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Abstract Background Osteoporosis (OP) is a common finding in diabetic patients especially high-risk populations such as postmenopausal women. Sclerostin is a glycoprotein chiefly secreted by mature osteocytes and is considered a main regulator of bone formation. The C1q/TNF-Related Protein 3 (CTRP3) was found to be significantly associated with OP in postmenopausal women. The effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on sclerostin and CTRP3 levels in postmenopausal women is rarely investigated. The present study aimed to assess the impact of T2DM on sclerostin and CTRP3 levels and their relation to OP in postmenopausal women. Methods The study included 60 postmenopausal women with T2DM and 60 age-matched postmenopausal non-diabetic women. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Serum levels of sclerostin and CTRP3 were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results Diabetic group expressed significantly higher serum levels of sclerostin when compared with non-diabetic group (110.0 ± 29.0 versus 51.5 ± 23.2 ng; p

Abstract Pipelines subjected to thermal or mechanical loads may fail due to plastic strain accumulation which leads to ratcheting. In this research, cyclic plastic behavior and shakedown limit are investigated experimentally and numerically for a defected pressurized pipe under cyclic bending moment. In the numerical model, the combined isotropic/kinematic hardening model based on the Chaboche model is adopted to represent the cyclic plastic flow of the material. The hardening parameters are determined experimentally and used in the finite element (FE) model. A four-point bending test rig is manufactured to test a pressurized API 5L steel pipe under cyclic bending. An elliptical defect is created by machining to depict corrosion pits in pipes. The plastic strains are measured experimentally and the results are used to tune the parameters of the FE model. The shakedown limit of the defected pipe is determined numerically by tracking the critical points behavior and the results are verified experimentally. Furthermore, the plastic work dissipated energy (PWD) is estimated within the defective structure to study the behavior of the pipe. By running this compatible model, it is found that the yield and the shakedown limits are lowered by mean values of 55% and 25% respectively due to the presence of metal loss defect occupying almost half of the pipe thickness.

Exercise is essential for a healthy lifestyle, thus it is important to consider how to keep proper posture when performing arm exercises at home. This work uses wrist-worn bands with the MPU6050 sensor to address these issues, which collects motion data using acceleration measurements. The individuals in the dataset are completing a variety of activities at varying ranges of motion. Machine learning-based classification methods are then applied after the pre-processing and feature extraction of the gathered data. An App prototype integrated with a WiFi module and Cloud infrastructure is created to enable real-time data collecting and storage. The Arduino IDE is used to send the collected data to the ThingSpeak platform, where it is subsequently sent to MATLAB for additional analysis. The studied data is then returned to ThingSpeak, where the program displays the findings. This approach reduces the risk of injuries caused by bad posture by enabling people to continue regular workouts at home without requiring a personal trainer or a particular environment. The findings of this work shed important light on the performance of Boosted Trees, Quadratic SVM, Subspace KNN, and Fine KNN algorithms for arm exercises employing a wrist-worn band with an MPU6050 sensor. The Fine KNN has the highest accuracy of 91.3% among all implemented algorithms.

Summary: Background: Bangladesh is making progress toward achieving zero dog-mediated rabies deaths by 2030, a global goal set in 2015. Methods: Drawing from multiple datasets, including patient immunisation record books and mass dog vaccination (MDV) databases, we conducted a comprehensive analysis between 2011 and 2023 to understand the effectiveness of rabies control programmes and predict human rabies cases in Bangladesh by 2030 using time-series forecasting models. We also compared rabies virus sequences from GenBank in Bangladesh and other South Asian countries. Findings: The estimated dog population in Bangladesh was determined to be 1,668,140, with an average dog population density of 12.83 dogs/km2 (95% CI 11.14–14.53) and a human-to-dog ratio of 86.70 (95% CI 76.60–96.80). The MDV campaign has led to the vaccination of an average of 21,295 dogs (95% CI 18,654–23,935) per district annually out of an estimated 26,065 dogs (95% CI 22,898–29,230). A declining trend in predicted and observed human rabies cases has been identified, suggesting that Bangladesh is poised to make substantial progress towards achieving the ‘Zero by 30’ goal, provided the current trajectory continues. The phylogenetic analysis shows that rabies viruses in Bangladesh belong to the Arctic-like-1 group, which differs from those in Bhutan despite sharing a common ancestor. Interpretation: Bangladesh's One Health approach demonstrated that an increase in MDV and anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) resulted in a decline in the relative risk of human rabies cases, indicating that eliminating dog-mediated human rabies could be achievable. Funding: The study was supported by the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) Division of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

