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Abstract The neuronal correlate of tremor genesis and cognitive function in essential tremor (ET) and its modulation by deep brain stimulation (DBS) are poorly understood. To explore the underlying metabolic topography of motor and cognitive symptoms, sixteen ET patients (age 63.6 ± 49.1 years) and 18 healthy controls (HC) (61.1 ± 6.3 years) underwent tremor and cognitive assessments and18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET of the brain. Multivariate spatial covariance analysis was applied for identifying ET related metabolic brain networks. For network validation and to explore DBS effects, 8 additional ET patients (68.1 ± 8.2 years) treated with DBS were assessed in both the ON and OFF state, respectively. The ET related metabolic spatial covariance pattern (ETRP) was characterized by relatively increased metabolism in the cerebellum, brainstem, and temporo-occipital cortices, accompanied by relative metabolic decreases mainly in fronto-temporal and motor cortices. Network expression showed inverse correlations with tremor severity and disease duration and positive correlations with cognitive dysfunction. DBS substantially alleviated tremor, but had only marginal effects on cognitive performance. There were no significant DBS effects on ETRP expression at the group level, but all but one subject showed higher scores in the ON state. Our findings suggest ET is characterized by an abnormal brain network associated with disease phenotype.

The research successfully synthesized a composite MIL-100(Fe) modified Fe3O4 (Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe)) catalyst and examined its efficiency in degrading methyl orange (MO) through the photo-Fenton process compared to Fenton. The different percentages of Fe3O4 were integrated into MIL-100(Fe) and their effects on material characteristics and degradation capabilities were studied. Ex-situ synthesis involved varying Fe3O4 weight ratios (3, 10, and 20% w/w). Characterization techniques confirmed the integration of Fe3O4 and MIL-100(Fe) and revealed changes in surface area, pore size, and thermal stability with Fe3O4 addition. Meanwhile, removal tests showed promising results with the photo-Fenton process exhibiting maximum efficiency (95.51%) using 10% Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe). This study provides valuable insights into developing efficient photo-Fenton catalysts for environmental remediation, particularly for addressing dye pollution in wastewater by highlighting the potential of Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) composites in this context.

This study aims to thoroughly examine the dangers associated with not adhering to a specific madhhab in contemporary Islamic law from the perspective of Muhammad Sa'id Ramadhan Al-Buthy. In order to accurately achieve the study objective, a comprehensive examination of Al-Buthy’s critique concerning non-madhhab practices was carried out, with a primary focus on how these practices could disrupt legal interpretations and undermine the authority of Islamic jurisprudence. The analysis included the process of reviewing primary texts, scholarly commentaries, and secondary literature, all of which were carried out with the aim of accurately comparing the critique by Al-Buthy with other contemporary perspectives on the issue. The results showed that Al-Buthy strongly criticized non-madhhab movement for promoting subjective and inconsistent interpretations of Islamic law. The figure argued that this movement was capable of weakening the structured and scholarly tradition of Islamic jurisprudence. Furthermore, Al-Buthy emphasized that established madhhab played a very important role in preserving the integrity and continuity of Islamic legal principles, underscoring the dangers associated with abandoning these schools, including fragmentation and a lack of authoritative guidance. The critique of the observed figure typically emphasizes the risks of non-madhhab practices, such as the potential for division in Muslim community. This study makes a novel contribution by specifically focusing on Al-Buthy’s critique, which are often cited but not deeply analyzed in the context of non-madhhab movements. Specifically, the investigation situated the arguments of the observed figure in contemporary debates on the role of madhhab, thereby offering a fresh perspective on the relationship between traditional Islamic jurisprudence and modern legal challenges. The implications are particularly significant for scholars, legal practitioners, and policymakers in Islamic law, advocating for a renewed commitment to traditional legal frameworks to prevent the pitfalls of subjective interpretations associated with non-madhhab methodologies.

In anti-lock brake systems (ABS), the primary goal of the controller is to maximize vehicle deceleration by maintaining the slip ratio at an optimal level. This work presents a fresh approach that enhances ABS performance by integrating a sliding mode controller with a barrier function. This method combines integral sliding mode control with adaptive laws informed by barrier functions, effectively managing external disturbances and uncertainties in inertia. A significant benefit of this approach is that it does not require prior knowledge of the upper limits of these uncertainties and disturbances, thanks to the barrier function-based sliding mode control. The system state is initially aligned with the switching manifold, ensuring robust compensation for any uncertainties and disturbances right from the start of braking. During the sliding mode phase, dynamic properties are finely tuned to ensure that the system’s performance remains consistent. The effectiveness and reliability of the proposed controller have been demonstrated through numerical simulations conducted in MATLAB/Simulink, proving its capability across a range of road conditions.

Abstract To verify the treatment effect of the combination of transpulmonary chemoembolization (TPCE) and microwave ablation (MWA), targeting the treatment of recurrent or advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A total of 53 patients were studied and grouped according to the diameter of the largest pulmonary nodule, defined as index tumor size (ITS). Patients with an ITS > 3 cm (n = 20) were treated with TPCE and MWA. Patients with an ITS ≤ 3 cm were treated either with a combination therapy (n = 24) or MWA alone (n = 9). The treatment response, including complications and survival outcome, was then analyzed. After TPCE, there was an average ITS reduction of 0.91 cm, and 25% of patients in ITS > 3 cm were downgraded to ITS ≤ 3 cm. After TPCE, there were 12 patients (27%) with PR status and 32 (73%) with SD status. No PD patient in our case series was noted before MWA.The complication rate of MWA was significantly higher in ITS ≤ 3 cm than in ITS > 3 cm (p = 0.013). The median survival time (MST) was 26.7 months, and the time to progression was 13.2 months. The patients in the ITS ≤ 3 cm had longer MST than the others (31.6 vs. 15.8 months, p = 0.003). The significant prognostic factor was ITS > 3 cm (HR: 1.18, p = 0.02). A combination of TPCE and MWA might be feasible to control non-operable, recurrent, or advanced NSCLC.

Background: With the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, some COVID-19 patients have a risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection. Viral gene sequencing has found that some of these patients were reinfected by a different and others by the same strains. This has raised concerns about the effectiveness of immunity after infection and the reliability of vaccination. We conducted a survey study to assess the characteristics of patients with reinfection and possible causes. Methods and Results: An online survey study was conducted in October 2021 on Facebook social media. This study included 2413 respondents: 1315 subjects received the BNT162b2 mRNA-based Vaccine (Pfizer/BioNTech), 811 received the ChAdOx1 (AZD1222) adenoviral vector vaccine (Oxford–AstraZeneca), and 287 received the Sinopharm inactivated COVID-10 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV). The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine appeared to be the most effective (84%) in preventing reinfection compared to the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine (79%) and the Sinopharm vaccine (70%) (P

Seablite salt (Suaeda maritima) was a unique product currently under development. Seablite is a low-sodium salt essential for modern society, particularly for those who prioritize their health. This investigation aims to employ a dynamic system approach to evaluate the revenue and profit generated by the salt production system. The dynamic systems approach steps: the construction of the causal loop diagram, the development of the stock-and-flow model, the parameterization of the model, the simulation to analyze the system's behavior under various conditions, the verification and validation, the development of policy recommendations, and the conclusion with a summary of the core findings. The model was developed using four submodels: (1) demand, (2) supply, (3) production cost, and (4) revenue. The moderate scenario demonstrates that the salt flow requirements can be satisfied by utilizing the dynamic system to protect the revenue and production costs. It was consistent with the escalating production expenses. According to the optimistic scenario, the salt demand can be satisfied until 2026. The company's revenue is insufficient to cover production costs due to the rise in raw material prices. Farmers begin to reap the rewards in this scenario. It's because the overall revenue exceeds the production costs.

