 may be incriminated in the pathogenesis of LP. ClinicalTrials.govID: NCT04892381. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purslane (P), chard (CHA), and chicory (CHI) leaf extracts are individually and traditionally used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Polyphenols, flavonoids, the polyphenolic profile of the extracts, and their antioxidant activity were determined. This study evaluated the antidiabetic activity of combinations of these extracts in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic groups were administered orally and daily for 40 days with the investigated extracts at 250 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) or metformin (100 mg/kg b.w.) as a drug. Fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, insulin, and fructosamine were assessed. The combined extracts with high levels of P or CHI exerted potent hypoglycemic activity compared with metformin in addition to the restoration of the histopathological changes in the liver and pancreas of diabetic rats to a near-normal state. Therefore, these combined extracts could be developed as natural drugs for diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermometer digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is a distinctive architecture that plays a vital role in converting digital data into corresponding analog signals, the thermometer DAC employs a resistor network where each bit of the digital input corresponds to a unique resistor. It has notable drawbacks that need careful consideration. As the resolution of the DAC increases, the number of required current sources grows exponentially, leading to complex and demanding circuitry. This can escalate power consumption and occupy significant chip area, which is a critical concern in integrated circuit design. Furthermore, the current mismatch between the multiple current sources. Therefore, integrating memristors into DACs paves the way for more compact and efficient designs, reducing system complexity and enhancing reliability. The Voltage ThrEshold Adaptive Memristor (VTEAM) model of memristor is validated by using Virtuoso. In addition, a digital-to-analog converter based on memristor technology is implemented, taking advantage of the memristor's compact size, minimal power usage, and a voltage threshold that is relatively low. The DAC design being proposed is based on a core DAC cell that consists of two memristors connected in opposing orientations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prominent ear deformity represents one of the common congenital anomalies in general population with an incidence of approximately 5%. Surgical correction of prominent ears has passed through many modifications along the years. However, there is still no ideal technique and still there will be an evolution for new techniques and refinements. Aim: is to apply a new modification in remodeling of antihelix through cartilage fenestration to overcome the cartilage memory, with usage of distal based post-auricular facial flap in combined approach otoplasty. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study was done in Ain Shams University Hospitals during the period from December 2021 to April 2023 on patients with prominent ear. Patients underwent combined approach otoplasty with cartilage fenestration and coverage by distal based post-auricular facial flap. Results: Eighteen patients were included in this study, ten females and eight males, no bleeding or hematoma was found in any of the patients in the lateral surface of ear as there was no anterior dissection or anterior cartilage scoring. Patients' satisfaction was assessed by satisfaction score, where twelve patients (66.7%) were very satisfied, and four patients (22.2%) were satisfied, and one patient (0.05%) was neither satisfied or dissatisfied and one patient (0.05%) was dissatisfied. Conclusion: remodeling of the antihelix through cartilage fenestration and coverage by distal based post-auricular facial flap represents a reliable method for prominent ear otoplasty with no anterior cartilage dissection, no anterior cartilage scoring, minimal or no complications and high patient's satisfaction outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Microbial cells capability to tolerate the effect of various antimicrobial classes represent a major worldwide health concern. The flexible and multi-components nanocomposites have enhanced physicochemical characters with several improved properties. Thus, different biological activities of biosynthesized starch/silver-selenium nanocomposite (St/Ag-Se NC) were assessed. Methodology: The St/Ag-Se NC was biosynthesized using Cladosporium cladosporioides CBS 174.62 (C. cladosporioides) strain. The shape and average particle size were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), respectively. On the other hand, the St/Ag-Se NC effect on two cancer cell lines and red blood cells (RBCs) was evaluated and its hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging effect was assessed. Moreover, its effects on various microbial species in both planktonic and biofilm growth forms were examined. Results: The St/Ag-Se NC was successfully biosynthesized with oval and spherical shape and a mean particle diameter of 67.87 nm as confirmed by the HR-TEM analysis. St/Ag-Se NC showed promising anticancer activity toward human colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines where IC50 were 21.37 and 19.98 µg/ml, respectively. Similarly, little effect on RBCs was observed with low nanocomposite concentration. As well, the highest nanocomposite H2O2 scavenging activity (42.84%) was recorded at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. Additionally, Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) ATCC 12,228 and Candida albicans (C. albicans) ATCC 10,231 were the highly affected bacterial and fungal strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 18.75 and 50 µg/ml, respectively. Moreover, the noticeable effect of St/Ag-Se NC on microbial biofilm was concentration dependent. A high biofilm suppression percentage, 87.5% and 68.05%, were recorded with S. epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) when exposed to 1 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: The biosynthesized St/Ag-Se NC showed excellent antioxidant activity, haemocompatibility, and anti-proliferative effect at low concentrations. Also, it exhibited promising antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, neat glass (NG) fiber and hybrid GF/Al-wire mesh composites with two different aluminum configurations (AG: with Al in the outer surface, and GA [Glass fiber/Al-mesh]: with Al in the core) were fabricated using hand-layup technique and then drilled via an abrasive water jet (AWJ) machine. The impact of the drilling parameters on the hole qualities; delamination Fd, kerf angle (Ka), and circularity error (Ce) of the holes were studied. Using Taguchi L9 orthogonal array, drilling operations were conducted. The following AWJ drilling parameters were chosen; water pressure (P), stand-off distance (S), and traverse speed (V) with three levels each. A single-objective optimization using Taguchi method was performed to minimize the drilling responses for the least outcome. In addition, gray relational analysis (GRA) was used as a multi-decision technique. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out to identify the impacts of AWJ drilling parameters. The results indicated that for AG specimen, Fd was reduced by 5.3%-10.96% and its Ce by 10.4%-29.65%. GA had the lowest kerf angle. The most effective parameters on delamination for NG, AG, and GA were P, followed by S and V. Validation tests showed small variations between experimental and predicted values. Highlights • A new GF/Al Wire Mesh Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Composites were manufactured. • AWJ drilling of the manufactured Composites was conducted. • Hole quality was improved by adding Al to the outer layers (AG specimen). • AWJ parameters were Controlled and optimized to reduce Fd, Ce, and Ka. • Process optimization was performed by single and multi-objective optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgery is the main line of treatment of endometriosis. Patients with stage IV endometriosis have more extensive adhesions, which make the surgery difficult. There are no accurate non-invasive predictive preoperative parameters of stage IV endometriosis and no consensus has been reached. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate and detect preoperative non-invasive parameters for the detection of stage IV endometriosis. Patients and methods: In the present study, we included 150 females admitted for surgical removal of endometriosis. We scored and classified endometriosis into four stages according to the revised ASRM classification. We compared between baseline characteristics of patients with different stages of endometriosis, and then we selected the best combination of diagnostic and predictive parameters of stage IV endometriosis. Results: Predictors of stage IV endometriosis and indicators for safety surgery were as follows: VAS ≥ 4 (p < 0.001), fixed uterus (p = 0.005), fixed ovarian cysts (p < 0.001), tender uterosacral ligament nodule (p < 0.001), tender rectovaginal septum nodule (p = 0.003), bilateral endometriosis (p < 0.001), and sum of sizes of endometriotic nodules (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Fixed uterus, fixed ovarian cysts, tender uterosacral ligament nodule, tender rectovaginal septum nodule, bilateral endometriosis, and indications for surgery were significantly considered adequate predictive markers for stage IV endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Proper therapy of acute lung injury (ALI) is a major health challenge nowadays; it represents the most serious complication of COVID19 and the main cause of death. There are accumulating studies about the possible therapeutic effects of Allicin, the active ingredient of garlic, in many cases of respiratory diseases. Aim of the Work: In the current study, we showed for the first time a novel route of administration of Allicin which markedly improves its therapeutic effects in induced animal model of ALI. Material and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were divided equally into control group, animal model group with cadmium inhalation for induction of ALI, recovery group left without treatment, and two treated group. Allicin was given as a treatment by two different routes, orally and through nebulizer inhalation in a dose of 200 mg/kg. Results: Cadmium chloride (cdcl2) inhalation induced nearly the same histopathological changes in the animal lung tissue in the form of inflammation, congestion and vasculitis as that reported in covid-19 autopathic biopsy. Allicin markedly improved these deleterious effects through nebulizer inhalation; it induced significant lowering in IL-6, iNOS and malonaldehyde with significant increase in the number CD163 positive anti-inflammatory macrophage. Moreover, it stimulated type II pneumocyte regeneration and this detected by TrkB proliferation marker. The level of antioxidant reduced glutathione showed significant increase with allicin inhalation. Lung histological architecture markedly improved and nearly back to normal after allicin inhalation. Conclusion: We concluded that allicin through nebulizer inhalation may be of great help in the management of critical cases with acute lung injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the impact of age on perioperative morbidity and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing GreenLight laser prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of prospectively collected data from individuals who underwent GreenLight laser prostatectomy from May 2018 to July 2022. Patient demographics and outcome measures were recorded, including indications for the procedure and American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scores. All patients had postoperative followup visits at one, three, six, and 12 months. Our evaluation included the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL) assessment, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), postvoid residual volume (PVR), and catheter-free status. RESULTS: One-hundred-sixty-eight males who underwent GreenLight laser prostatectomy were included. The non-octogenarian group consisted of 111 patients and the octogenarian group comprised 57 individuals. Based on ASA scores, most octogenarians were deemed high-risk (ASA III: 91.2%), while over half of non-octogenarians were lower-risk (ASA II: 53.2%) (p<0.001). Intraoperative parameters, including operative time, vaporization time, lasing time, and energy did not differ significantly between groups. There was no difference in the proportion of intraoperative complications between non-octogenarians and octogenarians (0.9% vs. 3.5%). Postoperative complications were not statistically significant between the two groups (p=0.608). There was also no observed difference in the proportion of patients requiring readmission (p=0.226) or retreatment (p=1.0). CONCLUSIONS: GreenLight laser prostatectomy is a safe and effective treatment for BPH regardless of age. It provides similar surgical and functional outcomes as younger men while maintaining the QoL of octogenarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water contamination by harmful heavy metal ions was considered the major problems in environmental health field. This work focused to synthesize of the modified cellulose and investigate it as a possible metal cations adsorbent. Modified cellulose was prepared and identified by elemental analysis, (X-ray), (SEM) and (FTIR) spectroscopy. The ability of modified cellulose to adsorb heavy metals ions was investigated by batch experiments according to various conditions for example pH of the solution, temperature degree, time of the contact between adsorbent and adsorbate, adsorbent weight and the concentration of the metal's cations. SEM micrograph showed that the modified material has irregularly shaped pores and cavities. Elemental and FTIR analyses indicate the success of the addition process of N(4)-antipyrinyl thiosemicarbazide moiety onto cellulose. The obtained data showed that the maximum uptake efficiency (100%) of Pb2+, Cd2+, Mn2+, Ni2+ and Fe3+ reached at optimal pH= 7 for [Cd2+, Mn2+and Fe3+] and pH= 5 for [Pb2+and Ni2+]. The optimum used dosages are 0.07 g for [Pb2+and Ni2+] and 0.09 g for [Cd2+, Mn2+and Fe3+]. All experiments were achieved at 1 h contact time, room temperature and an initial concentration 3 ppm. Kinetic investigations showed that the uptake of metals ions onto modified cellulose was chemical adsorption and follow Langmuir adsorption model. Also, the results of thermodynamic characteristics show that the metal cation adsorption process is exothermic and spontaneous. Cel-ATH was prepared through the addition of N(4)-antipyrinyl thiosemicarbazide to cellulose. Modification was done to increase the removal ability of cellulose. The adsorption efficiency of Cel-ATH was examined via batch technique. The adsorption was examined on single component solution system. Cel-ATH removed different metals from wastewater sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rutin (Ru) is a flavonol glycoside, has significant scavenging characteristics against various reactive oxygen species, which exploits for widespread pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. This study aims to improve the bioavailability of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) by coating them with Ru (Ru-IONPs). Considering this, IONPs and Ru-IONPs were prepared and characterized via various physical techniques. In addition, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) has been used to assess the bio-distribution of the prepared formulation in vivo. Results revealed that the prepared IONPs and Ru-IONPs have a spherical shape with an average diameter of about 8 nm and 10 nm, respectively. Their surface potentials were found to be −19 ± 3.9 and −29.5 ± 5.4 mV, respectively. In vivo results revealed that single dose of IV administration of IONPs (16 mg/kg) elevated oxidative stress, indicated by the reduction of GSH in both heart and liver tissues, and increased their MDA contents. Also, IONPs administration resulted in hepatotoxicity characterized by a significant increase in ALT and AST levels in addition to cardiotoxicity characterized by a significant increase in CK-MB and LDH, in addition to the downregulation of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression, while upregulation of TNF-α expression in both heart and liver tissues. Conversely, nearly all of these alterations were significantly ameliorated for animal groups administrated Ru-IONPs and the morphological injury's counteraction in both heart and liver tissues. Therefore, we suggest that Ru could be used to alleviate the harmful effects and damages associated with IONPs administration due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and free radical scavenging properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling immune-mediated disease of the central nervous system. Ministry of Health and Population's statistics show that MS comprise 1.4% of all neurological diseases, putting into consideration, current economic crisis; it is needed to predict disease severity with an acceptable cost-effective method. Complete blood count (CBC) parameters are supposed to be cheap, and simple markers for the systemic inflammatory state. This study aims at evaluating role of neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting the severity of MS. Therefore, this retrospective cohort study was done on 150 MS patients attending MS clinic during year 2022. All patients were subjected to complete medical history. Estimation of the disability was done through the extended disability status scale (EDSS) and analysis of different parameters of baseline CBC before starting therapy. Results: A cutoff value of NLR ≥ 2.95 and PLR ≥ 201.5 could predict prognosis of MS. Risk factors of sever MS are high NLR, PLR, high body mass index and absence of disease-modifying therapy. Conclusions: Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and platelet/lymphocyte ratio are cheap valid useful predictors of increased relapse rate and severity in MS. Highlighting the role of both ratios at time of first diagnosis helps physicians to predict prognosis of patients in context of severity. Paying special attention to those with higher ratios can lead to improve patient outcome and reducing disease burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current work, cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles coated with Tween 80 were successfully synthesized via the chemical reduction method. Nanocomposites composed of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and different ratios of Cu2O nanoparticles were fabricated by the melt mixing process. 10% of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) as a compatibilizing agent was added to the molten LDPE matrix and the mixing process continued until homogenous nanocomposites were fabricated. To study the influence of ionizing radiation on the fabricated samples, the prepared species were exposed to 50 and 100 kGy of gamma rays. The synthesized Cu2O nanoparticles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD and TEM analysis illustrated the successful formation of spherical Cu2O nanoparticles with an average size of 16.8 nm. The as-prepared LDPE/Cu2O nanocomposites were characterized via different techniques such as mechanical, thermal, morphological, XRD, and FTIR. Electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI) of the different nanocomposite formulations was performed as a promising application for these materials in practical life. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (SE) of the produced samples was measured in the X-band of the radio frequency range from 8 to 12 GHz using the vector network analyzer (VNA) and a proper waveguide. All the samples were studied before and after gamma-ray irradiation under the same conditions of pressure and temperature. The shielding effectiveness increased significantly from 25 dB for unirradiated samples to 35 dB with samples irradiated with 100 kGy, which reflects 40% enhancement in the effectiveness of the shielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, applying the theory of compressive sensing in radar systems based on the traditional Complex Approximate Message Passing (CAMP) algorithm has many advantages such as; memory size, used lower sampling rate, and low hardware complexity compared with other techniques, and consequently lower processing time. In this paper, an analysis of the adaptive CAMP algorithm is illustrated for pulsed radar signals depending on the adaptive CAMP threshold. The performance of the proposed adaptive CAMP algorithm is compared with that of the traditional one with respect to detection performance using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, resolution in range, and the possible number of detected targets. Design and implementation of the proposed algorithm are achieved using FPGA based on parallel and pipeline processes which has a good effect in processing time enhancement and consequently reduction in hardware complexity compared with the traditional algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the effect of irradiation dose and incorporated nanoparticles of kaolin (K) and graphite (G) on the lattice structure, thermal analysis, electrical conductivity, morphology, and mechanical properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were studied. Infrared spectroscopy analysis (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize and prove the nanostructure of kaolin and graphite. Subsequently, HDPE was reinforced with a fixed percentage of nanokaolin at 3 phr and different contents of nanographite at 2 and 4 phr via melt-mixing and then molded by the hot press to sheets of suitable thickness. The fabricated sheets will be exposed to various gamma radiation doses at 50, 100, and 150kGy to investigate the impact of ionizing radiation on the prepared nanocomposites. It was found that the presence of a fixed percent of nanokaolin and graphite nanoparticles at 2 phr inside the HDPE matrix improved various properties of the prepared nanocomposites. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of nanokaolin with nanographite and irradiation doses led to the improved crystal structure, thermal analysis, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity of HDPE nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychiatric comorbidities, and sleep disorders, are prevalent in adults with epilepsy (AWE). Good control of epilepsy can help AWE lead a normal fruitful life and incorporate in daily activities as others. This study aims to assess the frequency, risk factors of depression, and poor sleep quality among patients with epilepsy and examine their relation with epilepsy control. Methods: This cross-sectional study was accomplished during the period from January to October 2023 involving 179 AWE. All were exposed to complete history taking: stressing on personal data, evaluation of medication adherence using the modified Morisky scale, sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and depressive symptoms evaluated by the Zagazig Depression Scale. Results: Depression was reported in 22.2% of studied patients; while 44.4% had poorer epilepsy control. Poor sleep quality was reported in 35.2% of epilepsy patients and was associated with non-adherence and poor seizure control. Depression increased the risk of poor control by about 16-folds. Non-adherence was associated with depression and poor sleep quality and was one of the predictors of poor epilepsy control. Conclusion: Depression and poor sleep quality can impair the outcome of PWE and also there is a strong association between depression and poor sleep quality among PWE and both impair seizure control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, statistical inferences for the parameters, reliability, and failure rate functions (as parameters) of the exponentiated Kies distribution are accomplished using maximum likelihood and both Lindley and Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques, under adaptive Type-II progressive censoring. Depending on the Fisher information matrix and the delta method, we find the approximate confidence intervals for the parameters and the reliability and failure rate functions, respectively. Furthermore, the samples generated from Markov chains Monte Carlo are used to generate credible intervals for the parameters, reliability, and failure rates functions. Symmetric and asymmetric loss functions are also used to find Bayes estimators using Markov chain Monte Carlo and Lindley techniques. Comparisons between the two techniques of evaluation for different estimators under different sizes of data sets are conducted. Finally, a real-life example is applied to clarify the results of the used techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe novel N-naphthylcyanoacrylamide thioglycosides 4 were readily prepared by the reaction of N-napthylcyanoacetamide 1 with aryl isothiocyanates in the presence of potassium hydroxide, followed by coupling of the produced salts 2 with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-gluco- and galacto-pyranosyl bromides 3. The N-naphthyl acrylamide thioglycoside 12 was prepared by the reaction of N-napthylcyanoacetamide 1 with glucose isothiocyante 10 in the presence of potassium hydroxide, followed by alkylation of the produced salt 11 with methyl iodide. The reaction of thioglycoside compounds 4 with hydrazines afforded the corresponding naphthyl-pyrazole hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic inflammation plays a crucial role in developing various cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a unique condition characterized by the coexistence of cardiovascular and metabolic disturbances, where chronic inflammation may exacerbate disease progression and severity. This study investigated how different hematological inflammatory cells and mediators can serve as predictive indicators of severe OSA. Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, 150 patients suspected of having obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) underwent polysomnography (PSG) to confirm the diagnosis. Based on their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the patients were categorized into three groups: mild, moderate, and severe OSA. Blood samples were collected for the assessment of inflammatory blood cells and mediators at the time of diagnosis. Results: Among the 150 patients studied, 90 were diagnosed with OSA, and 43 had severe OSA, representing a prevalence rate of 47.7%. Patients with severe OSA were notably older and more likely to have diabetes mellitus and hypertension. After adjusting for age and sex, each one-unit increase in Systemic Inflammatory Response Index (SIRI), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels was associated with a doubling in the likelihood of having moderate and severe OSA (p < 0.05 for all). However, hypertension was linked to a 16-fold increase in the likelihood of moderate and severe OSA (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Our research indicates that comorbidity and inflammatory cells and markers (SIRI, CRP, and ESR) are significantly related to the severity of OSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin (Cis) is among the most powerful antineoplastic medications, nevertheless, its serious side effects; particularly nephrotoxicity designates a major concern. Previous studies reported that ezetimibe (Eze), a well‐known antihyperlipidemic drug, exerts additional trivial pharmacological effects. In this work, we displayed Eze as an intriguing protective candidate in a cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity rat model through AMPK activation. Eze (10 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered for two weeks and Cis (10 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered on the 10th day to induce nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rats. Treatment with Eze greatly augmented the phosphorylation of adenosine 5′‐monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the antioxidant regulator; nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2), thus, mitigating oxidative injury through induction of the antioxidant enzymes, such as heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) and glutathione reductase (GR). As well, Eze relieved inflammation by reducing protein expression of thioredoxin‐interacting protein (TXNIP) and nucleotide‐binding domain‐like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), which led to a decrease in the release of caspase‐1, in addition to, the inflammatory markers IL‐18 and IL‐1 β. Besides, Eze ameliorated apoptosis in the renal cells through inhibiting the phosphorylated Apoptosis signal‐regulating kinase‐1(p‐ASK1), caspase‐3 and reducing Bax/Bcl2ratio. Correspondingly, histopathological examination corroborated the previous biochemical findings. Collectively, Eze exerts significant renal protection against Cis‐induced nephrotoxicity via antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic pathways that are probably mediated, at least partly, via activating AMPK/Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway and conquering both TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome and TXNIP/ASK1 signaling pathways. To confirm the protective effect of Eze via AMPK‐activation, an AMPK‐inhibitor, dorsomorphin (Dors), when co‐administered with Eze abolished its protective effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Bladder carcinoma ranks second in prevalence among males in Egypt. As a family of tyrosine kinases, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) dysregulation has been linked to some malignancies in humans. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinicopathological data of patients while investigating FGFR2 and FGFR3 immunohistochemical expression in invasive urothelial bladder carcinoma. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 60 invasive urothelial carcinoma (UC) cases in the Pathology department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, from 2009 to 2020. All biopsies were stained for FGFR2 and FGFR3 antibodies. Complete clinical data were available for 44 patients treated and followed in clinical oncology and nuclear medicine departments. Results: Advanced stage and high grade are significantly correlated with FGFR2 positivity (P=0.048 and 0.044, respectively). Cases presented with Perineural invasion showed a higher percentage of FGFR2 (P=0.023). There is a significant indirect linear correlation between FGFR3 expression and lymph node positivity (r= -0.265, P=0.041). Conclusion: A high FGFR2 expression could be associated with poor prognostic parameters, while high FGFR3 expression would be associated with good prognostic parameters. These findings might highlight the importance of FGFR-targeted therapy as a FGFR2 antagonist and FGFR3 agonist for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to produce bio-composites that possess good physico-mechanical properties, polyamidoamine (PAMAM) was synthesized and characterized as a multi-nitrogen terminal biocompatible and nontoxic polymeric species. It was mixed at various ratios of 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0% with polypropylene (PP) via Brabender-like apparatus. The prepared bio-composites were exposed to 20 kGy of gamma-irradiation to investigate the influence of ionizing radiation on the fabricated specimens. Parameters of mechanical for instance tensile strength (TS), modulus of elasticity (EM), elongation at break (%), and hardness (Shore D), of bio-composites, were considered. Moreover, the stress-strain curves of the fabricated samples were investigated. Furthermore, FTIR and thermal analysis including TGA and DSC have been investigated. The crystallinity % of all investigated samples was calculated on the basis of DSC measurements. Overall migration of prepared samples has been performed as an applicable study of food packaging. FTIR results revealed the disappearance of the absorption peak at 1730 cm−l of the carbonyl group of polyamidoamine after the formation of PP/PAMAM bio-composites, indicating a successful combination of the PP matrix with polyamidoamine. The incorporation of PAMAM resulted in a steady improvement of the melting temperature (Tm) of the native PP. The thermal stability of PP/PAMAM composition increases with increasing PAMAM and after being exposed to 20 kGy irradiation. Mechanical data revealed that TS of PP increased with PAMAM content up to 3.0%. The development in TS increased from 20 MPa of native PP to 45 MPa of PP/2% PAMAM bio-composites suggesting the superior interaction between the synthetic PAMAM and PP texture. Furthermore, the prepared bio-composite films displayed highly acceptable migration limits. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite evidence to suggest a relationship between time of year and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) flaring, no studies have been conducted to date to establish a relationship directly between temperature and flaring. In this study, we aim to validate a classification approach based on administrative data for identifying medical encounters that likely represent HS flares in patient with a known diagnosis of HS within the Mass General Brigham Health System (MGB) and examine the relationship between average daily temperatures and HS disease flaring among patients in Boston. This is a retrospective cohort study. Participants were individuals with HS presenting to emergency departments or dermatology outpatient clinics with disease flares between January 2017 and January 2022. The average number of encounters for HS flares was compared with the temperature for that day and the 3- and 7-day periods prior. There were 2567 patient encounters for HS flares included in the study. Of the total identified HS flares, 75.6% occurred in females and 39.1% occurred in patients who identified as Black. Uniformly small but statistically significant relationships were noted between increased temperature and presentations for hidradenitis suppurativa flare with the highest correlation coefficient (0.0768) noted with a 3-day lag time between the heat experienced and day of presentation for flare. Increased temperature is associated with a small, but statistically significant increase in HS disease flaring. As such, HS disease flaring may rise as global temperatures do, suggesting an increase in the global burden of HS as climate change persists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Background: Plantar fasciitis is caused by degenerative changes and repetitive stress, and it is a common cause of heel pain. Ultrasound is a reliable diagnostic tool for PF, but not all patients exhibit changes on ultrasound, making additional techniques necessary. the plantar fascia mechanical properties can be assessed by Elastography, such as Strain elastography and shear wave elastography. Strain elastography is subjective and operatordependent, while shear wave elastography provides a quantitative measure of tissue stiffness. Method: This study is a case control that has been conducted on 30 PFis patients (clinically diagnosed) and 30 matched control healthy individuals with no pain. It aimed to determine the added value of elastography to B-Mode ultrasound in the PFis diagnosis in comparison with healthy people. PF thickness and SWE stiffness elasticity (Young's modulus in kPa and shear wave velocity in m/s) were measured 1 cm distally from the calcaneal insertion. Correlations with VAS, AOFAS and the 17-Italian Foot Function Index (17-FFI) were determined. Results: Plantar fasciitis can be significantly assessed by SWE velocity and elasticity. There is a negative correlation between plantar fascia thickness and both SWE velocity and elasticity. Mean SWV value in healthy subjects was 5.92 m/s and in patients 3.02 m/s with a mean