Ain Shams University

In this study, Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with sodium iodide (NaI) were mixed to prepare flexible composite (PVA/NaI) films using the green solution casting synthesis method. Subsequently, these films were exposed to different times of nitrogen plasma (15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes) using cold plasma source. The XRD and SEM analysis were utilized to reveal effects of nitrogen beam on the structural and morphology of the treated samples, respectively. Further, the UV-Vis spectroscopic measurements were utilized to study the optical parameters of the pristine and exposed films. Other parameters were computed, such as refractive index, and dielectric constant. The plasma resonance frequency (W P ) modified from 0.3x10 ¹³ Hz for the PVA/NaI to 0.41x10 ¹³ , 0.34x 10 ¹³ , 0.31x10 ¹³ , and 0.23x10 ¹³ Hz after irradiation of 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes of nitrogen plasma respectively. The most important aspect of this research is the optimization of composite characteristics and plasma conditions to create materials with novel properties for usage in different optical devices. The results show that the irradiated films PVA/NaI are appropriate for use as optical materials for flexible optoelectronic devices.

The modular A4 symmetry with three moduli is investigated. We assign different moduli to charged leptons, neutrinos, and quarks. We analyze these moduli at their fixed points where a residual symmetry exists. We consider two possibilities for right-handed neutrinos. First, they are assumed to be singlets under the modular symmetry. In this case, we show that the lepton masses and mixing can be obtained consistently with experimental observations. Second, they are assigned nontrivially under modular symmetry. We emphasize that a small deviation from their fixed point is required in this case. Finally, the quark masses and mixing are generated correctly around the fixed point of their modulus. In our analysis, we only consider the simple case of weight 2.

The objective of the present study was to generate functional biomaterials to repair and re-establish damaged tissues by producing porous biopolymeric PCL/zinc acetate scaffolds using the electrospinning technique and studying the effect of low doses of gamma radiation on cell proliferation. In electrospinning, ultrafine fibers are spun in a high-voltage electrostatic field. The electrospun structure has natural tissue morphology, which is distinguished by high porosity, a broad variety of pore diameters, efficient mechanical qualities, and the ability to promote cell proliferation and adhesion. PCL/zinc acetate scaffold was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Then, they were sterilized by ionizing radiation (gamma radiation) with a dose of 30 KGy for the cell culture part. Scaffold biocompatibility tests were carried out by using Vero cells. Cells grown on scaffolds were irradiated with doses of 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 Gy gamma radiation. Cell viability was examined using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, SEM, malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) content. The results proved that cell viability was increased after γ-irradiation with 0.5 Gy compared to control (without γ-irradiation), then decreased with other doses (1, 2.5, and 5 Gy), while the dose of 5 Gy caused the least cell viability. Finally, it was concluded that the nanofiber PCL/zinc acetate scaffold could be successfully fabricated by using the electrospinning technique, and it was biocompatible with Vero cells.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a crucial component of cellular signaling pathways, is frequently dysregulated in a range of cancers. EGFR targeting has become a viable approach in the development of anti-cancer medications. This study employs an integrated approach to drug discovery, combining multiple computational methodologies to identify potential EGFR inhibitors. The co-crystal ligand for the EGFR protein (R85) (PDB ID: 7AEI) was employed as a model for developing pharmacophore hypotheses. Nine databases underwent a ligand-based virtual screening, and 1271 hits meeting the screening criteria were chosen. EGFR protein crystal structure was obtained from the PDB database (PDB ID: 7AEI) and prepared. The hit compounds identified during virtual screening were docked to the prepared EGFR receptor to predict binding affinities by using the glide tool’s standard precision mode. The top ten compounds were chosen, and their affinities of binding ranged from -7.691 to -7.338 kcal/mol. The ADMET properties of the selected compounds were predicted, and three compounds MCULE-6473175764, CSC048452634, and CSC070083626 showed better QPPCaco values compared to other identified compounds, so these were selected for further stability analysis. To confirm the stability of the protein-ligand complexes, a 200 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was run using the binding sites of the top three compounds against the EGFR receptor. These results suggest that the selected compounds may be lead compounds in suppressing the biological activity of EGFR, additional experimental investigation is required.

