Search

This article proposes the use of a leader white shark optimizer (LWSO) with the aim of improving the exploitation of the conventional white shark optimizer (WSO) and solving the economic operation-based load dispatch (ELD) problem. The ELD problem is a crucial aspect of power system operation, involving the allocation of power generation resources to meet the demand while minimizing operational costs. The proposed approach aims to enhance the performance and efficiency of the WSO by introducing a leadership mechanism within the optimization process, which aids in more effectively navigating the complex ELD solution space. The LWSO achieves increased exploitation by utilizing a leader-based mutation selection throughout each generation of white sharks. The efficacy of the proposed algorithm is tested on 13 engineer benchmarks non-convex optimization problems from CEC 2020 and compared with recent metaheuristic algorithms such as dung beetle optimizer (DBO), conventional WSO, fox optimizer (FOX), and moth-flame optimization (MFO) algorithms. The LWSO is also used to address the ELD problem in different case studies (6 units, 10 units, 11 units, and 40 units), with 20 separate runs using the proposed LWSO and other competitive algorithms being statistically assessed to demonstrate its effectiveness. The results show that the LWSO outperforms other metaheuristic algorithms, achieving the best solution for the benchmarks and the minimum fuel cost for the ELD problem. Additionally, statistical tests are conducted to validate the competitiveness of the LWSO algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation was directed to examine the influence of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO‐NPs) on the hatchability traits, and chick quality of newly hatched broiler chicks. A total of 480 eggs were randomly divided into four treatment groups, each consisting of three duplicates. As a negative control (NC), the first group was not injected; the second group was injected with saline and served as a positive control (PC), the third and fourth groups were injected with 30 and 60 ppm of (CuO‐NPs)/egg. Eggs were injected into the amniotic fluid on the eighteenth day of the incubation period. Results showed that the hatchability, chick yield %, yolk free‐body mass (YFBM), chick length, shank length (SL), and relative weight of the heart, gizzard and intestine of day‐old broiler chicks were all unaffected by the in ovo injection of CuO‐NPs. The Pasgar Score was slightly improved compared to the NC and PC groups. Also, the in ovo administration of CuO‐NPs (60 ppm/egg) significantly increased the intestine length. Both levels of CuO‐NPs significantly increased the concentration of Cu ions in the hepatic tissue. Additionally, different levels of tissue damage were seen in the liver of the birds that were given low or high dosages of CuO‐NPs. Conclusively, the in ovo injection of CuO‐NPs has a good result on the appearance of the chicks (Pasgar score). However, negative effect of CuO‐NPs on liver tissue may raise concerns about the potential risks of applying CuO‐NPs in ovo administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of poly‐ and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment is associated with adverse health effects but measuring PFAS is challenging due to the associated high cost and technical complexities of the analysis. Here, the reactivity of atomically precise metal‐oxo clusters is reported and the foundation for their use is provided as fluorescent nanosensors for PFAS detection. The material comprises crystalline, water soluble, hexanuclear cerium‐oxo clusters [Ce6(µ3‐O)4(µ3‐OH)4]12+ decorated with glycine molecules (Ce‐Gly) characterized by fluorescence emission at 353 nm. The Ce‐Gly fluorescence is found sensitive to long chain carboxylated PFAS of CF3–(CF2)n –, where n ≥ 6, such as perfluorooctanoic, perfluorononanoic and perfluorodecanoic acids. This unique reactivity leads to a change in the emission spectra in a concentration dependent manner, enabling PFAS detection through ligand exchange and aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) enhancement. No significant cross‐reactivity from potentially co‐existing species, including sulfonated PFAS, octanoic and dodecanoic acids, humic acid, and inorganic ions is observed. With an optimal concentration of 3.3 µg mL−1 Ce‐Gly, the method demonstrated detection limits of 0.24 ppb for PFOA and 0.4 ppb for PFNA. These findings highlight the potential of fluorescence‐based detection strategies utilizing nanoscale probes such as Ce‐Gly as fluorescent probes and nanosensors for PFAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of concerns about pollution and high operational costs, diesel engines continue to dominate local electricity generation in off-grid areas. However, there is significant untapped potential worldwide for utilizing local renewable energy sources (RES) instead of fossil fuel generation, particularly in remote regions. To address the intermittent nature of RES, energy storage systems are crucial for off-grid communities, enabling them to rely on locally collected renewable energy. This study explores various off-grid renewable power system configurations, including batteries and hydrogen as energy storage options, to determine the most economically viable setup for remote areas. The analysis includes the Nickel–Iron (Ni–Fe) battery and considers electrolysis technology for hydrogen production. Two Integrated Hybrid Renewable Energy System (IHRES) configurations are modeled and evaluated: PV/Diesel Generator (DG)/Battery(Ni–Fe) and PV/Wind Turbines (WT)/DG/Hydrogen Storage System (HSS). The study employs a cycle charging (CC) strategy. An effective optimization algorithm called Quadratic interpolation-based artificial rabbits optimization (QIARO) is introduced to optimize the sizing of system components, ensuring cost-effective and reliable fulfillment of load demands. The effectiveness of the QIARO algorithm is initially validated through a comprehensive performance assessment, comparing it with the original artificial rabbits optimization (ARO) algorithm and other established optimization techniques across 7 benchmark functions. The results demonstrate that the QIARO algorithm surpasses the ARO algorithm, as well as other optimization techniques such as beluga whale optimization (BWO), pelican optimization algorithm (POA), weighted mean of vectors (INFO), and RUNge Kutta optimizer (RUN), in terms of convergence speed and solution quality. After validation, the proposed algorithm is applied to the Baris Oasis in New Valley, Egypt, chosen as a representative case study of insular microgrid environments. The resulting outcomes are compared with those obtained using the original ARO algorithm, further highlighting the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Using the QIARO algorithm, the PV/DG/Battery(Ni–Fe) configuration and PV/WT/DG/HSS configuration achieve optimal Life Cycle Cost values of 645,271 USD and 1,852,421 USD, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stahl's ear deformity is characterized by disturbed normal anatomy of the ear. There is a third crus with distortion of the superior crus and a flat helix. Correction of Stahl's ear can be done non-surgically in the neonatal period but in elder patients the surgical correction is the only option. The present study aimed to use a simple excision method to treat this deformity and evaluate changes in auricular size following the excision. Methods: Ten auricles from July 2022 to October 2023 were included. Preoperative consultation and analysis of the deformity were done. Simple full thickness excision of the deformed cartilage with primary closure of the remaining defect and comparison of the size of the auricle to the preoperative measurements were done followed by assessment of the patient post-operative satisfaction. Results: There was no significant decrease in the ear height. No problems with the wounds were found. All patients were satisfied with the results except for the first patient who had some contour irregularity and needed to be re-operated on. Conclusions: Full thickness excision of the deformed cartilage is a simple method that eliminates the components of the deformity effectively. This method can be implemented when possible with pleasing aesthetic results and no significant changes in auricular size. Early discovery of the auricular deformities and correcting them may save the patient from a surgery later. An effective surgical technique is the one that eliminates the components of the defect and leaves the patient satisfied. Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal sizing and management of hybrid wind turbine-diesel-battery system for reverse osmosis seawater desalination in NEOM city is the objective of the paper. Therefore, the paper explored the different factors to optimize and introduce a technoeconomic evaluation and energy management of a stand-alone wind turbine (WT) system, diesel generator (DG), and battery storage (BS). The suggested WT/DG/BS system is implemented to feed seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) unit in NEOM. The necessitated desalinated water per day is 100 m3. To determine the optimal size of WT/DG/BS corresponding to the minimum cost of energy (COE) and net present cost, two different ratings of the SWRO units (SWRO-100 and SWRO-150), three control dispatch strategies (load following, cycle charging, and combined dispatch), and five types of batteries are considered. HOMER software is performed to simulate and optimize the WT/DG/BS. The optimization results indicated that the best battery storage is the Trojan SAGM battery. In this case, the COE ranged between $0.337/kWh and $0.564/kWh. The lowest COE of $0.377/kWh is obtained when using a combined control strategy and SWRO-100 unit, whereas the worst COE of $0.564/kWh is obtained when using load following control strategy and SWRO-150 unit. The best option of the WT/DG/BS system to supply the SWRO unit is option number 26. This system includes one wind turbine of 90 kW, DG of 25 kW, 47 Trojan SAGM batteries, a 23.8 kW converter, a SWRO-100 unit, and a combined control strategy. The net present cost and the initial cost are $950,725 and $221,495, respectively. The annual operating cost and annual consumed fuel are $56,409 and 36,396 L, respectively. Compared with using only a 25 kW diesel generator, the COE reduced from $0.373/kWh (using only DG/BS) to $0.337/kWh (using the best option) by around 9.65%. Under this condition, the values for the internal rate of return, return on investment, and simple payback are 11%, 7.8%, and 8.3 years, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large communications of voice and images over the Internet, which leads to limited space for very large data during the aforementioned correspondence, to overcome this issue to maintain the quality of this technology. The proposal in the efficient algorithm in this work is a method to derive the two new filters from the second and third Chebyshev polynomials by forming the discrete wavelets with the mother wavelet to be used in image processing in order to overcome the problem mentioned above due to the correspondence, The filters that were derived are Filter Discrete Second Chebyshev Wavelets Transform (FDSCWT) and Filter Discrete Third Chebyshev Wavelets Transform (FDTCWT) to process the image by analysis, noise reduction, and image compression. Many of the techniques previously used in the field of image processing do not preserve image information during processing, but when using the new technology proposed in this work, it has been proven to preserve the image with its important information and data through the readings obtained shown in the tables below. These readings are average. Mean Square Error (MSE), Peak Signal Noise Ratio (PSNR), Bits Per Pixel (BPP), and Compression Ratio (CR) in preprocessing. After the initial processing stage, the deep learning stage begins in the field of artificial intelligence. A (CNN) is trained with the two new filters to be the first Discrete Second Chebyshev Wavelets (DSCWCNN) and the second Discrete Third Chebyshev Wavelets Convolutional Neural Network (DTCWCNN), with the code being generated in the MATLAB program with a network Alex Net to complete the classification process that was added in this work to implement the recognition technology. Faces detection with new filters in deep learning to be a unique experience to reach a high level of accuracy of 98.60 % with the network for the filter DSCWCNN and 98.92 % with the network for the filter DTCWCNN in a very short time, which will be mentioned later in the work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel stabilizing control method aimed at overcoming the instability challenges posed by the negative incremental resistance characteristics of a constant power load (CPL) within an autonomous microgrid (MG). The proposed stabilization technique integrates a power derivative-integral term with conventional droop control, strategically applied to enhance the MG's dynamic stability in the presence of CPL. The considered MG model, encompassing three inverter-based distributed generations (DGs), a constant impedance load (CIL), and CPL, is meticulously developed and simulated using MATLAB environment. Phase Locked Loop (PLL) is employed to synchronize the CPL with MG. The proposed controller is a key highlight, featuring optimally designed and tuned controller parameters for all DGs, CPL, and PLL. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) are employed to address the challenges linked to the laborious tuning process of controllers. The simulation results, which include scenarios involving three-phase faults and step changes, provide compelling evidence of the proposed controller's superior performance compared to conventional droop scheme. Furthermore, a comparative analysis is conducted to affirm and quantify the enhancements achieved through the proposed modified droop PSO-based MG controller concerning transient response. The results obtained emphasize the effectiveness of the proposed approach in simultaneously minimizing both overshoot and settling time. In comparison with the conventional controller, the proposed controller demonstrates a substantial decrease in percentage overshoot for the active power of DG3 and DC voltage of the CPL, with values of 93.89 and 99.9%, respectively. The corresponding improvements in settling time are notable, showcasing reductions of 83.11% for the active power of DG3 and 66.1% for the DC voltage of the CPL. When compared to the GA-based controller, the proposed controller exhibits significant percentage overshoot reductions for and DC voltage of the CPL, achieving 79.42 and 99.8%, respectively. Additionally, the settling time records noteworthy improvements, with reductions of 76.19% for the active power of DG3 and 57.57% for the DC voltage of the CPL. To further validate the real-world applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method, a real-time digital simulator (RTDS) is employed. The RTDS experiments results confirm the proposed scheme's ability to enhance MG stability, substantiating the simulation findings. This holistic approach, encompassing theoretical modeling, simulation studies, and real-time validation, establishes the proposed stabilizing control method as a promising and effective solution for mitigating instability issues associated with CPL in autonomous MGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To analyze and compare the available data about the outcomes of endoscopic and microscopic type I tympanoplasty. Data sources: PubMed, Cochrane library Ovid, Scopus, Google scholar, and ClinicalTrials. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We included comparative studies describing type I tympanoplasty, and comparing surgical outcomes of the endoscope with the microscope in terms of efficacy and safety. Results: Our systematic search yielded 22 studies meeting the inclusion criteria and eligible for analysis. The pooled graft uptake rates and audiological results of endoscopic and microscopic tympanoplasty demonstrated non-significant differences. In contrast, endoscopic type I tympanoplasty outperforms microscopic tympanoplasty regarding a highly significant decrease not only in pooled mean operative time but also in the pooled complications rate. Conclusions: Based on our meta-analysis, the surgical outcomes of endoscope-assisted and microscope-assisted type I tympanoplasty in terms of postoperative hearing outcomes and the graft uptake rate were comparable. On the contrary, operative time and complications rate proved to be significantly reduced with endoscopy compared to microscopy. Hence, the endoscope is as efficient as the microscope in type I tympanoplasty but less invasive, fewer in complications and shorter in operative time. Key Points: Can the endoscope be a good alternative to the microscope in type I tympanoplasty? Using the microscope in tympanoplasty has been the conventional procedure for repairing perforated tympanic membranes since the 1950s. However, ear surgeons have increasingly practised endoscope-assisted tympanoplasty since the late 1990s. In this study, surgical outcomes of both techniques in terms of postoperative audiological results and the graft uptake rate were comparable. In contrast, the endoscopic technique was superior to the microscopic one in terms of operative time and complications rate. According to our study, the endoscope-Assisted type I tympanoplasty proved to be as effective as the microscopic technique but safer and less invasive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The issue of low physical activity (PA) levels among the youth is a longstanding concern. Smartphone applications offer a promising avenue for delivering interventions that are both accessible and engaging. Up to now, there appears to be a gap in the literature, with no systematic reviews assessing the efficacy of smartphone apps in encouraging increased physical activity among healthy young adults. Objective: To synthesize the effects of a smartphone app-based intervention on PA and PA-related psychological correlates in healthy young adults (18–35 years old). Methods: A search was conducted on eighteen databases: PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Communication and Mass Media Complete, Article First, Biomed Central, BioOne, EBSCOHost, JSTOR, ProQuest, SAGE Reference Online, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Taylor&Francis, and Wiley Online. The search covered the period up until December 2023. This research included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effectiveness of smartphone app-based interventions on PA and PA related psychological