Abstract Meaningful communication between health service users and providers is essential. However, when stakeholders are unfamiliar with new health services, innovative communication methods are necessary to engage them. The aim of the study was to create, validate, and evaluate a video-vignette to enhance stakeholders’ (physicians, pharmacists, and laypeople) engagement and understanding of an innovative pharmacy-based diabetes screening and prevention program. Also, to assess the video-vignette’s capacity to measure appetite and appeal for such preventive programs. This mixed-methods study consisted of two phases. In phase one, a video-vignette depicting the proposed screening and prevention program was developed and validated following established international guidelines (n = 25). The video-vignette was then evaluated by stakeholders (n = 99). In phase two, the video-vignette’s capacity as a communication tool was tested in focus groups and interviews to explore stakeholders’ perspectives and engagement on the proposed service (n = 22). Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. In total, 146 stakeholders participated. The script was well-received, deemed credible, and realistic. Furthermore, the video-vignette received high ratings for its value, content, interest, realism, and visual and audio quality. The focus groups and interviews provided valuable insights into the design and delivery of the new service. The video-vignette compellingly portrayed the novel pharmacy-based diabetes screening and prevention service. It facilitated in-depth discussions among stakeholders and significantly enhanced their understanding and appreciation of such health services. The video-vignette also generated significant interest in pharmacy-based diabetes screening and prevention programs, serving as a powerful tool to promote enrollment in these initiatives.

Abstract Aim To develop a transitional care model for autoimmune rheumatic disease patients based on the needs analysis. Method Mixed Method, Explanatory sequential design (QUAN-qual) has been conducted. Quantitative data were collected through medical record and structured interviews. Qualitative study has been done through Focused Group Discussion (FGD), based on problems met in previous quantitative study. We have done the coding processed, followed by determining categories and themes to reach the intercoder agreement with peer-debriefing. Analysis of the final results of research was assisted by the external auditor to form a model of care. Result The quantitative data collection from 27 patients showed that the transition age was 18–19 year-old, age of onset 4–17 year-old, 23 patients (85, 2%) with SLE, 4 patients (14.8%) with JIA. Two patients (7.4%) had different diagnosis from the pediatric clinic, 1 patient (3.7%) had no diagnosis from previous clinic. Drug switching during transition occurred in 14 patients (51.9%) and 3 patients (11.1%) has no known medication history. Data regarding disease activity at initial diagnosis were not available in 26 patients (96.3%). The combined FGD analysis found several key words related to “the need of change” in RSCM autoimmune rheumatic transitional care. Conclusion A development of transitional care model for autoimmune rheumatic disease consist of documents about service algorithm, transfer documents, systematic work protocols with education check list has been done.

Although oil extraction is indispensable for meeting worldwide energy demands and ensuring industrial sustainability, various hazards are observed. Therefore, this study examined the chemical oil recovery-related environmental consequences concerning water, soil, ecosystem, and human health damages. A numerical analysis explored the mathematical model for oil extraction from unconventional sources by utilising 3D porous prism geometries under high-temperature conditions. This unique methodology utilised environmentally friendly TiO2-SiO2 hybrid nanoparticles, which were not previously investigated. The optimal conditions for oil extraction were then determined by simulations performed at 100 °C, 150 °C, and 200 °C for 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, and 12 h. This study also explored the optimisation of recovery rates by analysing several variables using ANSYS Fluent software, such as flow rate, porosity, and volume fraction. Consequently, these green TiO2-SiO2 nanoparticles presented an oil recovery rate that was 28 % and 6 % higher than water-flooding and conventional monofluid injection techniques, respectively. This outcome suggested that these TiO2-SiO2 nanoparticles could enhance efficiency and minimise environmental damage.

Background Multiple studies have highlighted the importance of carotid artery stenting (CAS) operator's experiences. However, fellowship‐trained neurointerventionalists remain an under‐represented specialty in the literature. We aim to report the complication rate of CAS performed exclusively by neurointerventionalists. Methods Retrospective cohort study regarding stenting symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis was collected at multiple comprehensive stroke centers. The primary outcome included a composite of the 30‐day periprocedural mortality, symptomatic ischemic stroke, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and myocardial infarction. The secondary outcomes included other complications. Chi‐squared tests were performed for categorical variables, and Welch's t‐test was used for continuous variables. Cutoffs in continuous variables were estimated using grid search optimization. Sensitivity analyses were performed for missing data. Results Between 2018 and 2022, 1445 CAS procedures were performed by 38 neurointerventionalists. We have 30‐day outcome data on 1281 patients. Patients were predominantly symptomatic (93.01%), male (65.79%), White (70.36%), and had a median age of 69. The primary outcomes occurred in 26 (1.8%) cases, with 13 (0.9%) death, 8 (0.55%) symptomatic ischemic stroke, 4 (0.28%) symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and 1 (0.07%) myocardial infarction. A statistically significant increase in all outcomes correlated with advanced age (P = 0.001), women (P = 0.013), aortic arch type 3 (P = 0.01), and higher preprocedural modified Rankin score (P = 0.006). Secondary outcomes were higher in Hispanic and Black patients (P = 0.007) and those with low diastolic blood pressure at stenting (P = 0.04). Conclusion CAS, conducted by fellowship‐trained neurointerventionalist physicians in comprehensive stroke centers, demonstrates a lower complication rate than what was previously reported in CAS, carotid endarterectomy, and transcarotid artery revascularization literature. Physician training, higher frequency, and standardized stroke care in a comprehensive stroke center may contribute to this low complication rate.

This research used a defect engineering approach by introducing a benzoic acid modulator to synthesis Al2O3/UiO-66 composites. Adding 5 eq benzoic acid (Al/UiO-66(B5)) produces mesopores with irregular morphology. Increasing benzoic acid to 20 eq (Al/UiO-66(B20)) produces ordered octahedral crystals. Deformation of Al2O3/UiO-66 by benzoic acid can effectively remove Remazol Red 5B (RRB) dye from the aqueous solution. The adsorption performance of the synthesized material was investigated in terms of pH, temperature, initial concentration of RRB dye, and contact period. Al/UiO-66(B5) shows the best RRB adsorption capacity performance with Qmax = 333.33 mg/g at 30 °C due to the defects and mesopore structure formed. From 30° to 50 °C, the adsorption capacity decreases, and acidic media are more conducive to the adsorption of RRB dye. The presence of interfering anions such as Cl−, NO3−, CO32−, and SO42− can be a limiting factor in adsorption. The kinetics results show that a pseudo second order model describes absorption. The data on chemical and physical adsorption equilibrium on heterogeneous surfaces are well-fitted by the Freundlich isotherm model. Other kinetic models, such as Intraparticle Diffusion and Elovich, as well as other isotherm models, such as Temkin and Scatchard, were also evaluated in this study. RRB adsorption was hypothesized to be spontaneous, feasible and exothermic based on the assessed thermodynamic parameters ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°. Therefore, Al2O3/UiO-66 with benzoic acid modification can be a promising adsorbent in wastewater treatment. This work can provide new theoretical insights into the modification of composite MOFs for simultaneous removal of RRB dyes.