In this study, a rapid, precise, and targeted electroanalytical method was developed for the trace determination of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP). The study reports the use of cyclic voltammetry (CV) to characterize the electrochemical response of 4-CP and the optimization of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) settings for its sensitive quantification. Screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) were selected for the sensitive detection of 4-CP using DPV. The incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with carboxyl groups (MWCNT-COOH) as a modifier on the working SPCE significantly enhances the electrode's performance, resulting in a 5-fold increase in sensitivity compared to that of the unmodified SPCE. Under optimal conditions, oxidation peak current exhibited a detection limit of 9.2 nM and was proportional to 4-CP concentration in the range of 0.01-1.3 μM. Additionally, the constructed sensor demonstrated high stability, high selectivity, good reproducibility, and excellent feasibility. These findings suggest that the C/MWCNT-COOH/SPE offers a simple, rapid, and cost-effective method for the prospective online assessment of 4-CP in various samples with different matrices.

Carfilzomib (CFZ), a second-generation proteasome inhibitor, is a key treatment for multiple myeloma (MM), but its use is associated with significant cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs), including heart failure and hypertension. Endothelial dysfunction is believed to contribute to these CVAEs. Building on our previous findings that CFZ induces endothelial toxicity and that canagliflozin protects against CFZ-induced endothelial apoptosis, this study aimed to evaluate CFZ-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy in endothelial and MM cells, as well as the impact of canagliflozin on these processes and its impact on the anticancer effects of CFZ in MM cells. Endothelial cells (HUVECs and EA.hy926) and multiple myeloma cells (RPMI8226) were treated with 0.5 µM CFZ, either alone or in combination with canagliflozin (5–20 µM), to assess the effects on ER stress and autophagy in both cell types. CFZ induced ER stress in endothelial and MM cells. In endothelial cells, canagliflozin mitigated CFZ-induced markers of ER stress, while unexpectedly upregulating CFZ-induced CHOP. Whereas, in MM cells, canagliflozin did not alter CFZ-induced ER stress, but instead further upregulated CFZ-induced ATF-4. In addition, CFZ induced autophagy in endothelial cells while inhibiting it in MM cells. Canagliflozin abrogated CFZ-induced autophagy in endothelial cells. In striking contrast to its effects in endothelial cells, canagliflozin enhanced the cytotoxic effects of CFZ in MM cells. Intriguingly, in an innovative co-culture system, canagliflozin enhanced CFZ-induced apoptosis in MM cells while protecting endothelial cells. These findings underscore the dual role of canagliflozin in reducing CFZ-induced endothelial toxicity, while enhancing its cytotoxic effect in MM.

In this work, a new heavy-tailed Lomax model is proposed for the reliability and actuarial risk analysis. Simulations are conducted to investigate how the estimators behave. Parameters are derived through maximum likelihood estimation techniques. The efficacy of the newly proposed heavy-tailed Loma distribution is illustrated using the USA indemnity loss datasets. The findings clearly indicate that the new loss model offers a superior parametric fit compared to other competing distributions. Analyzing metrics such as value-at-risk, tail mean variance, tail variance, peaks over a random threshold value-at-risk (PORT-VAR), and the mean-of-order-P (MOP(P)) can aid in risk assessment and in identifying and describing significant events or outliers within the USA indemnity loss. This research introduces PORT-VAR estimators tailored specifically for risk analysis using the USA indemnity loss dataset. The study emphasizes determining the optimal order of P based on the true mean value to enhance the characterization of critical events in the dataset.

The present study involved the preparation of a nano-polymer based on shrimp wastes as a biodegradable chitosan nanoparticle (Cs) incorporated into titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2) in an aqueous medium and carried on the specific polymer to form thin films. The spectroscopic properties of chitosan/TiO2/Polymer thin films were estimated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The fabricated films were then examined for their potential to eliminate iron (Fe) and chromium (Cr) from solutions. The adsorption efficiency was also evaluated along various contact times. In general, the results illustrated that the heavy metals removal increases with increasing the different ratios of chitosan and TiO2 nanoparticles incorporated in polymer thin films. Removal efficiency increased with an increase in contact time. More than 70% of Fe and Cr ions were removed in the first 30 min of contact time using different thin films examined. The maximum removal for metal ions after 90 min for the pest thin film (0.08 TiO2) was 97.1 and 88.8% for Fe and Cr, whereas the lowest thin film removal efficiency (PVC) was 29.5 and 8.07% for Fe and Cr, respectively. In conclusion, the fabricated thin film composed of polyvinylidene chloride and chitosan plus 0.08 g titanium oxide nanoparticles had a heavy metal removal capacity three times greater than that of basic polyvinylidene chloride.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate local control (LC) of tumors, patient overall survival (OS), and the safety of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for esophageal cancer brain metastases (EBMs). METHODS This retrospective cohort study used data from 15 International Radiosurgery Research Foundation facilities encompassing 67 patients with 185 EBMs managed using SRS between January 2000 and May 2022. The median patient age was 63 years, with a male predominance (92.5%). Most patients (64.2%) had a single brain metastasis, while 7.5% had more than 5 metastases. The median tumor volume was 0.9 cm ³ , and the median margin dose delivered to the tumor was 20 Gy. RESULTS The median OS post-SRS was 15.2 months, with 1- and 2-year OS rates of 65.7% and 32.3%, respectively. A significant inverse correlation was found between the number of EBMs and OS in the univariable analysis. LC rates at 1 and 2 years were 89% and 76%, respectively. Adverse radiation effects (AREs) were observed in 17.9% of patients, with 13.4% being mild and transient and 4.5% severely symptomatic (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 3). New intracranial disease developed in 58.2% of patients, with 1- and 2-year rates of 58% and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS SRS for EBMs demonstrated high survival rates and effective tumor control, with a low incidence of severe AREs. These findings highlight the potential role of SRS in the multidisciplinary multimodality management paradigm of EBM.