outcomes in healthy young adults. The overall impact was determined by vote counting based on the direction of effect and aggregating p values. The quality of the evidence was evaluated using an 8-item scale. This study has been registered in the PROSPERO database with the identification number CRD42023390033. Results: A total of 8403 articles were retrieved, and based on the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, seven articles were selected for inclusion. Among these articles, four high-quality RCTs were identified, and the results of vote counting and combining p values methods suggested that smartphone-based app interventions did not demonstrate significant effectiveness in improving PA and PA-related psychological outcomes. However, some improvements were observed. The analysis results, which were categorized into fitness apps and health apps based on the characteristics of the interventions, also failed to demonstrate significant intervention effects. Conclusion: The findings indicate that, currently, there are no significant effects of smartphone app interventions on improving PA and PA-related psychological outcomes in healthy young adults aged 18–35 years. It is important to note that these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of included studies. Future research should focus on employing high-quality study designs to determine the true effects of interventions and analyze various smartphone app interventions. These analyses should encompass different app characteristics (e.g., fitness app and health app), various combinations (e.g., fitness app alone and fitness app in combination with other interventions), diverse intervention goals (e.g., PA and PA along with other outcomes), and multiple intervention characteristics (e.g., frequency and duration). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This pilot study assessed the 12-month angiographic and clinical outcomes of self-apposing (SA) stents in patients undergoing chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Self-apposing (SA) stents may decrease incomplete strut apposition and stent strut coverage that are common after CTO PCI. We compared 20 patients who underwent CTO PCI using SA drug-eluting stents (DESs) with 20 matched control patients who underwent CTO PCI using balloon-expandable (BE)-DESs. All patients were followed up clinically for 12 months and had coronary angiography with optical coherence tomography at the end of the follow-up period. The primary end points were stent strut malapposition and strut coverage. The secondary end point was composite major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) at 12 months. Both groups had high prevalence of diabetes mellitus, and most of the treated lesions were complex, with 62% having a J-CTO score of ≥3. All CTO PCI techniques were allowed for recanalisation, and 75% of the procedures were guided by intravascular ultrasound. At 12 months, the SA-DES group had fewer malapposed struts (0% [interquartile range (IQR) 0%–0%] vs 4.5% [IQR 0%–20%]; p<0.001) and uncovered struts (0.08% [IQR 0%–1.6%] vs 8.2% [IQR 0%–16%]; p<0.001). However, they showed significantly higher rates of MACEs due to clinically-driven target lesion revascularisation (45% vs 15%; p=0.038). In this pilot study, compared with conventional BE-DESs, SA-DESs used in CTO PCI were associated with fewer malapposed and uncovered stent struts but also with significantly higher rates of in-stent restenosis and MACEs, mainly caused by clinically driven target lesion revascularisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient synthesis of novel benzo[f]Chromeno[2,3‐d]pyrimidine and unknown benzo[f]chromeno[2,3‐d][1,2,4]triazolopyrimidine derivatives is described utilizing ethyl‐2‐amino‐4‐phenyl‐4H‐benzo[f]chromene‐3‐carboxylate as precursor via aza‐Wittig reaction. The process proved to be simple, high‐yielding, and efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the geological heritage sites in the Farafra Oasis in Egypt's Western Desert and their significance in understanding past environmental and climatic conditions. The Farafra Oasis contains inland playas, or palaeolake mud pans, which provide evidence of desiccation phases and increasing aridity in the late Holocene. The article describes the lithology and depositional patterns of the playas, as well as the alternating wet and dry conditions that have influenced the Quaternary history of the region. The study of these playas is important for understanding the spatio-temporal variations of the hydrological regime and climatic conditions in North Africa. The article also mentions the presence of archaeological artifacts and radiocarbon ages in the playa sediments, which provide insights into the timing of playa deposition. Overall, the Farafra Oasis region is a valuable area for studying past hydrological and drainage systems in the Egyptian Sahara and the climatic shifts that have occurred over time. [Extracted from the article]

A state–space integer–order approximation of commensurate–order systems is obtained using a data–driven interpolation approach based on Loewner matrices. Precisely, given the values of the original fractional–order transfer function at a number of generalised frequencies, a descriptor–form state–space model matching these frequency response values is constructed from a suitable Loewner matrix pencil, as already suggested for the reduction of high–dimensional integer–order systems. Even if the stability of the resulting integer–order system cannot be guaranteed, such an approach is particularly suitable for approximating (infinite–dimensional) fractional–order systems because: (i) the order of the approximation is bounded by half the number of interpolation points, (ii) the procedure is more robust and simple than alternative approximation methods, and (iii) the procedure is fairly flexible and often leads to satisfactory results, as shown by some examples discussed at the end of the article. Clearly, the approximation depends on the location, spacing and number of the generalised interpolation frequencies but there is no particular reason to choose the interpolation frequencies on the imaginary axis, which is a natural choice in integer–order model reduction, since this axis does not correspond to the stability boundary of the original fractional–order system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an advanced metaheuristic approach termed the Enhanced Gorilla Troops Optimizer (EGTO), which builds upon the Marine Predators Algorithm (MPA) to enhance the search capabilities of the Gorilla Troops Optimizer (GTO). Like numerous other metaheuristic algorithms, the GTO encounters difficulties in preserving convergence accuracy and stability, notably when tackling intricate and adaptable optimization problems, especially when compared to more advanced optimization techniques. Addressing these challenges and aiming for improved performance, this paper proposes the EGTO, integrating high and low-velocity ratios inspired by the MPA. The EGTO technique effectively balances exploration and exploitation phases, achieving impressive results by utilizing fewer parameters and operations. Evaluation on a diverse array of benchmark functions, comprising 23 established functions and ten complex ones from the CEC2019 benchmark, highlights its performance. Comparative analysis against established optimization techniques reveals EGTO's superiority, consistently outperforming its counterparts such as tuna swarm optimization, grey wolf optimizer, gradient based optimizer, artificial rabbits optimization algorithm, pelican optimization algorithm, Runge Kutta optimization algorithm (RUN), and original GTO algorithms across various test functions. Furthermore, EGTO's efficacy extends to addressing seven challenging engineering design problems, encompassing three-bar truss design, compression spring design, pressure vessel design, cantilever beam design, welded beam design, speed reducer design, and gear train design. The results showcase EGTO's robust convergence rate, its adeptness in locating local/global optima, and its supremacy over alternative methodologies explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anthropology is a scientific discipline which applies scientific methods to identify and quantitate inter-individual variations in body structure and function. Anthropometry assesses craniofacial dysmorphology in genetic disorders and helps to detect phenotypic differences in diseases with common underlying cause. This study is part of a comprehensive cross-sectional study of craniofacial and oral findings in Egyptian school children. This paper focused on establishing the norms of Egyptian male school children and its utility in determining the differences in facial measurements of a child with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS). Thirty craniofacial measurements were taken from 55 healthy Egyptian school children aged 12–14 years with mean age 13 ± 0.64 and a PWS child aged 13.6 years. The PWS measurements were compared with healthy children of the same age using computed Z-score. Results: Morphological face height of the PWS child was within the normal range. However, upper face height and nose height were significantly lower with Z-scores of - 3.18 and - 2.7, respectively; right and left mandibular body length and upper lip height were significantly higher than the mean of healthy children with corresponding Z-scores of 2.95, 2.48, and 2.33. Conclusions: By establishing the norms of Egyptian male school children and utilizing these data, we can identify the difference in facial measurements among children with abnormalities like PWS. This information can be used during periodic checkups as a simple, non-invasive, and economical method for the detection of these abnormalities.