This study examines the implementation of road maintenance policies by the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (PUPR) of Indramayu Regency. Good road infrastructure is very important to support people's daily activities and economic growth. This study uses a qualitative approach with the policy implementation theory from Tachjan (2006) which includes the role of actors and organizations, interaction and communication, context and environment, resources and constraints, and evaluation and learning. The results of the study show that the implementation of road maintenance policies in Indramayu still faces several obstacles, namely limited financial and human resources, as well as inhibiting factors such as 1) resources that are still inadequate both for tools, facilities, time or human manpower 2) information and communication that does not run in both directions between the PUPR Office and the community 3) the division of potential such as unclear organizational and bureaucratic structures causing the policy program to seem to float without knowing who is in control.

This paper reports on a quasi-experimental study designed to explore the relationship between lexical diversity and academic vocabulary use among Indonesian EFL university students engaging in online academic writing discussions and assignments. The study analysed 11,624 tokens and 5437 types collected from students' contributions in online discussions and academic writing assignments. Findings revealed that the level of lexical diversity among the students was significantly varied depending on the text length and the total amount of data. It was found most students were indicated to possess average ESL level of academic writing with a D value ranging from 50 to 70 while some others indicated a high level of adult ESL with developed academic text in the range between 70 and 80 D level. Moreover, it was also found that the degree of lexical diversity was not affected by the writing topic familiarity or students' academic year. Findings revealed a statistically significant negative correlation between measures of lexical diversity and academic vocabulary use. Contrary to expectations, while a diversified vocabulary generally correlates positively with student writing performance, this relationship reverses in contexts emphasizing the academic quality of writing. These results highlight the complex dynamics of lexical usage in academic writing and suggest that mere lexical diversity does not always equate to higher academic writing quality. This study contributes to a critical understanding of how lexical diversity functions in digital academic environments and offers implications for English language teaching practices in higher education settings.

Background: We aimed to investigate the incidence of new acute myocardial infarction (AMI), in patients with Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) who had old MI. We hypothesized that COVID-19 increases the rate of repeated AMI in this population regardless of age and gender. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for adult patients admitted with COVID-19 and developed thromboembolic event (TEE) in 2020. Patients were categorized based on the history of old MI, new MI, age, and gender. Results: Among 16,903 patients with COVID-19 who were admitted, 210 (1.2%) developed TEE (89% were males, 55% were

This paper presents a prototype for an intelligent, self-contained theft detection system designed for small-scale applications. Utilizing a Raspberry Pi 3 as the core processing unit, the system employs a motion-detecting camera to monitor a defined area, recording and securely archiving video data on a cloud server upon detecting movement. This cloud-based repository supports real-time analysis, ensuring that data remains available for future reference. Battery-powered configuration enhances the system’s portability, making it adaptable across various environments, such as healthcare for patient monitoring or wildlife tracking for behavioural studies. The design aligns with IoT principles, featuring autonomous operation and cloud connectivity, offering a scalable, flexible solution capable of integration into larger IoT ecosystems for diverse surveillance applications.

IntroductionPrevious studies have shown that mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are on the rise globally, particularly among university students. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among university students, and the associated potential risk factors, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in a sample of 728 students who anonymously completed three sets of questionnaires: a sociodemographic and lifestyle information questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to screen for depressive symptoms and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale to screen for anxiety symptoms.ResultsIn a survey of 728 students, 81.5% reported depression and 63.6% anxiety, with no difference between medical and non-medical majors. Regular exercise, a history of psychological disorders, a diagnosis of chronic illness, and the use of antidepressant medications were significant indicators of depression. Significant anxiety markers included female gender, a diagnosis of chronic illness, a history of psychological disorders, the use of antidepressant medications, and smoking. Surprisingly, we did not observe any significant differences between the prevalence of depression or anxiety symptoms and common risk predictors, such as poor academic performance, low family income, and year of study.ConclusionDepression and anxiety had a high prevalence among undergraduates, regardless of their field of study; therefore, we recommend the implementation and expansion of community-based mental health prevention programs and mentorship programs. Universities with counseling programs should identify and eliminate factors that contribute to depression and anxiety.

The injustice of labor policy in Indonesia has marginalized workers in the tripartite negotiation process dominated by the logic of corporatism, reflected in the policies of the Job Creation Law, Government Regulation Number 78 of 2015 regarding wages and several labor rules tend to favor employers and ignore the needs of a decent living for workers. The research aims to analyze the driving factors of resistance, the form of movement transformation, and its political implications. The qualitative descriptive method uses primary data from some government regulations on labor in Indonesia, secondary data from online news (2014–2024), journal articles, and data from relevant institutions related to the labor movement. Based on the theory of resource mobilization and the transformation of the labor movement from street demonstrations to the structural political strategy of the Labor Party's representation, it shows the expansion of influence and connectivity. The study results show that the labor political movement faces severe challenges, such as the dominance of the power of capital owners and fluctuations in support at the electoral level. However, amid these dynamics, the labor movement has succeeded in building a strategic foundation to influence policies and fight for workers' welfare in a more organized and systematic.

Background: The Medication-Related Burden Quality of Life (MRB-QoL) is a 31-item valid and reliable patient-reported measure of medicine burden on functioning and well-being in people with long-term conditions (LTC). Objectives: To translate, culturally adapt, and content validate the MRB-QoL into Arabic. Methods: A rigorous approach to cross-cultural adaptation proposed by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) guideline was followed. After 3 forward translations and 2 backward translations, a multidisciplinary expert panel assessed the content validity (CV) of the items through a 2-round e-modified Delphi method followed by two-step cognitive debriefings with patients with LTC using think-aloud and probing techniques. An item-content validity index (I-CVI) score of ≥0.78 was considered acceptable. The original questionnaire developers and other researchers, as members of the review committee, reviewed and approved the Arabic version. Results: Five semantic and 3 cultural translation discrepancies were identified and resolved by rewording the items. The 2 backward translations did not reveal significant problems, and equivalence to the original tool was confirmed following committee review. The Arabic version showed acceptable CV parameters. E-modified Delphi involved 9 experts in round one and 7 in round 2. The I-CVI scores ranged from 0.67 to 1.0, and agreement was reached after 2 rounds. The CVI for the final version of the MRB-QoL was 0.96. Expert panel review showed that the MRB-QoL-Arabic version is relevant (CVI = 0.92), important (CVI = 0.97), clear (CVI = 0.98), and comprehensive in measuring the burden of medicines. Data from 5 cognitive interviews showed that items and concepts included in the Arabic version of the MRB-QoL are relevant to the targeted sample, clear, and easy to understand. Conclusion: The MRB-QoL Arabic version was developed and content validated. However, further evaluation of its other psychometric properties is necessary before it can be utilized in clinical and research settings. Using this tool will enable a more accurate understanding of the effects of treatment burden on patient well-being, thereby guiding care toward minimally disruptive medicine.

The BNT/ZIF-8 composite had been successfully synthesized in polar acetic acid solvent at room temperature with 10 and 25 % mass percentages of bentonite (BNT). BNT(10)/ZIF-8 shows increased BET surface area compared to ZIF-8, which could enhance the interaction with adsorbate. The higher adsorption capacity could improve the degradation efficiency of the composite. This is demonstrated by BNT(10)/ZIF-8 with the highest degradation efficiency of 95.52 % after 100 minutes of irradiation. Furthermore, BNT(10)/ZIF-8 still showed a high stability performance of up to 86.64 % efficiency after four consecutive cycles. This study provides an alternative reference for photocatalysts for degrading dye waste in water.

