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The present investigation examines a novel dual-core photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for early cancer cell detection that is based on a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. The PCF is coated with Au/TiO2 layers to boost sensor effectiveness by enhancing the adhesion between the fiber and gold layers. The sensor was simulated and analyzed using the COMSOL Multiphysics software, which is based on the finite element method (FEM). Spectral and amplitude interrogations were used to explore the RI fluctuations of various cancer cells. The observed RI values varied within the range of 1.36–1.401. The biosensor's highest sensitivity was found to be 11,429 nm/RIU for MCF-7 cells using spectral interrogation and 1251.18 RIU−1 for MDA-MB231 cells utilizing amplitude interrogation techniques. Additionally, the sensor shows the maximum resolution for basal cells, which is 8.75 × 10−6 RIU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxic and the hazardous ramifications that affect both the environment and human beings due to the existence of uranium in wastewater are a huge challenge towards a sustainable environment. Uranium removal from wastewater is a big difficulty that is becoming more severe as the world's population grows and energy demand rises. A hydrothermal and freeze-drying process is used to create a chitosan/graphene oxide/poly (vinyl alcohol) aerogel (CH/GO/PVA) for a very effective and selective uranium removal. Batch experiments were used to examine hexavalent uranium (VI) sorption from wastewater. The efficiency of U (VI) removal was investigated for time of contact, various pH, dosage of sorbent, initial concentration of U (VI), and temperature values. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller are utilized to describe the composition, morphology, polymer formation and nanocomposites. Kinetic and Freundlich equations, and the pseudo-second-order are used to illustrate the adsorption process. The adsorption capacity of U (VI) reaches its maximum of 1247 mg g–1 when an initial uranium concentration is 380 mg L–1, and the highest uranium removal efficiency is 98.44%. Thermodynamic study reveals an endothermic and spontaneous adsorption mechanism. Furthermore, the as-synthesized GO/CS/PVA aerogel has good mechanical as well as thermal stability, and can be utilized six times before losing a substantial portion of its original removing effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to fill literature gaps in the use of adaptive selling on social media platforms by observing consumer and sales force behavior in the consumer electronic market. The study’s main objectives are framed to answer the following questions: How does adaptive selling influence consumer outcomes in consumer electronics? What are the effects of social media on consumer outcomes through adaptive selling? The unit of analysis was individual consumers who use consumer electronics, retailers’ services and products offered through salespeople. The sample size of 400 consumers of electronic products was reached via electronic surveys. The questionnaire was adapted from literature to satisfy the quantitative nature of the study. This study found adaptive selling behavior of salespeople to be positively significant in predicting consumer outcomes. The outcomes of the study give statistical proof that social media use in sales has a positive impact on adaptive selling habits. The study also revealed a significant positive impact of consumer satisfaction on customer loyalty; this relationship is identified as critical in the consumer electronics retail market. This study is unique because it widens the understanding of social media use among salespeople in emerging markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study's goal was to determine the levels of certain tumor markers (CA15.3, CEA) and some biochemical parameters (calcium, vitamin D3, alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, creatinine, and urea) in breast cancer women with different stages. Patients in the study were clinically and histologically diagnosed as having early stage One and stage 2 breast cancer, advanced phase 3 breast cancer, or metastatic fourth stage breast cancer. From February 2020 to March 2021, 140 people with tumors visited Mosul's oncology and nuclear medicine facility, were chosen for the current study, and they were separated into three groups: Group 1 had 45 patients (stages I & II); Group 2: 46 patients with (stage III); Group 3: 49 patients with (stage IV); and 45 normal controls. Cancer antigen 15.3 (CA15.3) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were detected. The current study's findings demonstrate a highly significant increase in CEA and CA15.3 values in women with breast cancer as compared to the control group, and that this increase is associated to advanced stages. Furthermore, there was a significant decline in vitamin D levels in women with breast cancer when compared to the control group, while revealing a significant rise in the levels of alkaline phosphatase, uric acid and creatinine. No significant difference in calcium and urea levels was observed. The study of blood markers and other biochemistry indicators may be a valuable diagnostic technique in tracking the progress of breast cancer illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Rasha Fadhil's 2003 play Ishtar in Baghdad, she has Ishtar and Tammuz, mythological figures from Iraq's ancient past, appear in Baghdad during the Iraq War, and has them experience many of the horrors associated with the American occupation, including being tortured at Abu Ghraib prison. This article demonstrates that, in writing the play, Fadhil attempted to engage audiences both in Iraq and across the wider world. Fadhil's attempt to appeal