The utilization of accurate models is crucial in the various stages of development for photovoltaic (PV) systems. Modelling these systems effectively allows developers to assess new modifications prior to the manufacturing phase, resulting in cost and time savings. This research paper presents a viable approach to accurately estimate both static and dynamic PV models. The proposed estimation method relies on a novel and enhanced optimization algorithm called leader artificial ecosystem‐based optimization (LAEO), which improves upon the original artificial ecosystem‐based optimization (AEO). The proposed LAEO algorithm integrates the adaptive probability (AP) and leader‐based mutation‐selection strategies to enhance the search capability, improve the balance between exploration and exploitation, and overcome local optima. To evaluate the effectiveness of LAEO, it was tested on 23 different benchmark functions. Additionally, LAEO was applied to estimate the parameters of static three‐diode PV models, as well as integral‐order and fractional‐order dynamic models. This paper showcases practical implementations of photovoltaic (PV) parameter estimation in various scenarios, including the static three‐diode model, dynamic integral order model (IOM), and fractional order model (FOM). The results were assessed from various angles to examine the precision, performance, and stability of the LAEO algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egyptian Jallab (EJ) is a conical candy (light to dark brown), manufactured from a part of sugar cane juice, that is used in the black honey industry. EJ is considered an unrefined sugar or a non-centrifugal form of sugar. The traditional use of Jallab is as candy, but it can also be used for making ice cream, cupcakes, biscuits, and toffee, as well as being used in other food applications. In this study, EJ was used as a sugar substitute in ice cream at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%. Total solids, titratable acidity, pH, protein, ash, fat, specific gravity, weight per gallon, viscosity, color attributes, total antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and total flavonoid contents, as well as microbiological analyses, were tested. The total solids, protein, and ash in the Egyptian Jallab ice cream (EJIC) increased from 39.30, 4.85, and 0.87 to 41.19, 6.36, and 1.42, respectively. The gradual sugar substitution led to a significant increase in specific gravity and weight per gallon in pounds. The lightness (L*) of the ice cream decreased significantly due to the substitution of EJ for sugar. Moreover, there was a significant increase in a* (from 0.147 in control samples to 5.52 in treatment 4, which had 100% EJ). The changes in the b* values of Jallab ice cream samples were significantly increased due to the substitution of EJ for sugar. The control samples had a low value of antioxidant activity (21.53%) when compared with the treatment, which has EJ (88.82, 89.96, 91.98, and 92.14%) for EJIC1, EJIC2, EJIC3, and EJIC4, respectively. The total phenolic contents are 2.07, 3.03, 4.14, and 4.68 fold higher in the treatments with EJ substituted for sugar than in the control samples. Total flavonoid contents increased from 5.73 mg QE g−1 in control samples (TC) to 14.68, 21.54, 30.48, and 34.15 mg QE g−1 in EJIC1, EJIC2, EJIC3, and EJIC4 mg QE g−1 in ice cream samples, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyaluronan (HA) is a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan that is present in a variety of body tissues and organs. Hyaluronan has a wide range of biological activities that are frequently influenced by molar mass; however, they also depend greatly on the source, purity, and kind of impurities in hyaluronan. High-molar-mass HA has anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and antiangiogenic properties, while low-molar-mass HA has opposite properties. A number of chemical modifications have been performed to enhance the stability of HA and its applications in medical practice. Hyaluronan is widely applied in medicine, such as viscosupplementation, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, wound healing, cosmetics, and drug delivery. In this review, we summarized several medical applications of polymers based on the hyaluronan backbone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adaptive radiotherapy (ART) is an essential approach to account for anatomical and biological uncertainties. Adaptive radiotherapy is, however, time-consuming, and it is unclear which patients are eligible or when is the best time to start ART. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at Kasr El-Aini Center of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Cairo, Egypt from January 2019 to December 2020. Thirty patients with pathologically proven, limited-stage small cell or stage I-II non-small cell lung cancer who were either not fit for or refused surgery or had stage III disease were recruited and underwent treatment planning to receive 60 Gy on a conventional 3D conformal radiation schedule with platinum-based chemotherapy. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) planning within 2 and 4 weeks of starting radiation therapy to assess the need for adaptation. Pulmonary function test and echocardiography findings were assessed at the end of treatment and at 3 and 6 months after treatment, and were compared to the baseline. Results: We found a significant reduction in mean value of the planning target volume (PTV) in the CT scans at the second (331 cm3) and fourth (257 cm3) weeks of treatment as compared to baseline (342 cm3) (p-value, 0.0001). Adaptation decreased the dose to the organ at risk with statistical significance and with improvement of the target coverage. At week 2 of radiotherapy, the need for adaptation was correlated to the conformity index (p = 0.0473), esophageal V35 (p = 0.0488), esophageal V50 (p = 0.0295), and its mean dose (p = 0.0087). At week 4 it was correlated to forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (p = 0.0303), ratio between the forced expiratory volume in 1 second and the forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) (p = 0.0024), and echocardiography (p = 0.0183). Conclusions: Conformity index and esophageal dose constraints can predict the need for adaptation at week 2, whereas baseline pulmonary function parameters and echocardiography can predict the need for adaptation at week 4 of radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite having received considerable academic attention, existing brand personality (BP) scales are difficult to generalize and likely need further development. The aim of this study was to design a novel method for constructing context driven-BP categories through the use of a multi-disciplinary approach and advances in personality studies in psychology and natural language processing. Based on a textual analysis that relies on devising hypotheses of psycholexical representation and the distributed representation of words, the aforementioned method was employed to explore World Heritage Site (WHS) personalities using information from all 1,121 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHSs) and 9,920 user-generated reviews on TripAdvisor. The study identified a 192-item WHS personality dictionary organized into five clusters: Exceptionality; Attractiveness; Identification; Responsibility; and Prominence. These categories could be employed to measure other tourism attractions. The results show that UNESCO strongly associates WHSs with the attributes of Attractiveness and Identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the bio-agent formulations of Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa for the protection of lupine plants against wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lupini. T. harzianum isolate (T1), P. aeruginosa isolate (P1) and B. subtilis isolate (B3) were the most effective ones in reducing the growth of F. oxysporum f. sp. lupini in vitro. Consequently, these isolates were used as bio-agent to control wilt on lupine plants in greenhouse experiments. The bio-agent isolates administered in the form of cells in broth media, powdered cells, and immobilized cells on sawdust as formulations were tested for their abilities to control lupine wilt in a greenhouse compared to Captan fungicide. Soil treatments with the three bioagent formulations (broth medium or cells powder and sawdust) showed a markedly great reduction in wilt disease severity. Although all the formulations reduced the wilt disease severity compared to the water treatment, using the cells powder formulation of bio-agent reduced the wilt severity more than broth medium and sawdust formulations. In all formulations, T. harzianum (T1) exhibited the highest effect in the control of wilt compared with other bio-agent treatments. The sawdust and powder bio-agent formulations significantly reduced the disease severity of wilt on Lupine, as well as improved growth