This study aims to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic relevance of MMP-2 and MMP-9 as biomarkers for breast cancer, as well as their association with clinicopathological factors. Breast cancer is a leading contributor to cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The discovery of biomarkers is crucial for early diagnosis, outcome prediction, and effective treatment. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a significant role in various physiological and pathological activities, including development, tissue repair, inflammation, cancer spread, and metastasis. While the prognostic significance of MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in breast cancer has been studied, the findings remain inconclusive. Participants were divided into three groups, with each group consisting of 62 individuals: Group I comprised healthy controls, Group II consisted of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients (stage I-III), and Group III included patients with metastatic breast cancer. Levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were evaluated in these groups using the ELISA method. An evident increase in MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels was noted when comparing the control group with both the breast cancer and metastatic groups. Furthermore, a notable correlation was identified between serum MMP-9 levels and the pathological diagnosis of breast cancer (P < 0.001) as well as tumor size (P < 0.01). MMP-2 and MMP-9 have emerged as promising biomarkers for breast cancer, with MMP-9 specifically associated with disease prognosis. Continued investigation into the anti-tumor mechanisms of MMPs may yield significant advancements in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for the management of breast cancer.

Background Unless a health intervention is acceptable to target audience and aligns with their needs and preferences, there is increased likelihood that they would not engage with and benefit from it as planned. Despite that, there is paucity of studies exploring acceptability of oral health promotion interventions prior to implementation. This cross-sectional study was designed to investigate Egyptian women's “prospective acceptability” to use mobile technologies in promoting access to oral health services. Methods A total of 959 participants completed a questionnaire, based on Sekhon's theoretical framework of acceptability, either in-person or virtually. Data was collected on sociodemographics, smartphones’ ownership and usage patterns, acceptability to use mHealth interventions, and any potential motivators and barriers. Chi-square test was used for descriptive statistics and regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of acceptability to use digital technology in improving oral and dental health. Results 83 % of women residing in urban settings versus 80.7% in rural settings believed that mHealth could improve health outcomes. WhatsApp was identified by 68% of participants as the preferred application for adopting mobile health services. Health awareness (36.8%) and effort & time saving (29%) were the most commonly cited motivators for using mHealth while lack of time (33%) and privacy issues (14.2%) were the main barriers. Conclusions mHealth is perceived as a highly acceptable approach for promoting oral health among Egyptian women. However, mHealth interventions should take into consideration privacy concerns and personal security when targeting this group.

The reliability of MEMS devices is significantly harmed by residual stresses arising from fabrication. These stresses usually yield to the stiffening and/or curling of the micro-plate. Previous literature shows that it is challenging to reduce both phenomena simultaneously. This paper proposes ribbing of the micro-plate as a remedy. A simple model for a fixed-fixed beam is first presented. The analytical solution of the beam model depicts that stiffening can be controlled by controlling the ratio between the cross-sectional area and the area moment of inertia. A non-linear finite element 3D model is developed. Results show that ribbed micro-plates are superior to conventional flat ones in many aspects. Stiffening and curling are both reduced by about 50 % and 64 %, respectively. The fundamental natural frequency is increased by 34 %. It is predicted that ribbing can improve the reliability of MEMS devices including pressure sensors, resonators, micro-mirrors, and switches.

The Eisert–Wilkens–Lewenstein (EWL) game can be used to solve the quantum prisoner’s dilemma is investigated. It is assumed that the states of the players are polarized in different directions, and the entangling gate is time dependent, with interaction strength represented by linear, sine, cosine, or exponential functions. If both players cooperate, the payoffs remain above their classical counterparts. However, if they do not cooperate, the payoff for one player increases at the expense of the other. The payoffs of both players are similar when their states are prepared with the same settings, whereas different settings for the initial states result in different payoffs. Due to the periodic nature of the interaction strength, the payoffs oscillate between their classical bounds when both initial states have the same settings. Conversely, for different initial state, the upper bounds are lower than the classical ones, while the minimum values remain above their corresponding classical payoffs.