IntroductionLeucocytozoon is an intracellular blood parasite that affects various bird species globally and is transmitted by blackfly vectors. This parasite is responsible for leucocytozoonosis, a disease that results in significant economic losses due to reduced meat and egg production. There is limited knowledge about the epidemiological pattern of leucocytozoonosis and its causative species in Egypt, particularly in pigeons.MethodsThe current study involved the collection of 203 blood samples from domestic pigeons from various household breeders and local markets across Qena Province, Upper Egypt. Samples were initially examined for potential Leucocytozoon infection using blood smears, followed by an evaluation of associated risk factors. Molecular identification of the parasite in selected samples (n = 11), which had initially tested positive via blood smears, was further refined through nested PCR and sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene to ascertain the Leucocytozoon species present. Additionally, histopathological examination of the liver, spleen, and pancreas was conducted on animals that tested positive by blood smears.ResultsInterestingly, 26 out of 203 samples (12.08%) had confirmed Leucocytozoon infections based on microscopic analysis. Additionally, all 11 samples that initially tested positive via blood smears were confirmed positive through nested PCR analysis, and their sequencing revealed the presence of Leucocytozoon sabrazesi, marking the first report of this parasite in Egypt. The study into potential risk factors unveiled the prevalence of Leucocytozoon spp. seems host gender-dependent, with males exhibiting a significantly higher infection rate (33.33%). Additionally, adult birds demonstrated a significantly higher infection prevalence than squabs, suggesting an age-dependent trend in prevalence. Seasonality played a significant role, with the highest occurrence observed during summer (37.25%). Histopathological examination revealed the presence of numerous megaloschizonts accompanied by lymphocytic infiltration and multiple focal areas of ischemic necrosis.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first study to shed light on the epidemiological characteristics and molecular characterization of leucocytozoonosis in pigeons in Egypt. Further research endeavors are warranted to curb the resurgence of Leucocytozoon parasites in other avian species across Egypt, thereby refining the epidemiological understanding of the disease for more effective control and prevention measures.

Abstract Background members of the genus Sarcocystis are intracellular obligate protozoan parasites classified within the phylum Apicomplexa and have an obligate heteroxenous life cycle involving two hosts. A more comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and geographic range of different Sarcocystis species in marine ecosystems is needed globally and nationally. Hence, the objective of this study was to document the incidence of Sarcocystis infection in sharks within the aquarium ecosystem of Egypt and to identify the species through the characterization of the SSU rDNA gene. Methods All organs of the mako shark specimen underwent macroscopic screening to detect the existence of a Sarcocystis cyst. Ten cysts were collected from the intestine and processed separately to extract the genomic DNA. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was accomplished by amplifying a specific 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene fragment. Subsequently, the resulting amplicons were subjected to purification and sequencing processes. Results Macroscopic examination of the mako shark intestinal wall sample revealed the presence of Sarcocystis cysts of various sizes and shapes, and sequencing of the amplicons from Sarcocystis DNA revealed a 100% nucleotide identity with the sequence of Sarcocystis tenella recorded from sheep in Iran; The mako shark sequence has been deposited in the GeneBank with the accession number OQ721979. This study presents the first scientific evidence demonstrating the presence of the Sarcocystis parasite in sharks, thereby documenting this specific marine species as a novel intermediate host in the Sarcocystis life cycle. Conclusions This is the first identification of Sarcocystis infection in sharks, and we anticipate it will be an essential study for future screenings and establishing effective management measures for this disease in aquatic ecosystems.