stiffness value of 109.1 kPa and 49.35 kPa respectively (p < 0.001). For SWV a cut-off value of 4.1 m/s had a specificity of 100 % and sensitivity of 93.33%. For stiffness a cut-off value of 48.1 kPa had a specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 76.67%. The mean thickness of healthy fascias was 2.93 mm (range 1.8-3.7) compared to 5.25 mm (range 3.4-8.3) in plantar fasciitis (p < 0.001) with cut off value about 3.7 had a specificity of 100 % and sensitivity of 90%. Conclusion: Our study has proven that the diagnostic accuracy is improved by SWE compared to B-US and that the combination of BUS and SWE is a strong diagnostic tool in detection of PFis and may be helpful in diagnosing early cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertensive patients are more susceptible to develop hypotension after the induction of general anesthesia (GA), most likely due to hypovolemia. An inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVCCI) > 40–50% can predict hypotension after the induction of GA in the general population by variable accuracies. The current study aimed to investigate IVCCI% as a predictor of postinduction hypotension in hypertensive patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Methods: Ultrasound IVCCI % was assessed for all controlled hypertensive patients immediately before induction of GA. After induction of GA, patients were diagnosed with postinduction hypotension if their systolic arterial pressure (SAP) dropped by ≥ 30% of the baseline value and/or mean arterial pressure (MAP) dropped to < 65 mmHg up to 15 min after intubation. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of IVCCI% was compared to patients' classification either developing hypotension after induction of GA or not as a gold standard. Results: Of the 153 patients who completed the study, 62 (40.5%) developed hypotension after the induction of GA, and 91 (59.5%) did not. An IVCCI > 39% predicted the occurrence of postinduction hypotension with high accuracy (84%) (AUC 0.908, P < 0.001). The area of uncertainty (by gray zone analysis) of IVCCI lies at values from 39 to 45%. This gray zone included 21 patients (13.7% of all patients). Conclusion: An inferior vena cava collapsibility index > 39% before anesthetic induction can be a simple noninvasive reliable predictor of hypotension after the induction of GA for hypertensive patients not treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and undergoing noncardiac surgery. Trial registration: This clinical trial was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Zagazig University (ZUIRB #9424 dated 03/04/2022), and patients' informed consent for participation in the study was obtained during the period from May 2022 to May 2023. All study procedures were carried out in accordance with the ethical standards of the Helsinki Declaration of 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the associations between the c.189G > T polymorphism of the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) gene and the growth and litter size-related traits in the Native rabbit in Middle Egypt (NMER). One hundred sixty-two NMER rabbits were genotyped by RFLP-PCR using Sau3AI restriction enzyme and the associations of the reported genotypes with body weights at 5th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th week old, body gain, and daily gain plus, the litter size-related traits were determined. Additionally, the genotypic and allelic frequencies, the effective (Ne) and observed (NA) numbers of alleles, observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), and the decrease in heterozygosity because of inbreeding (FIS) were calculated. Three genotypes; GG, GT, and TT with 0.65, 0.33, and 0.02 frequencies, respectively which fit HWE were reported. These genotypes displayed a marked low FIS value. Significant associations of the genotypes with the body weights, and gains, except at the 5th week old determined with superiority of the GT genotype compared with the other genotypes. All reported litter size-related traits significantly varied among different genotypes. In summary, the c.189G > T SNP of the IRS-1 gene is an effective genetic marker to improve growth performance and litter size traits of the NMER rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman amplifiers (RAs) can be represented as one of the best solutions for transmission techniques, where they can compensate attenuation and transmit the optical signal to long-haul distances. This work proposes and investigates two cascaded models (multi-stages of RAs) for enhancing the received power and the overall gain. This study includes three fiber types: Dispersion Shifted Fiber, Truewave and Freelight fibers at 100 km distance and pumping powers of 500, 600 and 700 mW. The obtained results reveal that the best results gain is 46.46 dB and the power of output signal is 42.47 dBm achieved at 700 mW pump power with Truewave fiber. The models are compared with previously published work, where the gain and the output signal power are enhanced to more than 66.58–85.84%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canagliflozin (CFZ) is a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2) that lowers albuminuria in type-2 diabetic patients, cardiovascular, kidney, and liver disease. CFZ is classified as class IV in the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) and is characterized by low permeability, solubility, and bioavailability, most likely attributed to hepatic first-pass metabolism. Nanocrystal-based sublingual formulations were developed in the presence of sodium caprate, as a wetting agent, and as a permeability enhancer. This formulation is suitable for children and adults and could enhance solubility, permeability, and avoid enterohepatic circulation due to absorption through the sublingual mucosa. In the present study, formulations containing various surfactants (P237, P338, PVA, and PVP K30) were prepared by the Sono-homo-assisted precipitation ion technique. The optimized formula prepared with PVP-K30 showed the smallest particle size (157 ± 0.32 nm), Zeta-potential (−18 ± 0.01), and morphology by TEM analysis. The optimized formula was subsequently formulated into a sublingual tablet containing Pharma burst-V® with a shorter disintegration time (51s) for the in-vivo study. The selected sublingual tablet improved histological and biochemical markers (blood glucose, liver, and kidney function), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and protein kinase B (AKT) pathway compared to the market formula, increased CFZ's antidiabetic potency in diabetic rabbits, boosted bioavailability by five-fold, and produced faster onset of action. These findings suggest successful treatment of diabetes with CFZ nanocrystal-sublingual tablets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Male infertility is a major health problem with multi-factorial etiology. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has revolutionized the treatment of men with severely compromised semen parameters and improved their chances of achieving pregnancy. However, many concerns have been raised about ICSI safety; in part owing to utilizing aneuploid sperms from infertile men, which may be associated with an increased incidence of chromosomal aneuploidies in ICSI pregnancies. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of sperm aneuploidies for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y in semen of infertile males with failed ICSI. This will assist infertile couples and enable them to make informed decisions. For this purpose, sperm aneuploidy frequency for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y was evaluated by multicolor fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) in 35 patients with abnormal semen parameters, and 10 normozoospermic healthy men who served as controls. Results Sperm aneuploidies for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y in semen from infertile men with failed ICSI were detected at higher frequencies than controls. Patients had significantly higher disomy, nullisomy, diploidy, and polyploidy frequencies compared to controls. Conclusions Infertile men with failed ICSI have a significantly increased frequency of sperm chromosome abnormalities compared to controls. Fluorescence in situ hybridization facilitated the study of numerical chromosomal abnormalities in human sperm nuclei (sperm FISH). Sperm FISH, prior to the application of assisted reproductive techniques, saves a considerable amount of time and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a widespread global environmental concern, representing an emerging contaminant with major implications for ecosystems and human well-being. While extensive research has focused on MPs in aquatic environments, their impact on sediments and soils remains inadequately explored. Studies have confirmed the harmful effects of MPs on soil and sediment biota, as well as on the properties of these ecosystems. Furthermore, the long-term persistence of MPs within the environment contributes to their accumulation in terrestrial and marine food chains, with potential consequences for groundwater quality. Although several methods have been applied to mitigate MP pollution, some methods have drawbacks and some are not studied well, necessitating the urgent exploration of novel, sustainable, and eco-friendly approaches. Biochar is a remarkable solution for pollution removal; recently it has been used in addressing the increasingly concerning issue of microplastic contamination. This review aims to shed light on the difficulty posed by MPs in soils and sediments, while highlighting the remediation methods and the potential advantages of utilizing BC as an environmentally friendly solution for MP removal and remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of nano and organic selenium on ovarian activity, fertility rate, and progesterone hormone levels in Ossimi ewes. Thirty ewes were treated with intra-vaginal sponges impregnated with medroxyprogesterone acetate (40 mg) for 14 d and simultaneously assigned randomly to three groups. The 1st group ewe served as control (CG). Ewes in the 2nd and 3rd groups were treated orally with organic selenium 3 mg/ewe and Nano-selenium 0.2 mg/ewes during intra-vaginal sponges (IVS) treatment SeG and N-SeG, respectively. The ovarian activity was monitored using an ultrasonic device, and serum samples were harvested for progesterone measurement. The results revealed that ewes in SeG and N-SeG groups had a significantly (p <.05) higher number of small and large follicles after 48 h of IVS withdrawal than in the CG, respectively, on the left ovary. Also, the N-SeG group had a larger diameter of the Corpus luteum on both ovaries' sides than CG, respectively, at the same time. However, the diameter of large follicles on both ovaries was significantly (p <.05) larger in the N-SeG after 72 h of IVS withdrawal than in SeG and CG. The ewes in N-SeG and SeG came in oestrus earlier (p <.05) than those in CG, and the oestrus durations were longer (p <.05) than that recorded in ewes of CG. The oestrus response and fertility rate were higher (p <.01) in N-SeG and SeG than in CG. Moreover, the progesterone concentrations were significantly higher (p <.05) in the N-SeG and SeG after 48 and 72 h of IVS withdrawal than in the CG. Also, the recorded serum progesterone concentrations in the included ewes non-significantly differed between groups during the first four months of pregnancy. It could be concluded that using nano and organic selenium can improve the quality of ovarian follicles and CL function and enhance the fertility rate in Ossimi ewes. Improvement of ovarian activity in ewes. Improvement of ewes fertility rate. Effect of Nano and organic selenium on Ossimi ewes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory, autoimmune disease that could be disabling throughout its course. It affects people in their most reproductive years with relatively high morbidity and mortality. Long non-coding RNAs became one of the epigenetic mechanisms to prove a link to RA pathogenesis and development, including H19 and MALAT1 genes. These two genes' expressions had proved to increase in multiple diseases, attracting attention to their polymorphisms and their possible risk role. Assess the association between H19 SNP (rs2251375) and MALAT1 SNP (rs3200401) and the susceptibility of RA and its disease activity. In this pilot study, 200 hundred subjects (100 RA patients and 100 healthy controls) were investigated for a possible link between the polymorphisms H19 SNP (rs2251375) and MALAT1 SNP (3200401) and RA susceptibility and disease activity. RA-related investigations and clinical assessment were done. Real-time PCR genotyping of both SNPs was done using TaqMan® MGB probes. There was no association between the SNPs and risk of developing RA. However, both SNPs had a significant association with high disease activity. H19 SNP (rs2251375) heterozygous genotype CA had an association with elevated levels of ESR (p = 0.04) and higher DAS28-ESR score (p = 0.03). MALAT1 (rs3200401) C allele had an association with elevated ESR (p = 0.001), DAS28-ESR (p = 0.03), and DAS28-CRP (p = 0.007), while CC genotype had an association with DAS28-CRP (p = 0.015). Linkage disequilibrium and haplotyping of the alleles of both SNPs were analyzed as both genes are present on chromosome 11, but no significant association was found between any of the combinations of the alleles (p > 0.05), denoting that (rs2251375) and (rs3200401) are not in linkage disequilibrium. There is no association between H19 SNP (rs2251375) and MALAT1 SNP (rs3200401) and the susceptibility of RA. However, there is an association between H19 SNP (rs2251375) genotype CA and MALAT1 SNP (rs3200401) genotype CC with RA high disease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting of the levels of greenhouse gases in the air with high precision and low cost is a very urgent demand for environmental protection. Phononic crystals (PnCs) represent a novel sensor technology, particularly for high-performance sensing applications. This study has been conducted by using two PnC designs (periodic and quasi-periodic) to detect the CO2 pollution in the surrounding air through a wide range of concentrations (0–100%) and temperatures (0–180 °C). The detection process is physically dependent on the displacement of Fano resonance modes. The performance of the sensor is demonstrated for the periodic and Fibonacci quasi-periodic (S3 and S4 sequences) structures. In this regard, the numerical findings revealed that the periodic PnC provides a better performance than the quasi-periodic one with a sensitivity of 31.5 MHz, the quality factor (Q), along with a figure of merit (FOM) of 280 and 95, respectively. In addition, the temperature effects on the Fano resonance mode position were examined. The results showed a pronounced temperature sensitivity with a value of 13.4 MHz/°C through a temperature range of 0–60 °C. The transfer matrix approach has been utilized for modeling the acoustic wave propagation through each PnC design. Accordingly, the proposed sensor has the potential to be implemented in many industrial and biomedical applications as it can be used as a monitor for other greenhouse gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive usage of chemical fertilizers has detrimental effects on the environment and the safety of food. Conversely, utilizing organic fertilizers such as sage offers several advantages, including cost-effectiveness, soil enhancement, and promotion of root development. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of different potassium fertilizer sources and biofertilizers (specifically Bacillus cereus (MBc)) on potato plants. The experiment employed a split-plot design with three replicates, where the main plot factor was MBc (with and without), and the subplot factor was the sources of potassium fertilizer (control without K fertilizer, 100% Feldspar (FD), 100% Filter cake (FC), 75% FD + 25% FC, 25% FD + 75% FC, and 50% FD + 50% FC). The purpose was to examine the growth response of potato plants to these treatments. The results indicated that all treatments increased plant height, stem count, and tuber dry matter compared to the control. Furthermore, all treatments exhibited a higher uptake of macronutrients (N, P, and K) compared to the control. Notably, the plants treated with 100FC combined with MBc showed a significant 104.74% increase in total tuber weight compared to the control treatment. Additionally, the addition of 100FC with MBc significantly enhanced the availability of N, P, and K by 73.13%, 110.33%, and 51.88% respectively, compared to the control treatment. Apart from the biofertilizers, the individual application of FC and its combination with FD also demonstrated positive effects on soil fertility, potato growth, and yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S. aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that causes a wide spectrum of different diseases in humans and animals. S. aureus infects the skin of rabbits, causing irritation of some dermal tissue suppurative dermatitis and invades subcutaneous tissues, causing different severe diseases and different physiological changes. The aim of this study is to update knowledge and information on rabbit Staphylococcosis by concentrating mostly on the various symptoms and studying the physiological changes under the effect of pharmaceuticals and extracts of herbal plants as treatments for infected rabbits. Isoteritonin was used as a pharmaceutical treatment, while extracts of Beta vulgaris L. (beetroot) and Kaempferia pandurate (Chinese ginger) were used as an herbal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myocardial fibrosis has recently been proposed as one of the contributing factors to the diverse pathogenicity of cardiomyopathy in sickle cell disease. Objective: In this study, cardiac fibrosis and subclinical cardiac changes in children with sickle cell disease were evaluated using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), tissue Doppler echocardiography and serum galectin-3. Materials and methods: The study included 34 children with sickle cell disease who were compared with a similar number of healthy controls. Cardiac MRI was used to evaluate late gadolinium enhancement, native T1 mapping, extracellular volume, and T2* for estimation of iron load. Cardiac function and myocardial performance index (MPI, evaluated by tissue Doppler echocardiography) and serum galectin-3 were compared to controls. Results: The mean age of the included patients was 13.3 ± 3.2 years. Myocardial iron load by T2* was normal. The mean level of extracellular volume (35.41 ± 5.02%) was significantly associated with the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises (P = 0.017) and negatively correlated with hemoglobin levels (P = 0.005). Galectin-3 levels were significantly higher among cases than controls (P = 0.00), at a cutoff value on the receiver operating characteristic curve of 6.5 ng/ml, sensitivity of 82.5% and specificity of 72.8%. The extracellular volume was significantly higher in cases, with a MPI > 0.4. Conclusion: Diffuse interstitial myocardial fibrosis can be detected early in children with sickle cell disease using T1 mapping and is associated with a high frequency of vaso-occlusive crisis. MPI of the left ventricle and serum galectin-3 are recommended screening tools for subclinical cardiac abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke is a heterogeneous and multi-factorial disease that affects people globally. Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 is involved in blood- brain barrier breakdown, edema development, pro-inflammatory cytokine activation and destruction of myelin proteins are all connected to the pathogenic events that take place during an ischemic stroke., matrix metalloproteinase- 9 concentration is greatly related to infarct extension, neurologic impairments, and hemorrhagic transformation in individuals with ischemic stroke. Objective: We focused our research on improving individuals' outcomes after having an acute ischemic stroke by assessing the level of serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 24 hours after the stroke begins and the relation between Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9, clinical severity, and ischemic stroke prognosis. Methods: This follow up prospective cohort research was conducted at Zagazig University Hospitals' Intensive Care Unit and Stroke Unit at the Neurology Department and Emergency Room. The study included 54 people experiencing their first acute ischemic stroke. Stroke severity and serum MMP-9 level were assessed on admission and following a 15-day follow-up. Results: Level of Serum MMP-9 was 1085.93 ng/ml with a range from 485 to 1544 ng/ml. Statistically significant positive correlation was found between serum MMP-9 and neurological severity as measured by NIHSS at admission and after 15 days. Also, there was a highly significant positive correlation between MMP-9 and functional outcome as assessed by mRS after 15 da ys follow up. The best cutoff of MMP-9 in prediction of large size infarction, that was ≥ 1042 Also, the best cutoff of MMP-9 in prediction of severe stroke was ≥ 1091 ng/ml. The best cutoff of MMP-9 in prediction of severe stroke after 15 days is ≥972.5 ng/ml. Among factors significantly correlated with baseline NIHSS, MMP-9, size of infarct, BI and mRS were significantly independently associated with baseline NIHSS among studied patients.Conclusion: Serum MMP-9 may act as potential prognostic factor predicting neurological severity and short term outcome in individuals with ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]