Currently, statins, the β-hydroxy-β-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-R) inhibitors, are widely used to lower cholesterol, nevertheless, they have several side effects. Consequently, the present study is designed to unravel the cardioprotective role of selected natural monoterpenoids (carvacrol and geraniol) via in-vitro targeting and molecular informatics study of HMG-R. Computational molecular informatics study revealed that carvacrol and geraniol efficiently occupies the catalytic site of HMG-R with the binding affinity (ΔG) of −4.60, and −1.99 Kcal/mol, respectively, and molecular mechanical-generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) free binding energy was depicted as −17.05 and −29.48 Kcal/mol, respectively. Further, molecular dynamics simulation was carried out for 100 ns. Carvacrol and geraniol potentially and competitively inhibit the in-vitro HMG-R activity with an IC50 value of 78.23 ± 2.21 µM, and 72.91 ± 2.92 µM, respectively. Thus, both carvacrol and geraniol exhibited significant anti-hypercholesterolemic activity while the molecular simulation studies depicted that the GR complex showed better stability than the carvacrol complex.

AbstractThis study finds a unique trend in the United States, where Arabic is one of the heritage languages of the superpower. Starting from the birth of migrants, Arabic has been more developed in America than in any other foreign language. Several educational institutions and grassroots movements could give birth to their ethnic group called ‘Arab-Americans’. We divide this article into four sections based on archived research and statistical reports. First, migration from the Arab world to America. Second, is the preservation of the Arabic language in the USA. Third, contemporary sketches through the demographic distribution of Arab-Americans, diglossia, and MSA, and funding for teaching Arabic in universities. Fourth, the prospects of Arabic in the USA. This article concludes that Arabic, originally ‘Arab-centric’, is now transforming across transnational boundaries, which provides an argument that not only Arabic is the linguistic heritage of America but also Arab-Americans who have become a new ethnicity that characterises contemporary American life.

The demand for efficient and sustainable gas separation technologies is ever-increasing in various industries, including petrochemicals, natural gas processing, and carbon capture. Polymer-based membranes offer a promising solution due to their potential for high selectivity and energy efficiency. However, achieving optimal gas separation performance often requires overcoming the limitations of individual polymers through modifications such as polymer blending. In this study, PSf/P84 blended membranes with low P84 content were fabricated using the phase separation technique with a mixture of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and tetrahydrofuran as solvents. The effect of varying the mass ratio of PSf to P84 on membrane characteristics and gas separation performance was investigated. Characterization techniques included FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, Water Contact Angle (WCA) measurement, and mechanical property testing. Gas permeation tests were conducted with single gases at room temperature and 1 bar pressure. The results revealed that the addition of P84 increased membrane thickness, Young's modulus, and thermal stability, while decreasing d-spacing, dense layer thickness, hydrophilicity, tensile strength, and elongation. The Findex values, indicating the competence of the blended membranes compared to the ideal quality, demonstrated the positive impact of P84 addition on gas separation performance compared to pure PSf membranes. The optimal gas separation selectivity was achieved with the PSf/P84 1:0.025 blended membrane for H2/CH4 (11.28, 58 % increase), H2/CO2 (6.25, 193 % increase), and H2/N2 (5.25, 35 % increase). The highest N2/CH4 selectivity (6.29, 253 % increase) was observed with the 1:0.10 composition. Regarding commercially relevant separations based on the 2008 Robeson curve, the PSf/P84 1:0.20 blend showed promise for H2/CO2 separation, while the 1:0.05 and 1:0.10 blends were suitable for N2/CH4 separation.

Background There is a global call for upscaling and optimising the role of community pharmacists (CPs) in the control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where NCDs are classified as a public health pandemic, upscaling CPs contributions has become more critical. Several contextual, professional, and educational challenges constrain the role of CPs.Objective To synthesise the perspectives of key stakeholders in the UAE healthcare system and propose a roadmap for advancing the role of CP s in controlling NCDs in the UAE.Methods This research followed a qualitative design using the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) framework for quality assurance of pharmacy profession development. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 28 experts and senior leaders, then analysed using the thematic analysis technique with the assistance of NVivo software.Results The analysis yielded three main themes that outlined the prospective roadmap: education, work environment, and policy. Some of the generated subthemes were establishing accredited NCD-specialised programmes, building a national framework for interprofessional education and collaboration, and upscaling the engagement of CPs in public health platforms and initiatives.Conclusion Improving the role of CPs in controlling the NCD pandemic in the UAE requires coherent and well-structured multidisciplinary endeavours from health policymakers, educational institutions, and all groups of healthcare professionals, including the CPs themselves.

A composite catalyst was developed to degrade methylene blue (MB) via the Fenton reaction from Fe3O4 and H2O2 with zeolite-NaY as magnetite support to reduce agglomeration. Hydrothermal and co-precipitation approaches were used to synthesize the composite. The co-precipitation method here was proven to be more suitable to produce the composite. Under optimal conditions, all composite catalysts achieved a remarkable MB reduction (more than 90 %) as confirmed through TLC analysis and UV–Vis spectra. Notably, based on linear regression, FeZ-A maintained over 60 % activity after 15 uses, while FeZ-2 showed the least Fe ion leaching. This demonstrated the effectiveness and stability of the developed catalysts.

IntroductionOne of the most prevalent and recurrent infectious diseases that can range from moderate to fatal is urinary tract infection (UTI). Broad-spectrum antibiotics are the only management strategy for UTIs in ambulators and hospital stays. Due to the ongoing emergence of antibiotic resistance among uropathogens, there is a need for proper selection of antibiotics for empirical therapy against UTIs. This study aimed to compare the etiological profiles and antibiotic susceptibility patterns between diabetic and non-diabetic UTI female patients from the Maternity and Children Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.MethodsUrine samples from different age categories of female UTI patients were collected from January 2021 to June 2023. The positive urine cultures with a single pathogen were selected and all bacterial isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF/MS system. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using VITEK-2. Our study included 2,245 female patients, of which 1825 (81%) were non-diabetic and 420 (19%) were diabetic.ResultsThe results showed a significant relationship (p = 0.00063) between the average age and the number of diabetic UTI patients. Gram-negative bacilli were more dominant (84.7%, n = 1903) than gram-positive cocci (15.3%, n = 342). Escherichia coli (40.8%) was the most prevalent pathogen identified with a significant (p

Nvidia’s Omniverse platform represents a paradigm shift in the realm of virtual environments and simulation technologies. This paper presents a comprehensive examination of the Omniverse platform, a transformative force in virtual environments and simulation technologies. We offer a detailed systematic survey of the Omniverse’s impact across various scientific fields, underscoring its role in fostering innovation and sculpting the technological future. Our focus includes the Omniverse Replicator for generating synthetic data to address data insufficiency, and the utilization of Isaac Sim with its Issac Gym and software development kit (SDK) for robotic simulations, alongside Drive Sim for autonomous vehicle emulation. We further investigate the Extended Reality (XR) suite for augmented and virtual realities, as well as the Audio2Face application, which translates audio inputs into animated facial expressions. A critical analysis of Omniverse’s technical architecture, user-accessible applications, and extensions are provided. We contrast existing surveys on the Omniverse with those on the metaverse, delineating their focus, applications, features, and constraints. The paper identifies potential domains where the Omniverse excels and explores its real-world application capabilities by discussing how existing research papers utilize the Omniverse platform. Finally, we discuss the challenges and hurdles facing the Omniverse’s broader adoption and implementation, mitigating the lack of surveys solely focusing on the Omniverse.