to Iraqi audiences was related to her employment of a common technique in Iraqi drama: discussing the political present by invoking characters from history or Iraqi mythology. But Fadhil broke new ground by 'mix[ing ...] legend and reality,' rather than keeping the action safely confined to the past or a mythical realm. Her play was also revolutionary in its focus on women within a story that, within Iraqi drama and media, would normally focus primarily or exclusively on men. Ultimately, the risks that Fadhil took have limited the play's appeal to Iraqi theatremakers and readers. Fadhil's play also aspired to touch and influence people across the wider world. Specifically, she wanted to use the play to expose and condemn the corruption and hypocrisy at the heart of American neo-imperialism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a high-sensitivity dual-open microchannel PCF-SPR refractometric sensor that was numerically analyzed using the Finite Element Method (FEM). A dual-open microchannel was created on both sides of the fiber to facilitate analyte infiltration and improve its detection performance. The microchannel of PCF was coated with gold plasmonic material to achieve practical sensing. The results revealed that the refractive index sensing range of the proposed refractometric sensor is between 1.37 and 1.43, with a highest amplitude sensitivity of 3743.64 RIU−1 and a wavelength sensitivity of 33000 nm/RIU. Additionally, it offers a maximum resolution of 5.56 × 10−6 RIU. All structure parameters, such as air-hole length, pitch, open-channel radius, and gold thickness, are optimized. The proposed sensor is a significant improvement in the detection of multiple analytes in bio-sensing applications. • This paper presents a high-sensitivity dual-open microchannel PCF-SPR refractometric sensor. • The refractive index sensing range of the proposed refractometric sensor is between 1.37 and 1.43. • High amplitude and wavelenght sensitivities of 3743.64 RIU−1 and 33000 nm/RIU respectively. Maximum resolution is 5.56 × 10−6 RIU. • The proposed sensor is an important improvement in the detection of multiple analytes in bio-sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, cyclic voltammetry (CV) is presented with a sensitive electrochemical technique for the assessment of the anti-cancer medicine Toposar (TPS). The electrode was formed on the surface of a modified glassy carbon electrode with MWCNT using a coating of L-phenyl alanine to become the new electrode in a formula (PPA-MWCNT/GCE). PPA was polymerized at pH 8.0, which showed advanced advantages for the study and estimation of TPS electroanalysis treatment. A group of factors on the bare glassy carbon electrode were studied to enhance the electrode 's work to study TPS, including these factors(Influence of pH, calibration curve, the stability of the electrode, scan rate, deposition potential, voltage step, equilibration time, deposition time). As a result of the electrode development, the stability of the prepared electrode was observed with the PPA layer with the Morphology of the layer by the SEM analysis showing the morphology of PPA/GCE and MWCNTs/PPA/GCE by SEM, respectively. The PPA film width on TPS response has higher sensitivity on the surface of MWCNTs/PPA/GCE compared to GCE and increased redox reversibility with 8 cycles number. The CV of 5.0 nM TPS on GCE with scanning rates of between 50 and 400 mVs-1 This reaction was predicted for an irrevocable electrode mechanism. A comparison was made between the TPS CVs on the MWCNPs, and the PPA modified electrode with the bare GCE at pH 7.0 with a scan rate of 100 mVs-1, the oxidation current is 11.18 times higher than the comparable one on the bare GCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new ligand and its Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes were synthesized . the new ligand and its complexes have been characterization on the basis their spectra of ¹HNMR,mass, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), as well as magnetic susceptibility, elemental analysis[C,H,N], atomic absorption and conductance measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tool has been developed in this study to estimate one of the Irinotecan (INR) cancer drugs used in the treatment of lung cancer by using square wave voltammetry (SWV) techniques, on surface of electrode graphite (GrE) and through of study the optimal condition that enhance the work of this electrode. The measurements are also enhanced by the electro-polymerization process of the neutral red pigment (NR) and using when presence of titanium nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) to be greatly enhanced by measuring of LOD, LOQ and applied to human serum samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a persistent requirement for safeguarding documents and the data they contain, either in printed or electronic form. This is because the fabrication and faking of documents is prevalent globally, resulting in significant losses for individuals, societies, and industrial sectors, in addition to national security. Therefore, individuals are concerned about protecting their work and avoiding these unlawful actions. Different techniques, such as steganography, cryptography, and coding, have been deployed to protect valuable information. Steganography is an appropriate method, in which the user is able to conceal a message inside another message (cover media). Most of the research on steganography utilizes cover media, such as videos, images, and sounds. Notably, text steganography is usually not given priority because of the difficulties in identifying redundant bits in a text file. To embed information within a document, its attributes must be changed. These attributes may be non-displayed characters, spaces, resized fonts, or purposeful misspellings scattered