Air quality represents one of the most important parameters determining indoor microclimate and human comfort. Thus, the current study reports a comprehensive study on the dominant sources, organic compositions, and potential health impacts of the polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmospheric particle matters (PMs) ranging from 2.5 µm (PM2.5) to 10 µm (PM10) size in the rural and urban regions of western (Jeddah city) Saudi Arabia collected over 1 year between 2014 and 2015. The levels of PAHs in two locations namely Obhur (Urban) and Hada Alsham (Rural) were monitored over 1 year (2014 and 2015) using the gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry. The level of ƩPAHs in Obhur (819.25 ng/m3) has a significantly high concentration of PAHs compared to Hada Alsham (Rural) (675.26 ng/m3). Indeno(1,2,3-CD)pyrene was the major contributor with an average value of 215.66 ng/m3 followed by benzo[k]fluranthene with a concentration of 150.68 ng/m3, respectively. The major contributors were indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, benzo[k]fluranthene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h]perylene, and benzo[b]fluranthene are the major contributors with contributing percentages of 26.32, 18.39, 9.07, and 8.29%, respectively. The rest of all compounds were below 4%. The highest concentrations of PAHs in Obhur (1836.99 ng/m3) and in Hada Alsham (1107.40 ng/m3) were observed in winter in January 2014. PAHs with 4–6 aromatic ring components are primarily emitted by high temperature combustion. The average values for the BaA/(BaA + Chr) and Flt/(Flt + Pyr) ratios at Obhur were found 0.58 and 0.43 and at Hada Alsham were found 0.63 and 0.38, respectively, indicating that coal/biomass burning is the major source of PAHs. Hada Alsham (rural area), the transportation system, is a significant contributor to the observed PAHs. These results reflect Saudi Arabia’s traffic load in both rural and urban areas. On road sites, the impact of petroleum combustion and vehicular emissions was also identified. The sum of the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for all congeners for infants along the Obhur location was 2.13 × 10−6 and 1.38 × 10−6, respectively. ILCR values were less than 1.0 × 10−4, implying that PAH exposure posed an acceptable potential cancer risk in this study. Various local emission sources contributed more PAHs in many Saudi urban areas, increasing the risk of lung cancer, and the health risk. PAHs have an associated large surface area and are capable of deposition in the respiratory system with high efficiency. The total health risk assessment study also helps in alarming the toxicity at both the locations.

Abstract Background: Dogs are the most popular pet animals worldwide, and their frequent and close contact with humans poses an increased risk of zoonotic parasite transmission. Toxocara canis infection is a highly pervasive and economically significant zoonotic infection transmitted by dogs worldwide, commonly in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in developing countries. Objectives: This study evaluates the epidemiological profile and associated risk factors of T. canis exposure among humans and T. canis infection in domestic dogs in two climatically different governorates in Egypt. Methods: Faecal samples from 360 domiciled dogs were examined using the flotation technique to detect T. canis eggs. In addition, 276 human serum samples were evaluated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay over a period of 10 months from May 2021 to February 2022 in the Alexandria and Qena Governorates, Egypt. Results: Shedding of T. canis was identified in 33.33% (120/360) of dogs and the overall seroprevalence in the human population was 20.65% (57/276). Lower Egypt, represented by the Alexandria Governorate, had higher canine infection (39.47%) and human seropositivity (29.87%) rates than those of Upper Egypt, represented by Qena Governorate (26.47% and 9.02% in dogs and humans, respectively). Statistical analysis of the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants revealed that handwashing, washing of vegetables and fruits and sex were associated with human T. canis exposure. Conclusion: The prevalence rates of confirmed T. canis infection in the Egyptian dogs population and the associated human seropositivity rates reflect its importance as a public health concern and support the call to increase public awareness of this issue. The risk factors identified in this study can contribute to the development of more effective control and prevention strategies.