The aim of this paper is to examine big data management practices and big data knowledge management (KM) to determine competitive advantage, with the mediating role of innovation capacity. A quantitative approach was followed and PLS-SEM used to test the hypotheses. A total of 589 questionnaires were used for analysis. The results indicated that big data management practices significantly determine big data KM. Moreover, big data KM is positively associated with innovation capacity and competitive advantage. Innovation capacity mediates the relationship between big data KM and competitive advantage. Finally, innovation capacity significantly leads to a competitive advantage. This article offers guidelines for management to enhance competitive advantage to focus on big data management practices, big data KM, and innovation capacity.

Fevers often occur in children under five years of age due to the immature formation of their immune systems. Such fevers signify that something unusual is happening in the body, often due to illness. Parents conduct various management techniques, such as medical or traditional treatments, based on their beliefs. Banjar society has a health culture known as bapidara, which is used to treat children with fevers presumably attributable to supernatural disturbances. This exploratory research aimed to discover what alternative therapies the Banjar people use to treat children with fevers. This qualitative study used a transcendental phenomenological design. Data collection was conducted with eight mothers who had children under the age of five using in-depth interviews. Five themes were identified based on the findings: the mothers’ actions in treating children with fevers, the mothers’ understanding of bapidara as local wisdom, the procedures for performing bapidara, the health progress of the children after bapidara, and factors that influence the choice of bapidara as a traditional treatment to relieve fever. This research can be used as the initial basis for cultural nursing care decisions in the development of complementary therapy for the initial treatment of children with fever at home using medicinal plants tested for their effectiveness as family-centered care. Keywords: alternative therapies, Banjar people, children, fever Abstrak Terapi Alternatif Masyarakat Banjar dalam Penanganan Anak Demam. Demam sering terjadi pada anak usia di bawah usia lima tahun karena pembentukan kekebalan tubuh yang belum sempurna. Demam juga menjadi penanda sesuatu yang tidak biasa sedang terjadi di dalam tubuh, seringkali disebabkan karena adanya penyakit. Orang tua melakukan berbagai tindakan pertolongan seperti pengobatan medis ataupun tradisional berdasarkan sudut pandang kepercayaan mereka. Masyarakat Banjar memiliki budaya kesehatan yang dikenal dengan bapidara, yang dipercaya sebagai pengobatan untuk anak demam akibat gangguan supranatural. Penelitian eksploratif ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui terapi alternatif apa yang digunakan masyarakat Banjar untuk mengobati anak yang demam. Penelitian ini menggunakan penelitian kualitatif dengan desain transenden fenomenologis. Pengumpulan data dilakukan pada delapan ibu yang memiliki anak balita melalui wawancara mendalam. Ada lima tema yang diidentifikasi berdasarkan temuan, yaitu: tindakan ibu dalam menangani anak demam, pemahaman ibu tentang bapidara sebagai kearifan lokal, prosedur melakukan bapidara, perkembangan kesehatan anak setelah bapidara, dan faktor-faktor yang memengaruhi memilih bapidara sebagai pengobatan tradisional untuk meredakan demam. Penelitian ini dapat digunakan sebagai dasar awal keputusan asuhan keperawatan budaya dalam pengembangan ilmu pengetahuan di bidang terapi komplementer untuk penanganan pertama anak demam di rumah dengan tumbuhan obat yang sudah teruji efektivitasnya sebagai perawatan berpusat pada keluarga (family centered care). Kata Kunci: anak, demam, masyarakat Banjar, terapi alternatif

Research has been conducted on the development of Arduino Uno-based Free Fall Motion (FFM) teaching aids to increase learning motivation towards the results of practicum for 11th grade students of MAN 1 Mataram. This study aims, (1) to design arduino-based teaching aids on free fall motion (FFM) material, (2) to determine the validity level of teaching aids to 3 media experts and 3 material experts, (3) to determine the increase in student learning motivation, (4) to determine the results of student practicum, and (5) to determine the effect of learning motivation on student practicum results. This type of tool development is Research and Development (R&D). the subject model of this research is MAN 1 MATARAM students as many as 35 students. The instrument used was a questionnaire. The development model in this study uses a 3D model. 3D development model (ThreeD). This model is a modification of the Thiagarajan model which includes 4 stages called the 4D (Four-D) model. Based on the research objectives, a student's practicum teaching aid on GJB material was made. Based on the validity test results, the teaching aids are suitable for use as learning media in class 11 MAN 1 Mataram. Furthermore, the results of motivation based on the value before applying FFM props amounted to 51.60% (pretest). While the interpretation after the practicum (posttest) was 90.44% and the N-Gain was 0.46. This means that there are changes in learning activities in students. For the results of student practicum through the satisfaction interval with a very high category of 11 students, a high category of 23 students, a low category of 1 student and very low 0 students. Meanwhile, the correlation of learning motivation to student practicum results shows rcount> table (0.450>0.344) and obtained tcount> table (2.895>2.035). From the truth value of the hypothesis it can be concluded that there is an influence between learning motivation (X) and practicum learning outcomes (Y) on GJB material.

This study aims to determine the effect of the simulation method on the ability to think creatively and the basic teaching skills of students majoring in Islamic Religious Education (PAI) at the Ibnu Sina High School-Batam. The approach used in this research is quantitative, using quasi-experimental techniques. The research design used is the pretest and posttest design. The sample used in the study was students majoring in PAI, totaling 23 people who took the Learning Methods and Strategies course. Data collection is done by testing techniques. The test is used to measure students' creative thinking skills and basic teaching abilities. Data were analyzed using the N-gain and correlation test and F test, in this case, it was done with the help of SPSS 16 software. Based on the data and analysis results and statistical tests (N-gain test) it can be concluded that the simulation method has an effect on the ability to think creatively by 56 % and the basic ability to teach students majoring in Islamic Religious Education (PAI) at the Ibnu Sina High School-Batam is 79%. Based on the F test, these results are in the very convincing category. Therefore it can be said that the simulation method can be used as an alternative to developing students' creative thinking skills while improving their basic teaching skills.