parameters (shoot, root, and plant length and seed yield/plant) of lupine plants compared with control treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Nile Delta gas province of Egypt, the Abu Madi Formation is the most promising sandstone gas reservoir. This study aimed to investigate reservoir rock typing and quality by integrating petrophysical and petrographical data, including well logs, image logs, and cores. Furthermore, it sought to predict the permeability and reservoir quality of uncored wells by integrating artificial neural network technique with core analysis data and evaluate the effectiveness of this approach as an exploration tool in the West El Manzala area. The core petrography revealed the presence of microfacies consisting of arenites and wackes. The measured porosity, permeability, and pore sizes obtained from the cores, along with the parameters of the reservoir quality index, normalized porosity, and flow zone indicator, indicated that the Abu Madi reservoirs could be subdivided into three categories based on reservoir quality. High reservoir quality (RT-I) is characterized by megapores within the hydraulic flow unit (HFU-1) associated with bioturbated coarse to gravelly sandstone facies. Moderate reservoir quality (RT-II) is characterized by macropores within the hydraulic flow unit (HFU)-II associated with massive coarse to gravelly sandstone facies. Poor reservoir quality (RT-III) was characterized by mesopores within the HFU-III hydraulic flow unit related to laminated silty mudstone facies. The findings of this study demonstrate that the combination of reservoir rock typing and artificial neural networks is an extremely successful method for petroleum exploration in the West El Manzala region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Psyllium has a long history as a dietary supplement, since it is a rich source of both soluble and insoluble fibre that is reported as a traditional medicine in areas of India and China. Its consumption has been shown to provide nutritional benefits, Thus, interest in the incorporation of psyllium into food products is growing. This study was designed to assess how adding psyllium husk mucilage (PHM) at different concentrations impacts on the physical and quality characteristics of yoghurt during storage for 15 days at 5 ±1°C. Materials and methods. Three different concentrations [33.3 (low), 66.6 (medium), and 100 mg/100 g (high)] were used in low-fat yoghurt fortifications. Water-holding capacity, syneresis, pH, titratable acidity, total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH scavenging activity, flavour compounds, texture profile, and sensory properties of resultant yoghurt were analyzed. Results. The addition of PHM to low-fat yoghurts modified the acidification rate, fermentation time and significantly (p < 0.05) increased the viscosity, water-holding capacity, further improved the diacetyl concentration during storage. Total phenolic compounds and DPPH scavenging activity were significantly increased by the addition of PHM at a high dose (100 mg/100 g). Furthermore, low-fat yoghurt enriched with PHM had a compact and thick gel structure, together with a homogenous systematic protein aggregation network. Sensorially, low-fat yoghurt with 66.6 mg/100 g PHM revealed the highest sensory attributes score. Conclusion. Overall, PHM extract offers a promising choice as a natural stabilizer for a unique fibre-fortified yoghurt with nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of early access to feed and water post-hatch on broiler chicks' performance. One hundred and twenty chicks were transferred from the hatchery to the rearing house and randomly divided into two groups. The first group: chicks were immediately access to feed and water (F-time 0). The second group: was held without feed and water for 24 h (F-time 24). Then, feed and water were provided ad-libitum, for both groups until 35 days of age. Results indicated that F-time 0 increased body weight and body weight gain throughout the experimental period. It increased feed intake during all experimental periods except from (22–28 days). Additionally, the F-time 0 enhanced the European production efficiency factor index. The F-time 24, increased red blood cells (RBCs) count, hemoglobin (HGB), and packed cell volume (PCV) percentage after 24 h. However, the F-time 0 had a higher RBCs count, HGB, and PCV at 35 days of age. F-time 24 increased total plasma protein, albumin, cholesterol, and triglycerides, after 24 h. In conclusion, early access to feed and water post-hatch enhances broiler chicks' performance and productivity and increases producers' revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Administration of trastuzumab (TRA) in resource-limited settings (RLS) is associated with significant deviations from per-label recommendations such as fixed-dose instead of weight-based, interruptions, and a reduced number of cycles. The impact of these deviations on the clinical outcomes of HER2-positive non-metastatic breast cancer is unclear. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with operable HER2-positive breast cancer treated at our center from 2013 to 2018 for TRA dose deviations. The standard protocol for TRA administration includes a one-year course of TRA with one intravenous dose every three weeks for 17 cycles. We assessed the number of cycles, underdosing based on body weight calculation, and low relative dose intensity (RDI). Cox regression analysis was used to identify predictors of survival and was adjusted for baseline clinical variables. Results: This analysis included 208 patients with a median age of 45 years. A total of 175 (84%) patients showed at least one per label deviation. Fifty-four patients (26%) were underdosed with a mean maintenance dose defect of 54 ±107 mg, 64 (31%) received a reduced number of courses (≤ 9 cycles), and 103 patients (49.5%) received TRA at low RDI. Reduced number of cycles was the only factor associated with a worse hazard of recurrence-free survival and overall survival (HR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.35-3.75, adjusted p =0.002) and (HR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.36-4.52, adjusted p =0.003), respectively. Conclusion: In our cohort, not all the deviations had adverse impacts on clinical outcomes. Only a reduced number of cycles was associated with a worse recurrence-free and overall survival hazard. Improving access to anti-HER2 therapies in RLS is crucial. Ensuring the full course of TRA in RLS is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supply-demand-based optimization (SDO) is among the recent stochastic approaches that have proven its capability in solving challenging engineering tasks. Owing to the non-linearity and complexity of the real-world IEEE optimal power flow (OPF) in modern power system issues and like the existing algorithms, the SDO optimizer necessitates some enhancement to satisfy the required OPF characteristics integrating hybrid wind and solar powers. Thus, a SDO variant namely leader supply-demand-based optimization (LSDO) is proposed in this research. The LSDO is suggested to improve the exploration based on the simultaneous crossover and mutation mechanisms and thereby reduce the probability of trapping in local optima. The LSDO effectiveness has been first tested on 23 benchmark functions and has been assessed through a comparison with well-regarded state-of-the-art competitors. Afterward, Three well-known constrained IEEE 30, 57, and 118-bus test systems incorporating both wind and solar power sources were investigated in order to authenticate the performance of the LSDO considering a constraint handling technique called superiority of feasible solutions (SF). The statistical outcomes reveal that the LSDO offers promising competitive results not only for its first version but also for the other competitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a multi-objective variant of the marine predators algorithm (MPA) called the multi-objective improved marine predators algorithm (MOIMPA), which incorporates concepts from Quantum theory. By leveraging Quantum theory, the MOIMPA aims to enhance the MPA's ability to balance between exploration and exploitation and find optimal solutions. The algorithm utilizes a concept inspired by the Schrödinger wave function to determine the position of particles in the search space. This modification improves both exploration and exploitation, resulting in enhanced performance. Additionally, the proposed MOIMPA incorporates the Pareto dominance mechanism. It stores non-dominated Pareto optimal solutions in a repository and employs a roulette wheel strategy to select solutions from the repository, considering their coverage. To evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of MOIMPA, tests are conducted on various benchmark functions, including ZDT and DTLZ, as well as using the evolutionary computation 2009 (CEC'09) test suite. The algorithm is also evaluated on engineering design problems. A comparison is made between the proposed multi-objective approach and other well-known evolutionary optimization methods, such as MOMPA, multi-objective ant lion optimizer, and multi-objective multi-verse optimization. The statistical results demonstrate the robustness of the MOIMPA approach, as measured by metrics like inverted generational distance, generalized distance, spacing, and