throughout the text. However, this would be detectable by an attacker or other third party because of the minor change in the document. To address this issue, it is necessary to change the document in such a manner that the change would not be visible to the eye, but could still be decoded using a computer. In this paper, an overview of existing research in this area is provided. First, we provide basic information about text steganography and its general procedure. Next, three classes of text steganography are explained: statistical and random generation, format-based methodologies, and linguistics. The techniques related to each class are analyzed, and particularly the manner in which a unique strategy is provided for hiding secret data. Furthermore, we review the existing works in the development of approaches and algorithms related to text steganography; this review is not exhaustive, and covers research published from 2016 to 2021. This paper aims to assist fellow researchers by compiling the current methods, challenges, and future directions in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human phospholipid scramblase (hPLSCR1) is a transmembrane protein involved in rapid bidirectional scrambling of phospholipids across the plasma membrane in response to elevated intracellular calcium (Ca) levels. Overexpression of recombinant hPLSCR1 in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) leads to its deposition in inclusion bodies (IBs). N-lauroyl sarcosine was used to solubilize IBs and to recover functionally active hPLSCR1 from them . Protein was purified to homogeneity by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) affinity chromatography and was >98% pure. Functional activity of the purified protein was validated by in vitro reconstitution studies, ~18% of 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1, 3-diazol-4-yl-phosphatidylcholine (NBD-PC) phospholipids was translocated across the lipid bilayer in the presence of Ca ions. Far ultraviolet circular dichroism (UV-CD) studies reveal that the secondary structure of protein is predominantly an α-helix, and under nondenaturing conditions, the protein exists as a monomer. Here we describe a method to purify recombinant membrane protein with higher yield than previously described methods involving renaturation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new methodology to obtain subgrid air quality concentration variability (SGV) as distribution functions is described. Grid-based air quality models provide deterministic single value outcomes and thus do not represent concentration spatial details which can vary widely especially within urban and highly industrialized areas. While such spatial details can be obtained by running grid-based regional-scale air quality models at finer resolution or by employing local-scale models, such implementation may be impractical for performing a variety of applications, e.g., health exposure assessments. Strategically we propose a paradigm that can provide operational AQ models with supplemental estimates of SGV distributions as analytic functions provided on hourly and grid-by-grid bases. We illustrate and discuss this prototype implementation for a case study of benzene for several 12-km grid cells in the Wilmington, Delaware area. For this effort the contribution to SGV is limited to that from fine grid emissions distributions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Socioeconomic and demographic factors have been found to significantly affect time-activity patterns in population cohorts that can subsequently influence personal exposures to air pollutants. This study investigates relationships between personal exposures to eight VOCs (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-,p-xylene, chloroform, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, and tetrachloroethene) and socioeconomic, demographic, time-activity pattern factors using data collected from the 1999–2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) VOC study. Socio-demographic factors (such as race/ethnicity and family income) were generally found to significantly influence personal exposures to the three chlorinated compounds. This was mainly due to the associations paired by race/ethnicity and urban residence, race/ethnicity and use of air freshener in car, family income and use of dry-cleaner, which can in turn affect exposures to chloroform, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, and tetrachloroethene, respectively. For BTEX, the traffic-related compounds, housing characteristics (leaving home windows open and having an attached garage) and personal activities related to the uses of fuels or solvent-related products played more significant roles in influencing exposures. Significant differences in BTEX exposures were also commonly found in relation to gender, due to associated significant differences in time spent at work/school and outdoors. The coupling of Classification and Regression Tree (CART) and Bootstrap Aggregating (Bagging) techniques were used as effective tools for characterizing robust sets of significant VOC exposure factors presented above, which conventional statistical approaches could not accomplish. Identification of these significant VOC exposure factors can be used to generate hypotheses for future investigations about possible significant VOC exposure sources and pathways in the general U.S. population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines the methodologies for estimating emissions for time periods and multiple controls in the United States. Role of emission inventories; Provisions of Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990; Demands of emission inventories.

The article presents a letter to the editor on "Panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma with an unusual clinical presentation."