Purpose: To study the treatment and outcomes of children with retinoblastoma (RB) with extraocular tumor extension (RB-EOE) and compare them with RB without extraocular tumor extension (RB-w/o-EOE). Design: Multicenter intercontinental collaborative prospective study from 2017 to 2020. RB-EOE cases included those with overt orbital tumor extension in treatment-naive patients. Cases with microscopic orbital extension detected postenucleation were excluded from the study. Participants: A total of 319 children with RB-EOE and 3116 children with RB-w/o-EOE. Intervention: Chemotherapy, enucleation, exenteration, radiotherapy. Main Outcome Measures: Systemic metastasis and death. Results: Of the 3435 RB patients included in this study, 309 (9%) were from low-income countries (LIC), 1448 (42%) from lower-middle income, 1012 (29%) from upper-middle income, and 666 (19%) patients from high-income countries. There was an inverse relationship between the percentage of RB-EOE and national income level, with 96 (31%) patients from LIC, 197 (6%) lower-middle income, 20 (2%) upper-middle income, and 6 (1%) patients from high-income countries (P = 0.0001). The outcomes were statistically significant for RB-EOE compared with RB-w/o-EOE: systemic metastasis (32% vs. 4% respectively; P = 0.0001) and metastasis-related death (63% vs. 6% respectively; P = 0.0001). Multimodal treatment was the most common form of treatment (n = 177; 54%) for RB-EOE, with most cases undergoing a combination of intravenous chemotherapy and enucleation (n = 97; 30%). Adjuvant external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) after surgery (enucleation/orbital exenteration) was given in only 68 (21%) cases. Kaplan–Meier analysis for systemic metastasis and metastasis-related death in RB-EOE was 28% and 57% at 1 year, 29% and 60% at 2 years, and 29% and 61% at 3 years, respectively. Cox regression analysis revealed that the risk of death from RB-EOE was greater in patients aged >4 years than

Background: The available evidence suggests that urinary calprotectin may be a potential biomarker in distinguishing between intrinsic acute kidney injury (AKI) and prerenal AKI. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of calprotectin in identifying pediatric acute renal impairment. Methods: A search of the Medline, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science electronic databases was conducted on April 27, 2024. Diagnostic studies conducted on the value of urinary calprotectin in AKI were included. Two independent reviewers assessed the search records and any disagreements were resolved by discussion. The risk of bias was assessed using quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS-2) guidelines. The performance of urinary calprotectin in diagnosing AKI and its discriminatory ability between intrinsic and prerenal AKI were evaluated by calculating the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI), as well as sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve (AUC). Results: Seven studies were included. The mean urinary levels of calprotectin in AKI were significantly higher than those in the non-AKI group (SMD=0.73; 95% CI, 0.50%, 0.97%; I2=0.00%). The mean urinary levels of calprotectin in pediatrics with intrinsic AKI were significantly higher than in those with prerenal AKI (SMD=0.76; 95% CI, 0.48%, 1.05%; 95% CI, 0%). Urinary calprotectin exhibited a sensitivity of 0.937 (95% CI, 0.829%, 0.978%) and a specificity of 0.252 (95% CI, 0.126%, 0.442%) for distinguishing intrinsic AKI from prerenal AKI. Additionally, the AUC of urinary calprotectin in differentiating intrinsic AKI from prerenal AKI was 0.691 (95% CI, 0.541%, 0.809%). Conclusions: Urinary calprotectin demonstrates fair screening performance characteristics for differentiating intrinsic from prerenal AKI in children. However, the low specificity necessitates additional diagnostic testing in cases with positive results.

Pathogenic microorganisms present in river water pollution are a serious health risk. Escherichia coli is a pathogen commonly found in water. Escherichia coli is an indicator of water contaminated with feces. These pathogens have an impact on human health. Aur River is one of the tidal rivers in Palembang City. From the observations, many people dispose of domestic waste into river bodies, so the river is at risk of being polluted by pathogenic microorganisms. When it recedes, the water looks pitch black, and when it is high, many people bathe, brush their teeth, and wash their clothes in this river. Thus, this study aimed to monitor water quality, including total coliform, of the Aur River Palembang City. The results of this monitoring can be used as the basis for making a policy and strategy to control the quality of this river water. This study was carried out on the Aur River, which is 2.5 km long. Measurements were made at three stations, namely at the upstream, middle, and downstream. Based on measurements of the pH, BOD, COD, DO, and total coliform concentrations, it is concluded that the Aur River has been polluted because the BOD, COD, DO, and total coliform were above the quality standards. The pH is still at the quality standard.

Dye hurts the threat of human health problems and environmental pollution. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) based membrane is a good material to be used as an dye separation membrane for having the high hydrophilicity of the membrane. It has been successfully isolated from kapok (ceiba pentandra) with characteristic X-ray diffraction patterns and FTIR absorption peaks, which corresponded to the typical peaks of cellulose. The ultrafiltration membrane was made up of a cellulose acetate matrix created using the phase inversion method. Characterization results indicated that the inclusion of MCC derived from kapok led to a reduction in the contact angle from 65 to 52o, and an increase in membrane porosity from 82 to 85%. In the separation of dye, the composite membrane incorporating MCC filler demonstrated superior performance compared to the membrane lacking MCC, manifesting in an elevated water flux from 43 to 84 L/m².h and methylene blue (MB) rejection from 64 to 99%. The use of MCC as a filler in cellulose acetate membranes can enhance the characteristics and performance of the membrane in MB separation.

The synthesis of Cu(II)-doped ZIF-8/Chitosan by means of the one-pot method at room temperature was successfully carried out. The synthesized materials exhibit enhanced adsorption properties for the removal of Congo red (CR) dye. The structural and morphological properties of Cu(II)-doped ZIF-8/Chitosan were characterized. Cu(II)-doped ZIF-8/Chitosan achieved the most optimal CR removal efficiency and CR adsorption capacity (153.85 mg/g) due to its higher specific surface area (522.776 m2/g) compared to ZIF-8/Chitosan (514.882 m2/g). Electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and π-π interaction are the main interactions for the higher adsorption performance. The CR adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. The results of the thermodynamic adsorption indicated that the process of CR adsorption by Cu-doped ZIF-8/Chitosan was an endothermic reaction. The experimental results indicate that the Cu(II)-doped ZIF-8/Chitosan material has the potential to be used in wastewater treatment for the removal of anionic dyes.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy, which includes procedures such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, has become an increasingly routine part of cancer preventive care for the digestive system. Target-controlled infusion (TCI) has revolutionized total intravenous anesthesia by enabling precise control over the delivery of sedative and analgesic agents. This technique, often used with propofol or a combination of propofol and other agents like midazolam and fentanyl, facilitates personalized sedation that considers factors such as sex, age, body height, and weight. By employing TCI for endoscopy, clinicians can customize the dosage of sedative agents to meet the needs of each patient, ensuring optimal sedation and comfort. To date, the application of TCI in gastrointestinal endoscopy has not been standardized, and no review has covered its potential to provide safe sedation during these procedures. The present review explores the fundamentals of this technique and its use in gastrointestinal endoscopy, including the selection of drugs for TCI, the determination of the optimal dose for TCI target concentration, and a comparison of TCI with other sedation methods.

The leisure tourism industry has become highly competitive, offering tourists a multitude of travel options that influence tourists' decisions. Therefore, tourism managers must understand visitor behavior to maintain tourism destinations. The sustainability of a tourist attraction can be influenced by repeat tourist visits, which is easier to achieve than attracting new tourists. Destination managers must continue to improve the quality of products and services to increase the overall value perceived by tourists, which ultimately encourages repeat visits. This research aims to investigate the relationship between trip quality, perceived value, and revisit intention among visitors to Madiun Umbul Square. This quantitative research uses an online questionnaire distributed to visitors to Madiun Umbul Square, with samples collected through incidental sampling. A total of 125 complete questionnaire responses were used as research data and analyzed using multiple regression to ensure the relationship between variables. The results of this research reveal that trip quality, apart from having a direct impact, also indirectly influences revisit intention through perceived value. This study shows the important role of perceived value in increasing the influence of trip quality to increase revisit intention. Future research suggests that researchers can further identify key attributes that form overall perceived value, especially by ensuring visitors experience trip quality positively and include other variables in this research model by adding a satisfaction variable as an antecedent of revisit intention. Previous research recommends that quality and perceived value measurements always accompany satisfaction surveys. This is because quality and value are the main drivers of satisfaction.