delta. Furthermore, qualitative experimental results confirm that MOIMPA provides highly accurate approximations of the true Pareto fronts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the strain and stress analyses of functionally graded plates with circular holes that are subject to a uniaxial far-field traction load are analytically considered. The Young's modulus is assumed to vary linearly along the radial direction around the hole. The adoption of such a type of inhomogeneity variation can be justified as follows. Firstly, and among all the possible variations of stiffness, the linear one is indeed the simplest inhomogeneity distribution. Surprisingly however, according to our knowledge extent, the associated elastic fields were not yet addressed in the literature. Secondly, a linearly varying stiffness could reasonably imply a remarkable advantage from a technological point of view. In fact, unlike nonlinearly varying stiffness plates, manufacturing routes are only required to handle constant variations throughout the radial domain. After recalling the basic equations for plane stress elasticity, the displacement, strain, and stress fields around the hole were numerically tackled and discussed for different stiffness ratios. A comparison was also carried out with other Young's modulus distributions that have been commonly employed in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurses are challenged with many situations that require them to solve ethical dilemmas and make moral decisions based on professional values and a sense of accountability and responsibility. To support their decisions, it is important to know how they perceive and relate their ethical ideology, professional values, and clinical accountability in their workplace. Purpose: The study's aim was twofold: to investigate the ethical ideology and perceived importance of professional values and accountability among nurses. Further, explore the relationship between each of ethical ideology and professional values with nurses' work accountability. Methods: A correlational study was conducted in an Egyptian hospital. All nurses were invited to participate = 192, and 150 nurses (78.3%) completed the study questionnaires. The Ethical Position Questionnaire, the Professional Values Scale, and the Clinical Vignettes Assessment for Clinical Accountability were proven to be reliable study measures. Ethical considerations: Ethics Committee approval, written informed consent, data privacy and confidentiality, and participants' right to voluntary participation and withdrawal were maintained. Results: Nurses showed good ethical ideology (75 ± 6.2) and are more idealistic while maintaining professional values (108 ± 10.8). Most nurses believed they were accountable for documenting errors, completing incident reports, and calling physicians to discuss or manage the situations. Ethical ideology and the idealism subscale were positively correlated with overall nurses' professional values (r = 0.321, p < 0.004, r =0.464, p 0.000), respectively. On the other hand, work accountability showed a partial correlation in some areas with ethical ideology and professional values. Discussion: Professional values and nurses' accountability appear to be influenced by ethical positions and ideology. Conclusion: Healthcare organizations should provide a supportive work environment to help nurses develop self-awareness, and knowledge of their ethical ideologies, which improve professional values and clinical accountability in their practice. Ethical ideology and professional values should be emphasized more in nursing curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unexpected drop of the Blue Nile water in July 2020, attributed to the sudden closure of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) during the first filling in 2020, significantly interrupted the water supply for Khartoum, Sudan. This incident pursued using satellites and hydrological models to estimate inflows into Roseires dam. A hydrological model was developed to predict GERD inflows, while reservoir levels were extracted from Sentinel-1, -2 and Jason-3. A water balance model was developed to predict GERD releases and the dates of overtopping during subsequent fillings events. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of satellite data and models for transboundary reservoir management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions: In conclusion, the role of nanotechnology in water treatment is overestimated; while advantages are not more than theoretical assumptions, while the disadvantages are almost certain. Waste waters stay toxic after treatment by nanomaterials. The problem arises from the use of very simplified-theoretical assumptions and laboratory results produced under controlled experimental conditions. In natural settings, the selectivity of contaminants removal as well as the properties of nanomaterial itself makes water treatment by nanomaterials questionable. During surface water-waste water-treatments, nanomaterials may interact with soil biota, up taken by plants and crops, kill targeted and un-targeted bacteria leading to sever problems to biodiversity. There is clear information deficiency about fate, transport, and bioavailability or bioaccumulation of nanomaterials in the complicated water environments. Long-term studies on the negative feedback of nanomaterials on human and ecological environments are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a laboratory experiment was conducted to study the gene action and estimate general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability of seedling traits in a half diallel cross of bread wheat. Eight bread wheat genotypes and their F1 hybrids were evaluated under drought stress induced by the treatment with Polyethylene Glycol-6000. The studied traits were shoot length (SHL), root length (ROL), number of lateral roots (NOR), fresh weight of seedling (FRW) and dry weight of seedling (DRW). Highly significant (P<0.01) differences were observed among studied genotypes for all seedling traits under drought stress conditions. Highly significant (P<0.01) mean squares due to GCA and SCA effects were observed for all seedling traits, indicating the importance of both additive and non-additive gene actions. Obviously, GCA mean squares were larger in magnitude than that of SCA, indicating the importance role of the additive gene action in the inheritance of the studied traits. Compared to their parents, F1 hybrids produced longer roots under drought stress conditions, indicating the presence of heterosis. The regression analysis indicated a partial adequacy of an additivedominance model for ROL, NOR, FRW and DRW, while non adequate model was observed for SHL. Based on GCA effects, the parental genotypes P1, P2 and P3 were the best general combiners for most studied traits under drought stress conditions. The highest desirable SCA effects were obtained from the crosses P1×P3, P1×P6, P1×P8, P2×P5 and P2×P7 for most studied traits, indicating their usefulness as best promising combinations under drought stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supply-demand-based optimization (SDO) is among the recent stochastic approaches that have proven its capability in solving challenging engineering tasks. Owing to the non-linearity and complexity of the real-world IEEE optimal power flow (OPF) in modern power system issues and like the existing algorithms, the SDO optimizer necessitates some enhancement to satisfy the required OPF characteristics integrating hybrid wind and solar powers. Thus, a SDO variant namely leader supply-demand-based optimization (LSDO) is proposed in this research. The LSDO is suggested to improve the exploration based on the simultaneous crossover and mutation mechanisms and thereby reduce the probability of trapping in local optima. The LSDO effectiveness has been first tested on 23 benchmark functions and has been assessed through a comparison with well-regarded state-of-the-art competitors. Afterward, Three well-known constrained IEEE 30, 57, and 118-bus test systems incorporating both wind and solar power sources were investigated in order to authenticate the performance of the LSDO considering a constraint handling technique called superiority of feasible solutions (SF). The statistical outcomes reveal that the LSDO offers promising competitive results not only for its first version but also for the other competitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed at probing the modulatory influence of polyflavonoids extracted from Citrus aurantifolia, lemon peel extract (LPE-polyflavonoids), on attenuating diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications. HPLC investigations of the LPE exhibited the incidence of five flavonoids, including diosmin, biochanin A, hesperidin, quercetin, and hesperetin. The in silico impact on ligand-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) interaction was investigated in terms of polyflavonoid class to explore the non-covalent intakes and binding affinity to the known protein active site. The drug likeness properties and pharmacokinetic parameters of the LPE-polyflavonoids were investigated to assess their bioavailability in relation to Myricetin as a control. Remarkably, the molecular docking studies demonstrated a prominent affinity score of all these agents together with PI3K, implying