A recent study and research have shown that the relay selection schemes for cooperative communication can achieve full cooperative diversity gains and still maintains energy efficiency. Multi-source and multi-relay networks frequently cooperate to transfer their own data to the destination, mainly the access point, in cooperative wireless networks. In this paper, we use a jellyfish optimizer to select the number of relays to transmit packets of the image depending on the order of the data in the image according to its importance and at a constant rate. First, the relationships between the number of relays, peak signal-to-noise ratio, and signal-to-noise ratio are analyzed. Second, the comparison between the performances of Equal Diversity (ED) and Unequal Diversity (UED) with Equal Error Protection(EEP) and Unequal Error Protection(UEP) is introduced using the set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT) image coder as a source coding. The jellyfish algorithm, as an efficient optimization technique, is applied for solving the problem of optimal relay selection method to reduce the bit error rate and to improve the transmitted image quality. Many useful and important results in the proposed work can be used in the enhancement of image transmission over cooperative networks. Relative to the traditional methods, the proposed method achieves better results for the transmission of images with high quality through cooperative communication networks.

Hymenolepis nana infections are among the most important global socioeconomic and health problems worldwide notably in developing countries with hot temperature and dry climates. This study aimed to estimate the linkage between the prevalence of H. nana infection in humans at variant ages and its presence in different sources. A cross sectional study was achieved in the period between 2019 and 2021 during which 100, 50, 50, and 175 samples of rodent feces, water, green salad, and human stool were gathered, respectively and investigated for H. nana eggs. For checking the diagnostic efficacy of direct smear and flotation techniques compared to formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique, rodent and human fecal samples were examined by the three methods. It has been found that one (1.0%), two (2.0%), and five (5.0%) out of 100 rodent fecal samples contained H. nana eggs, respectively. In Parallel, 2 (1.14%), 5 (2.86%), and 7 (4.0%) of 175 human fecal samples were positive, respectively by the three methods emphasizing that formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique is the most sensitive. On the other hand, samples of water and green salad were examined by direct smear method only yielding 6.0% (3/50) contaminated vegetable samples while tape water samples weren’t contaminated by H. nana eggs. Interestingly, the prevalence of hymenolepiasis was significant (p

Traditional medicine in tropical areas often includes the use of Swietenia mahagoni to treat a wide range of conditions. However, preclinical testing is crucial to ensure their safety profile and address any remaining concerns about their efficacy. The zebrafish model of open field test shows that decreased dopamine and cholinergic transmission causes impaired locomotion and diminished exploratory behavior. In addition to the elevation of 5-HT and GABA reported in the mirror bite test findings, the extract may have suppressed dopamine expression. The mirror-bite test and the light-dark test both showed elevated levels of GABA expression. Findings from the predator avoidance test are very suggestive of a neurotransmitter-regulating action of the extract.

Recently, hand sanitization has gained attention for preventing disease transmission. Many on-the-market convenient dermal sanitizers contain alcohol, which can be detrimental to the skin. Therefore, three nanoemulgel formulations (LN-F1, LN-F2, LN-F3) incorporating lemon peel extract (LE), and with various increasing concentrations of xanthan gum as a gelling agent and stabilizer, were developed and characterized as a novel alternative. All formulations showed non-Newtonian shear-thinning flow behavior, particle size values below 200 nm, and increasing zeta potential with higher xanthan gum concentrations. All nanoemulgel formulations exhibited greater in vitro phenolic compound release than free LE. LN-F2 (1.0% LE, 20.0% mineral oil, 20.0% Span 80, 4.0% Cremophor RH 40, 4.0% PEG 400, 0.5% xanthan gum, 50.5% dH2O) was selected as the optimal formulation due to improved characteristics. LE and LN-F2 potential cytotoxicity was assessed on MA-104, showing no significant cellular morphological alterations up to 10 mg/mL for both samples. LN-F2 showed in vitro antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. Typhimurium, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, and C. albicans, as well as antiviral activity against phiX 174, but no effect against rotavirus (SA-11). In vivo, LN-F2 presented a removal capacity of 83% to 100% for bacteria and 89% to 100% for fungi. These findings suggest that the formulated nanoemulgel holds potential as a safe and effective antiseptic, providing a viable alternative to commercial alcohol-based formulations.