Background: We investigated the clinical manifestation and severity of COVID-19 infection represented as a composite outcome (hospital or ICU admission, or in-hospital death) among infected fully vaccinated HCWs, the RT-PCR test Ct value (Cycle Threshold) of positive fully vaccinated HCWs, and we measure the interval from the second vaccine to acquiring the infection. Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted in different regions at (16) Ministry of Defense Health Services (MODHS) hospitals. Data were restricted to fully vaccinated (minimum of 2 doses) HCWs who had a confirmed positive PCR test and employed in MODHS hospitals from August 2021 to March 2022. Results: A total of 45862 HCWs were vaccinated as of Aug 2021. Of these 1253 participants met the selection criteria and were included in the study. The average age of infected HCWs was 35.27 years (SD = ± 8.10) of which 57% were females. The HCWs were employed as doctors (24%), nurses (33%), and other (43%). The most administered vaccine type was mRNA (44%) followed by Adenovirus Viral Vector (39%) and mixed vaccine (17%). The incidence of COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough (BT) infection among HCWs was observed at 2.73% (m-RNA 3.19%, Viral Vector 2.83% and mixed 1.87%). Conclusion: the overall COVID-19 (BT) infection incidence proportion was (2.73%), with the Mixed vaccine group showing the lowest (BT) incidence proportion (1.87%). The most commonly reported symptoms among (BT) infections were cough (51%), sore throat (51%), fever (47%), headache (31%), and runny nose (23%), with overall (6%) asymptomatic (BT) infections. We had (1%) hospital admissions, Zero ICU admission, and Zero deaths. our finding may indicate that infection affecting fully vaccinated patients were less severe and mostly affected the upper respiratory tract.

This study rigorously evaluated the inhibitory effects of chloroform (PDCL) and methanol (PDML) extracts from date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) leaflets, in comparison to fosetyl-aluminum, against molecularly identified fungal strains Fusarium oxysporum (OR116511), Botrytis cinerea (OR116493), and Rhizoctonia solani (OR116530) isolated from date palm tree roots and fruits. We found that coumaric acid (1663.91 µg g−1) is one of the top four high-performance liquid chromatography-major phenols in the PDML extract, while the PDCL extract includes rosmarinic acid (291.08 µg g−1). The major flavonoids in the PDML extract are naringenin and kaempferol, whereas PDCL extract includes naringenin and quercetin. In the PDML extract, methyl 9-cis-11-trans-octadecadienoate (9.96%) is one of the top five gas chromatography–mass spectrometry major compounds; likewise, cis-13-octadecenoic acid (26.16%) is in the PDCL extract. The highest growth inhibition percentages of PDCL and PDML extracts were initiated against F. oxysporum (60.53 and 50.00%) at 150 µg mL−1, respectively, whereas inhibition against B. cinerea was realized at the highest concentration with 50.82%. Fosetyl-Al potently inhibited the growth of fungal isolates to varying degrees. Therefore, we could successfully employ PDCL extract to control the growth of F. oxysporum and B. cinerea and also use both extracts against R. solani.

Abstract Background The impact of COVID-19 infection on the blood system remains to be investigated, especially with those encountering hematological malignancies. It was found that a high proportion of cancer patients are at an elevated risk of encountering COVID-19 infection. Leukemic patients are often suppressed and immunocompromised, which would impact the pathology following COVID-19 infection. Therefore, this research aims to bring valuable insight into the mechanism by which COVID-19 infection influences the hematological and biochemical parameters of patients with acute leukemia. Methods This retrospective investigation uses repeated measures to examine changes in hematological and biochemical parameters among patients with acute leukemia before and after COVID-19 infection at a major Saudi tertiary center. The investigation was conducted at the Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 24 acute leukemia patients with COVID-19 between April 2020 and July 2023. The impact of COVID-19 on clinical parameters, comorbidities, and laboratory values was evaluated using data obtained from the electronic health records at four designated time intervals. The relative importance of comorbidities, testing preferences, and significant predictors of survival was ascertained. Results The majority of leukemic COVID-19-infected patients, primarily detected through PCR tests, were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (70.8%). The hematological and biochemical parameters exhibited stability, except for a brief increase in ALT and a sustained rise in AST. These changes were not statistically significant, and parameters remained normal at all time points. Additionally, an increase in monocyte count was shown at time point-3, as well as platelet counts at time point 2. Conclusion While this study did not detect statistically significant effects of COVID-19 on biochemical and hematological parameters in acute leukemia patients, further investigation is needed to fully understand the potential adverse reactions and modifications following COVID-19 infection.

Abstract Background Green bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L. (Fam.: Leguminosae) is a widely consumed grain legume prized for its edible seeds and pods. It is susceptible to infestations with various pests as insects and mites throughout the growing season. In this study, the efficacy of the predatory species, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens), Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and the entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) Metarhizium anisopliae (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae), as well as conventional pesticides, Mospilan and Vertimec, were evaluated against the most important pests, mainly the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) and the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, infesting the green beans cultivated at two locations Giza and El-Menoufia Governorates in Egypt. Results The findings demonstrate that treatments using C. carnea and M. anisopliae effectively reduced the whitefly population, while pesticide treatments were comparatively less effective. In the Giza plots, at the end of the experiments, the use of both M. anisopliae and C. carnea showed high reductions in whitefly population (85.57 and 84.87%), respectively, while in El-Menoufia, C. carnea (97.74%) was the most effective treatment followed by M. anisopliae (90.32%). Pesticide treatment in this case yielded a reduction rate of (22.76 and 59.67%) in Giza and El-Menoufia plots, respectively. However, for spider mite control, P. persimilis proved to be the most effective treatment in Giza and El-Menoufia plots, reducing the spider mite population to 98.44 and 96.14%, respectively. Metarhizium anisopliae treatment also displayed moderate effectiveness, with reduction rates of 75.62 and 75.37% in Giza and El-Menoufia plots, respectively. In comparison, pesticide treatment showed low effectiveness, with reduction rates of only 23.92 and 53.16% in the two locations, respectively. Conclusion Applications of the predator, C. carnea and the EPF, M. anisopliae were highly effective in reducing the population of whitefly, while the predator mite P. persimilis proved to be the most effective for controlling the spider mites. Overall, the study suggests that biocontrol agents, such as the predators and the EPF, can be considered as alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides for controlling pests infesting green beans.

Abstract This study examines the readiness of Jordanian-listed firms toward the application of Computer Assisted Audit Tools and Techniques (CAATTs) during the post-Covid-19 epidemic period. In particular, this study investigates the auditee perspective regarding the factors impacting the adoption of CAATTs based on the Organizational Readiness for Change (ORC) and the Technology Readiness Index (TRI) models. A cross-sectional survey was developed and distributed to 138 employees working in the accounting departments of Jordanian-listed firms. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed as the statistical analysis method to examine the study hypotheses. The results show a significant direct relationship of motivation for change, staff attributes, institutional resources, organizational climate and discomfort on readiness for change. Moreover, the results reveal that perceived fear of Covid-19 has a moderating effect on the direct relationship between motivation for change and readiness for change. However, the proposed relationships between optimism, innovativeness, and insecurity with readiness for change were not significant. This paper highlights the readiness toward CAATTs application from the auditee perspective rather than the external auditors. Moreover, this paper considers the changes in the work environment resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic on the motivation for change toward CAATTs. Lastly, the paper reveals the moderating role of perceived fear of Covid-19 on the influence of motivation for change on readiness to change. Hence, this paper set the basis for policymakers and practitioners toward evaluating the readiness of Jordanian-listed firms for CAATTs application.