the potency of the extract to orchestrate PI3K, which is the predominant signal for lessening the level of blood glucose. To verify these findings, in vivo studies were conducted, utilizing diabetic male albino rats treated with LPE-polyflavonoids and other groups treated with hesperidin and diosmin as single flavonoids. Our findings demonstrated that the LPE-polyflavonoids significantly ameliorated the levels of glucose, insulin, glycogen, liver function, carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes, G6Pd, and AGEs compared to the diabetic rats and those exposed to hesperidin and diosmin. Furthermore, the LPE-polyflavonoids regulated the TBARS, GSH, CAT, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and AFP levels in the pancreatic and hepatic tissues, suggesting their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, the pancreatic and hepatic GLUT4 and GLUT2 were noticeably increased in addition to the pancreatic p-AKT in the rats administered with the LPE-polyflavonoids compared to the other diabetic rats. Remarkably, the administration of LPE-polyflavonoids upregulated the expression of the pancreatic and hepatic PI3K, AMPK, and FOXO1 genes, emphasizing the efficiency of the LPE in orchestrating all the signaling pathways necessitated to reduce the diabetes mellitus. Notably, the histopathological examinations of the pancreatic and hepatic tissues corroborated the biochemical results. Altogether, our findings accentuated the potential therapeutic role of LPE-polyflavonoids in controlling diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brachial plexus block is a useful alternative to general anesthesia for upper limb surgeries providing complete muscle relaxation and stable intra-operative hemodynamics. This study aimed to detect whether ultrasound guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block combined with superficial cervical plexus block is safe and effective for shoulder surgeries or not. Methods: A prospective clinical observational study for detecting efficacy of ultrasound guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block combined with superficial cervical plexus block in shoulder surgeries. Forty-two patients in the age group of 21-60 years undergoing shoulder surgery were assigned to one group. All patients received 30 mL volume of local anesthetics (Lidocaine 2% + bupivacaine 0.5% 1:3 mixture) for supraclavicular block and 10 mL volume of local anesthetics for superficial cervical block. All patients were assessed for: hemodynamics respiratory rate, O2 saturation, sensory block grade, motor block grade, postoperative pain, time for the 1st call for analgesia, the total dose of ketorolac (mg) given in 12 hours after surgery, incidence of failure of sensory and motor block and postoperative complications. Results: As regards mean arterial blood pressure, mean heart rate, oxygen saturation and respiratory rate there were no significant changes. Regarding sensory and motor block assessment, majority 95.2% had Bromage scale III and sensory block grade zero. As regard the postoperative pain, mild pain (VAS 2) occurred which was increasing gradually during 1st 12 postoperative hours. Conclusions: Ultrasound guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block combined with superficial cervical plexus block is safe and effective for shoulder surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, electricity networks across the globe have undergone rapid development, especially with the incorporation of various renewable energy sources (RES). The goal is to increase the penetration level of RES in the power grid to maximize energy efficiency. However, the optimal power flow (OPF) problem for conventional power generation with RES integration is highly complex, non‐linear, and non‐convex, and this complexity is further compounded when stochastic RES is integrated into the network. To address this problem, this article proposes an elite evolutionary strategy (EES) based on evolutionary approaches to improve the Wild Horse Optimizer (WHO), creating an enhanced hybrid technique called EESWHO. The proposed technique's effectiveness and robustness were tested on 23 numerical optimization test functions, including seven unimodal, six multimodal, and ten composite test functions. Furthermore, the EESWHO was applied to the modified IEEE‐30 bus test system to demonstrate its supremacy and efficacy in achieving the optimal solution. The simulation results show that the proposed EESWHO algorithm is highly effective and robust in achieving the optimal solution to the OPF problem with stochastic RES. This approach provides a practical solution to the challenges posed by the integration of RES into power networks, allowing for maximum energy efficiency while minimizing system complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to examine the impacts of supplementing hot red pepper oil (HRPO) to broiler diets. One hundred and twenty Arbor Acres chicks were divided randomly into four experimental groups as three supplementation levels of HRPO (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mL/kg diet) and the control group. Results showed that HRPO supplementation exhibited significantly (p < 0.001) higher red blood cells (RBCs) count, hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cells volume (PCV) percentage, while insignificant effects were shown for white blood cells (WBCs) count or its differentiation. Diets supplemented with different levels of HRPO influenced significantly (p < 0.001) the total protein (TP), albumin (Alb) and glucose (Glo) values of the studied birds. Results also indicated that different levels of HRPO supplementations significantly (p < 0.01) decreased total lipid, triglycerides (Trig), cholesterol (Cho) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), but did not affect high density lipoprotein (HDL) values. Data revealed that supplementing broiler diets with different levels of HRPO enhanced their liver function. The bactericidal activity index was significantly increased (p < 0.02) compared with control. HRPO supplemented groups had beneficial effects (p < 0.02) on cecal microbiota count. It could be concluded that dietary HRPO supplementation could improve the general internal health status of Arbor Acres broiler chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minnesota has the largest Somali diaspora in the world. Uniquely, the Minnesotan Somali diaspora utilizes traditional healing practices along with Western medicine. Therefore, medical providers who regularly interact with Somali patients must be aware of traditional healing practices. A scoping review inclusive of three databases (Embase Classic + Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, PsychINFO) was conducted. Fifty-eight studies met established criteria. Traditional medicine is performed with conventional medicine. Illnesses are acknowledged to be caused by a malfunctioning body, evil eye, and/or zar (possession). Examples of the utilization of dawo dhaqmeed (traditional practices) included ilko dacowo (dental enucleation), khat (catha edulis), guboow (use of a fire-heated object), cupping, xoq (scraping), xidhayn (female genital mutilation), duugto (massage), baan (nutrition), herbs, caano geel (camel milk), Qur'anic healing, prayer, zam zam (holy water), tahliil liquid (blessed water), and amulets. Practices ranged from benign to harmful. Identifying Somali traditional healing practices is the first step in understanding the health of the Somali community in Minnesota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to assure accurate modelling, this study presents a new technique for appropriately modelling and simulating a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system. The PEMFC is a cleaner and more sustainable energy source as compared to fossil fuels. The fundamental idea is to minimize the sum of squared error (SSE) between the estimated and measured output voltage for the Ballard Mark V model in order to identify the model parameters of PEMFC stacks as efficiently as possible using a newly developed meta-heuristic called enhanced efficient optimization algorithm (EINFO). The proposed optimizer is considered an enhanced version of the original INFO algorithm. By balancing the exploration and exploitation phases better, the EINFO algorithm is intended to improve the performance of the original INFO approach and prevent local optima. The new method was tested on 23 benchmark functions and compared to the original INFO algorithm as well as other recently evolved optimizers. The algorithm is examined and compared with some literature meta-heuristics, including the particle swarm optimization, sine cosine algorithm, dragonfly algorithm, atom search optimization, Harris hawks optimization, and efficient optimization algorithm, using 50 independent runs, in terms of convergence speed and least SSE. When compared to other methods, the final findings show that, the suggested technique achieves the fastest convergence speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Economic and Emission Dispatch (EED) method is widely used to optimize generator output in a power system. The goal is to reduce fuel costs and emissions, including carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, while maintaining power balance and adhering to limit constraints. EED aims to minimize emissions and operating costs while