Grapefruit (GF) processing generates significant nutrient and economic losses due to the production of 50% by-products, primarily peels. GF peels are a rich and sustainable source of bioactive compounds (BCs), such as essential oils (EOs) and phenolic compounds. Thus, finding value-added solutions based on a circular economy is paramount. This research aims to assess the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties of a hydroethanolic polyphenol-rich extract from crude GF peels (GF-CE), essential oil (GF-EO), and polyphenol-rich extract from GF peels after essential oil extraction (GF-PE). The GF-CE and GF-PE showed high concentrations of naringenin (7.71 and 48.60 mg/g dry extract (DE)), narirutin (15.03 and 28.73 mg/g DE), and hesperidin (0.67 and 0.29 mg/mL), respectively. Extracting firstly EOs from GF improved the release of phenolic acids (p-coumaric, ferulic, and chlorogenic acid). The GF-CE exhibited stronger free radical scavenging activity mainly in DPPH (IC50 = 75.69 ± 0.81 µg/mL) than GF-EO (1271 ± 0.85 µg/mL) and GF-PE (113.45 ± 0.85 µg/mL). The GF-EO demonstrated moderate antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria compared to the reference standard (amoxicillin) and strong activity against the yeast Candida albicans (inhibition zone of 16 mm). The major compounds in the GF-EO included D-limonene (25%), nootkatone (24%), and β-pinene (8%). Both polyphenol-rich extracts showed promising activities as COX1 and COX2 inhibitors with IC50 values of 25 ± 0.1 and 0.28 ± 0.00 µg/mL (compared to celecoxib (97.5 ± 0.1 and 0.31 ± 0.01 µg/mL) and indomethacin (6.25 ± 0.00 and 0.52 ± 0.01 µg/mL) as the standards), respectively. The study concludes that GF peels are a valuable source of BCs with significant bioactivities, offering a sustainable multi-cascade approach to recovering value-added compounds from GF peels in alignment with circular economy principles and open opportunities as functional ingredients for food applications.

Citrus peels are an important by-product of citrus processing industries, but a large part is considered waste. There has been increased attention in the last five years on these industrial by-products, especially those containing residual essential oils (EOs). Lemon, orange, and mandarin peels from Egypt were subjected to hydro-distillation to obtain EOs, which were analyzed via mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and by building Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS-MN) for the purpose of visually exploring the volatile components of citrus species. The constructed MN revealed that D-Limonene, α-pinene, and β-pinene are the dominant volatile constituents in the three Egyptian citrus species. The EOs from three citrus peels exhibited promising activities as antioxidants using two tested methods: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) compared with vitamin C. Lemon EO proved excellent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and negative bacteria. Additionally, the three citrus EOs showed good activities against the yeast Candida albicans. Regarding the anti-inflammatory assay, the three citrus EOs showed promising activities as COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors. This study concludes that EOs extracted from citrus peel waste can be valorized as an innovative strategy for food preservation or may be incorporated in cosmetics and pharmaceutical formulations in alignment with circular economy principles.

In the third millennium, developing nations face the most pressing challenges involving climate change, fossil fuel scarcity, ozone depletion, global warming, and the production of greenhouse gases. To mitigate these challenges, renewable energy-driven power generation systems are of paramount importance. Present paper aims at proposal of two novel configurations for clean electricity generation with high-efficiency. The first system (standard system) is composed of an OFWH-assisted steam Rankine cycle and a gas turbine cycle which is driven solely by biomass energy. On the other hand, the second system (hybrid system) uses biomass and geothermal energy to drive the system, where the geothermal energy heats the water entering the OFWH and augments the power generation. Detailed analyses and comparisons between two systems are conducted using thermodynamics and exergoenvironmental methods. After completing the parametric analysis, a Pareto front is obtained for highest efficiency and lowest exergoenvironmental index (EEI). A notable finding of the parametric study is that the hybrid system is less energy efficient than the standard system, however it has higher exergetic efficiency and lower negative impacts on environment. Furthermore, increasing the pressure ratio of the air compressor leads to a consistently increasing EEI, while output electricity and exergy and energy efficiencies show an increasing-decreasing trend. Based on the bi-objective optimization, the gasifier with 3569 kW is the most exergy destructive component of the system in the base case and optimal case. Finally, the optimum values are obtained as 0.4734 and 42.63% for the EEI and exergy efficiency, respectively.