Reflective functioning is the process of reflecting on the thoughts and feelings of oneself and others and is foundational to healthy human relationships. The 54-item Reflective Function Questionnaire (RFQ) is a self-report measure that assesses reflective functioning, initially developed while studying individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). The purpose of the present study was to translate the RFQ from English to Persian and evaluate its reliability and validity among Iranian prisoners. The sample of this study included 509 (455 men and 54 women) Iranian prisoners. Findings confirm the translated measure had acceptable face and content validity. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed two dimensions of certainty (RFQ-c) and uncertainty (RFQ-u) of reflective functioning. The correlation analysis showed positive relationships between the dimensions of the RFQ and the borderline personality symptoms questionnaire and the emotional dissatisfaction questionnaire. Correlation analysis also showed negative associations between the dimensions of the RFQ and the Toronto Basic Empathy Scale (BES) and the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS) questionnaire, confirming the concurrent validity of the RFQ. The Cronbach's alphas of the RFQ-c and RFQ-u subscales were.69 and.7 respectively, which demonstrated relatively acceptable internal consistency. The results of the analysis demonstrated that the translated RFQ had desirable psychometric properties for evaluating reflective function among Iranian prisoners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study sought to assess maternal growth monitoring knowledge and its effect on stunting, wasting and underweight among children 0–18 months in the Tamale Metropolis. An analytical cross-sectional study design, involving 340 mother–child pairs randomly selected from 4 health facilities in the Tamale Metropolis was used. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics and maternal growth monitoring knowledge. Weight and length of children were taken to assess nutritional status (stunting, underweight and wasting). Chi square/Fisher's exact test was used to determine the association between maternal growth monitoring knowledge level and child nutritional status. Results: The study revealed that 87.6% of mothers had good knowledge on growth monitoring. The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were 9.4%, 25.9% and 17.9% respectively. Bivariate analysis revealed that there is no association between maternal growth monitoring knowledge and stunting (p = 0.781), wasting (p = 0.743) and underweight (p = 0.529) among children 0–18 months in the Tamale Metropolis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social anxiety is one of the most prevalent and chronic mental-health conditions in young adults. To date, no studies have been conducted about the relationships between the Big Five personality dimensions, courage, and social anxiety among Malaysian undergraduate students. Therefore, this study was designed to examine courage as a potential mediator of the association between the Big Five personality dimensions and social anxiety among Malaysian Undergraduates. In this study, 500 Malaysian undergraduate students (205 males and 295 females) completed a series of questionnaires. Structural equation modelling (AMOS-SEM) revealed that, of the Big Five, neuroticism and social anxiety were positively correlated. Extraversion, conscientiousness, openness to experience, and agreeableness, as well as courage, were negatively correlated with social anxiety. Courage mediated the relationship between the Big Five personality dimensions and social anxiety. The main contribution of the present research is to show how the Big Five personality dimensions may contribute to social anxiety. The findings of this study also could be implicated for counselling practice for undergraduate students in Malaysia as a collectivist setting and other collectivist settings around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Renewable power (photovoltaic, solar thermal or wind) is inherently intermittent and fluctuating. If renewable power has to become a major source of base-load dispatchable power, electricity storage systems of multi-MW capacity and multi-hours duration are indispensable. An overview of the advanced energy storage systems to store electrical energy generated by renewable energy sources is presented along with climatic conditions and supply demand situation of power in Saudi Arabia. Based on the review, battery features needed for the storage of electricity generated from renewable energy sources are: low cost, high efficiency, long cycle life, mature technology, withstand high ambient temperatures, large power and energy capacities and environmentally benign. Although there are various commercially available electrical energy storage systems (EESS), no single storage system meets all the requirements for an ideal EESS. Each EESS has a suitable application range. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In models of acute brain injury, progesterone improves recovery through several mechanisms including modulation of neuroinflammation. Secondary injury from neuroinflammation is a potential therapeutic target after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). For potential translation of progesterone as a clinical acute ICH therapeutic, the present study sought to define efficacy of exogenous progesterone administration in ICH-relevant experimental paradigms. Young and aged C57BL/6 male, female, and ovariectomized (OVX) mice underwent left intrastriatal collagenase (0.05-0.075 U) or autologous whole blood (35 μl) injection. Progesterone at varying doses (4-16 mg/kg) was administered at 2, 5, 24, 48, and 72 h after injury. Rotarod and Morris water maze latencies were measured on days 1-7 and days 28-31 after injury, respectively. Hematoma volume, brain water content (cerebral edema), complementary immunohistochemistry, multiplex cytokine arrays, and inflammatory proteins were assessed at prespecified time points after injury. Progesterone (4 mg/kg) administration improved rotarod and water maze latencies (p < 0.01), and decreased cerebral edema (p < 0.05), microglial proliferation, and neuronal loss (p < 0.01) in young and aged male, young OVX, and aged female mice. Brain concentration of proinflammatory cytokines and Toll-like receptor-associated proteins were also decreased after progesterone (4 mg/kg) treatment (p < 0.01). Progesteronetreated young female mice showed no detectable effects. Exogenous progesterone improved short- and long-term neurobehavioral recovery and modulated neuroinflammation in male and OVX mice after ICH. Future studies should validate these findings, and address timing and length of administration before translation to clinical trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full-genome sequencing showed that a recently emerged and hypervirulent clone of group A Streptococcus type emm59 active in Canada and parts of the United States has now caused severe invasive infections in rural northeastern Wyoming. Phylogenetic analysis of genome data indicated that the strain was likely introduced from Montana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full-genome sequencing showed that a recently emerged and hypervirulent clone of group A Streptococcus type emm59 active in Canada and parts of the United States has now caused severe invasive infections in rural northeastern Wyoming. Phylogenetic analysis of genome data indicated that the strain was likely introduced from Montana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]