meeting power demands. To solve the multi‐objective EED problem, the supply‐demand optimization (SDO) algorithm is proposed, which employs a price penalty factor approach to convert it into a single‐objective function. The SDO algorithm uses a swarm‐based optimization strategy inspired by supply‐demand mechanisms in economics. The algorithm's performance is evaluated on seven benchmark functions before being used to simulate the EED problem on power systems with varying numbers of units and load demands. Established algorithms like the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Moth‐Flame Optimization (MFO), Transient Search Optimization (TSO), and Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) are compared to the SDO algorithm. The simulations are conducted on power systems with different numbers of units and load demands to optimize power generation output. The numerical analyses demonstrate that the SDO technique is more efficient and produces higher quality solutions than other recent optimization methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an improved version of the Hunter‐prey optimization (HPO) method to enhance its search capabilities for solving the Optimal Power Flow (OPF) problem, which includes FACTS devices and wind power energy integration. The new algorithm is inspired by the behavior of predator and prey animals, such as lions, wolves, leopards, stags, and gazelles. The primary contribution of this study is to address the tendency of the original HPO approach to get trapped in local optima, by proposing an enhanced Hunter‐prey optimization (EHPO) approach that improves both the exploration and exploitation phases. This is achieved through a random mutation for exploration and an adaptive process for exploitation, which balances the transition between the two phases. The performance of the EHPO algorithm is compared with other optimization algorithms, and subsequently, it is used to solve the OPF problem incorporating FACTS devices and wind power. The results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed algorithm. In conclusion, this study successfully enhances the EHPO algorithm to provide better accuracy and faster convergence in finding optimal solutions for complex real‐world problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: After the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), new headaches have been reported to develop or worsen among healthcare workers who regularly wear personal protective equipments. In this study, we investigated the possible relationship between de-novo (new-onset) headache features associated with the mask used and pre-existing and exacerbated headaches. It is the first study on this subject on behalf of Somalia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Mogadishu COVID-19 pandemic hospital, Somalia, with volunteer healthcare workers. Data were collected through a questionnaire. Participants were asked 15 questions in the survey and Pearson-chi-square test was used as statistics. Results: This study was conducted with 200 healthcare workers working in the hospital, 114 (57%) were male, 86 (43%) were female, and the mean age was 28. Participants 90 (45%) used surgical masks, 32 (16%) filtered masks (N95), 78 (39%) both; majority of 109 (54.5%) wore masks for more than 6 hours a day. Pre-existing headache was reported by78(39%) of the subjects. 55(70%) of those with pre-existing headache reported aggravation of their headache. Statistically significant relationship was found between duration of mask use and aggravation of pre-existing headache. De-novo headache characteristics were throbbing 21(20%), pressing 31(29%), unilateral 19(18%), and 35(33%) bilateral. A statistically significant relationship was also found between the duration of use of face mask and the development of de-novo headache, regardless of mask type. Conclusion: As per our study, prolonged use of face masks during COVID-19 pandemics was associated with de-novo headaches and exacerbation of pre-existing headache. This situation, which has caused complaints as healthcare professionals and some patients continue to wear masks, will continue to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research aimed to identify the discriminatory significance between those with high and low academic efficacy in strategic thinking and productive habits of mind among female university students. For this purpose, the academic efficacy scale, the strategic thinking scale, and the productive habits of mind scale were applied to a sample consisting of (126) female students. The descriptive research approach was utilized due to its suitability to the research nature. Results indicated that there was a low level of strategic thinking among university students, there was a relationship between strategic thinking and productive habits of mind, and there were statistically significant differences between those of high and low academic efficacy in strategic thinking and habits of mind. These results can be utilized in enhancing academic proficiency among university female students and providing planners with practical outcomes that contribute to promoting academic proficiency, strategic thinking, and productive mental habits among university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Faba bean attacked by soil-borne pathogens causing root rot disease. This disease has serious damage to both plant stand and produced yield. The present study aimed to evaluate effectiveness of the bioagents; Trichoderma harzianum and some plant resistance inducers as fungicide alternatives against root rot disease incidence at both pre- and post-emergence growth stages. Results: Under open greenhouse conditions, the incidence of faba bean root rot in pre- and post-emergence growth phases was considerably reduced by using six inorganic salts and five antioxidants individually or combining with each other or with the bio-stimulator T. harzianum that exceeded the used fungicide, Rhizolex-T. Application of enervit agitated the highest significant defensive impact during pre-emergence stage versus root rot incidence (5.0%), followed by calcium sulfate and [cysteine + T. harzianum] (6.7%). At post-emergence stage, majority of the treatments completely suppressed (100.0%) root rot incidence, except vitamax plus and the fungicide (Rizolex-T) which expressed by 91.7 and 18.8%, respectively. Duplicate irrigations of 23 treatments after faba bean dressing improved the synthesis of different protein contents with the 2nd of which enhanced higher protein contents than the 1st one, except [T. harzianum + vitamin E + vitamin C + enervit + selenium + vitamax plus], [T. harzianum + vitamax plus] and cysteine. Disodium phosphate induced the highest catalase (CAT) activity (1820.8 and 1677.2 U/g FWt) after both irrigations. [T. harzianum + vitamax plus] and vitamin E induced the highest peroxidase (POD) activity 217.4 and 356.9 U/g FWt after 1st and 2nd irrigations, respectively. Disodium phosphate and [T. harzianum + vitamin E + vitamin C + enervit + selenium + vitamax plus] induced the highest chitinase (CHIA) activity 52.8 and 54.4 U/g FWt after 1st and 2nd irrigations, respectively. Application of disodium phosphate, calcium sulfate, potassium metabisulfite, sodium sulfate, cysteine, [cysteine + potash alum], enervit, vitamin E, [vitamin E + vitamin C + enervit + selenium + vitamax plus], [T. harzianum + enervit], [T. harzianum + selenium], [T. harzianum + vitamin E], [T. harzianum + vitamin E + vitamin C + enervit + selenium + vitamax plus] and vitamin C stimulated the formation of new protein bands on SDS-PAGE after the 2nd irrigation treatment. Conclusions: Such treatments are considered good and environmentally safe alternatives against root diseases for getting rid of the negative effects of fungicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interoception refers to the competence in perceiving and interpreting internal sensations emerging from the body. The most common approach to assess interoception is through cardiac interoceptive tests like the heartbeat tracking task (HTT), which measures the accuracy on perceive and counting heartbeats during a period. However, the literature is scarce in providing adequate reliability evidence for this measure so that the interoception assessment may be threaten. In addition to HTT accuracy, it is possible to determine sensibility (self-reported confidence) and interoceptive awareness (correspondence between accuracy and sensibility). Thus, we measured the test–retest reliability of HTT and also investigated the behavior of HTT outcomes along the task. Therefore, 31 healthy adults (16 males) with 27.8 (9.4) years old performed two consecutive HTT interspersed by one day. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable difference (MD) analyzes showed 'Good' relative reliability for interoceptive accuracy (ICC = 0.880; SEM = 0.263; MD = 0.728; p < 0.001) and 'Moderate' for sensibility (ICC = 0.617; SEM = 0.648; MD = 1.797; p < 0.001) and awareness (ICC = 0.593; SEM = 0.227; MD = 0.628; p < 0.001). The absolute reliability shows low threshold values for observing true effects in HTT outcomes. The results also showed that reducing the number of HTT blocks did not impact the outcomes. The HTT showed to be reliable in determine the interoceptive competences in healthy adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]