The study uncovered that educational institutions cannot exclusively rely on their international ranking achievements to maintain their legitimacy. Universities must prioritize strategic communication to enhance their competitive position in the global education market. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, encompassing in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with a cohort of 37 first-year students attending a private institution. The study revealed that students' decision-making process in selecting a private university was intricate and involved multiple aspects. In addition to rankings, students also considered variables such as parental influence, networking possibilities, and the level of facilities and support services provided by the university. Consequently, colleges should prioritize not only their rankings but also other marketing tactics to recruit students. Although university rankings like QS and Times Higher Education significantly influence the perception of institutions in terms of quality and prestige, it is advisable to adopt a more balanced approach. Access to information via digital platforms, such as websites and social media, has played a critical role in demonstrating the program's and university's reliability. Public relations initiatives, however, have focused on highlighting the excellence of education and the societal obligations of universities in the fiercely competitive higher education sector.

Abstract Background Mental disorders affect one in two people globally, with COVID-19 exacerbating anxiety and depression. Stigma, a major hindrance to seeking mental health services, manifests as public, perceived, and self-stigma. Cultural misconceptions contribute to public stigma. Studies show high stigmatization among university students, impacting help-seeking behavior. Arab populations exhibit varied attitudes influenced by religious beliefs. The research aims to bridge gaps in understanding stigma among university students in Jordan, focusing on the impact of post post-COVID-19 era on mental health perceptions. The study hypothesizes differences in attitudes and stigma between medical and non-medical students, investigating these aspects in Jordan. Methods A cross-sectional study assessed attitudes and stigma related to seeking help among 1,151 university students in Jordan from June 20th to July 20th, 2023. The sample included diverse participants from Jordanian universities. Data were collected through an online survey covering sociodemographic details, psychological background, and attitudes using the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPH). Ethical considerations included approval from the University of Jordan Institutional Review Board and informed consent from participants. Results The survey included 1151 participants. The overall mean age was 20.34 years. Among the participants, 761 (66.1%) were medical students, while 390 (33.9%) were non-medical students. The overall mean ATSPPHS score was 16.30. Medical students exhibited a significantly more positive attitude (73.3%) compared to non-medical students (26.7%). Being a medical student was associated with higher odds of having a positive attitude while being male was found to be a negative predictor. Conclusion Findings revealed that being a medical student and having prior mental health education were linked to more favorable attitudes, whereas male students tended to hold more negative views. Incorporating mental health education into non-medical curricula could be beneficial in diminishing stigma and fostering positive attitudes toward seeking help.

Abstract Background Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are reshaping the tobacco industry and just recently, a plan was sought to regularize HTPs in Pakistan. Pakistan provides an intriguing case study in this context, as tobacco use is deeply ingrained in public use. To ensure that future evidence-based policy recommendations are grounded in the public’s knowledge, attitudes, and usage of HTPs, a nationwide survey must be conducted. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online-based questionnaire nationwide in Pakistan. The questionnaire was validated and distributed through convenience sampling. The questionnaire assessed participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and usage of HTPs. Descriptive statistics was used to describe participants’ response and linear regression was performed at a p-value of

Roszymah Hamzah,1 Ahmad Sabry Mohamad,2 Norafiza Mohd Yasin,3 Ezalia Esa,3 Guo Chen,4 Veena Selvaratnam1 1Hematology Department, Ampang Hospital, Ampang, Selangor, Malaysia; 2Medical Engineering, Universiti Kuala Lumpur-British Malaysian Institute, Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia; 3Institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia; 4Beam Therapeutics Inc., Cambridge, MA, USACorrespondence: Ahmad Sabry Mohamad, Medical Engineering, Universiti Kuala Lumpur-British Malaysian Institute, Bt.8, Jln Sg. Pusu, Gombak, Selangor, 53100, Malaysia, Email sabry@unikl.edu.myBackground: Human hemoglobin of G-Makassar and hemoglobin E (Hb E) are hemoglobin variants that affect Beta (β) globin. Hb G-Makassar is a very rare variant while Hb E is estimated to affect at least one million people worldwide. Both Hb G-Makassar and Hb E can be inherited in the heterozygous, homozygous or compound heterozygous state. This case series describes the characteristics of four individuals with compound heterozygosity for Hb G-Makassar/Hb E cases in Malaysia. To the best of our knowledge, these are the only four individuals with this genotype reported in the literature.Case Series: We present four cases of compound heterozygosity for Hb G-Makassar/Hb E identified from October 2014 to January 2021. All the cases were incidental findings whereby the screening Hb analysis showed the presence of peaks in both Hb S and Hb E zones on capillary electrophoresis (CE) and cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Molecular analysis confirmed the findings of compound heterozygous Hb G-Makassar/Hb E. Two cases had a history of anemia secondary to unrelated conditions that resolved with treatment of the underlying cause. The other two cases were asymptomatic individuals who were detected through Malaysia’s National Thalassemia Screening program. On the last follow-up, all the individuals were well, non-transfusion dependent, and had no reported history of chronic anemia, bleeding, hemolysis or thromboembolism complications.Conclusion: The cases reported here highlight the possibilities for rare compound heterozygous states in multi-ethnicity populations such as Malaysia. Compound heterozygous Hb G-Makassar/Hb E individuals are clinically silent with laboratory values suggesting microcytic and hypochromic red blood cells. Further local epidemiology or population studies with genotyping tests are required for a better understanding of the diversity of its clinical phenotype.Keywords: beta-thalassemia, compound heterozygous, Hb E, Hb G-Makassar, hemoglobinopathy

This research analyzes judges' considerations in adjudicating lawsuits for child māḍiyah maintenance from the perspective of progressive legal theory and Maqashid Al-Syariah, with case studies on Decision Number 4115/Pdt.G/2023/PA.Kab.Mlg. and Decision Number 229/Pdt.G/2021/PA Sak. The study results show that judges strive to achieve substantive justice by prioritizing the child's welfare. Progressive legal theory is applied by considering the social context and factual conditions. At the same time, Maqashid Al-Syariah ensures that decisions are aligned with the objectives of sharia, namely the protection of religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property. The combination of these two perspectives allows judges to make formally and substantively just decisions, and provide optimal protection for children's rights. This study highlights the importance of flexibility and adaptation in the application of law to achieve true justice in cases of child māḍiyah maintenance.

Cotton is one of the major cash crop in the agriculture led economies across the world. Cotton leaf diseases affects its yield globally. Determining cotton lesions on leaves is difficult when the area is big and the size of lesions is varied. Automated cotton lesion detection is quite useful; however, it is challenging due to fewer disease class, limited size datasets, class imbalance problems, and need of comprehensive evaluation metrics. We propose a novel deep learning based method that augments the data using generative adversarial networks (GANs) to reduce the class imbalance issue and an ensemble-based method that combines the feature vector obtained from the three deep learning architectures including VGG16, Inception V3, and ResNet50. The proposed method offers a more precise, efficient and scalable method for automated detection of diseases of cotton crops. We have implemented the proposed method on publicly available dataset with seven disease and one health classes and have achieved highest accuracy of 95% and F-1 score of 98%. The proposed method performs better than existing state of the art methods.