Nanoparticle coatings present a highly effective method for significantly enhancing the performance of solar distillers by improving heat transfer, evaporation, and condensation processes. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the current research on nanoparticle-coated solar stills, highlighting how nanoparticles improve thermal conductivity, absorb solar energy more efficiently, and promote dropwise condensation to increase freshwater productivity. Various nanoparticles, including metal oxides and carbon-based materials, have been studied for their ability to optimize solar still performance. However, challenges such as nanoparticle stability, cost, and environmental impact remain. This paper consolidates research efforts, analyses key findings, and outlines future directions for advancing the application of nanoparticle coatings in sustainable water purification technologies.

It is imperative for many problems of physical interest to incorporate the geometrical curvature. Examples include plasma physics, oceanography, nonlinear optics, and laser-driven systems. Therefore, we consider planar wave propagation in a cylindrical geometry in light of the aforementioned applications, and the propagation is considered solely in the radial direction. Using the small amplitude perturbation approximation, the cylindrical Korteweg-de Vries (CKdV) equation is obtained using multiple-scale analysis to study nonlinear ion-acoustic waves in a dense plasma with electron trapping by incorporating the effects of the quantizing magnetic field and the smearing effects of the Fermi distribution function. The Bäcklund transformation is employed to obtain single and multiple soliton solutions of the CKdV equation, which are found to be very different from the planar KdV equation. A general mathematical framework is also presented to find the N-soliton solutions. The effects of the quantizing magnetic field and finite electron temperature on the structure of the cylindrical ion-acoustic solitons are also explored using the parameters representative of white dwarf stars. This research endeavor is expected to trigger interest in the plasma community to pursue this fascinating and abstruse research direction.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has emerged as an effective alternative to surgery in selected patients with aortic stenosis. It needs to be made clear which type of valve has better results in patients with small aortic annulus. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. A total of 27 articles were included, including 10,378 patients [5989 in balloon-expanding valve (BEV) and 4389 in the self-expanding valve (SEV) groups] with small aortic annulus. Our meta-analysis demonstrated no significant difference between SEVs and BEVs for 1-year all-cause mortality. There was a statistically significant increased risk of permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) within 30 days and ischemic stroke at 1 year with SEVs [risk ratio (RR) = 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18–2.42, P < 0.01, and RR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.03–3.26, P = 0.04, respectively]. Our meta-analysis showed that SEVs are favored over BEVs in terms of 1-year change from baseline in effective orifice area (mean difference = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.19–0.71, P < 0.01). Moreover, after 1-year follow-up, severe patient-prosthesis mismatch was significantly lower in the SEV group (RR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.11–0.53, P < 0.01). In conclusion, SEVs were associated with better echocardiographic outcomes from baseline. Patients with SEVs were more likely to develop stroke and require PPI but were less likely to have patient-prosthesis mismatch. The benefit of a larger effective aortic valve area with SEVs has to be balanced against higher PPI and stroke rates.

Diagnosis of lesions of the parapharyngeal space (PPS) often poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to its deep location. As a result of the topographical relationship to nearby neck spaces, a very precise differential diagnosis is possible based on imaging criteria. When in doubt, imaging-guided – usually CT-guided – biopsy and even drainage remain options. Through a precise analysis of the literature including the most recent publications, this review precisely describes the basic and most recent imaging applications for various PPS pathologies and the differential diagnostic scheme for assigning the respective lesions in addition to the possibilities of using interventional radiology. The different pathologies of PPS from congenital malformations and inflammation to tumors are discussed according to frequency. Characteristic criteria and, more recently, the use of advanced imaging procedures and the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) allow a very precise differential diagnosis and support further diagnosis and therapy. After precise access planning, almost all pathologies of the PPS can be biopsied or, if necessary, drained using CT-assisted procedures. Radiological procedures play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment planning of PPS pathologies.

This paper focuses on applying the Corcione model to the microchannel. The Corcione model is highly relevant because it provides accurate empirical relationships for forecasting the dynamic viscosity and effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids. These qualities are crucial for building and improving different thermal systems. The model presents and discusses two simple empirical correlating equations for forecasting the dynamic viscosity and effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Hence the aim of this work is to use Corcione’s model to demonstrate the fully developed laminar flow of an electrically conducting nanoliquid through an inclined microchannel. The energy equation takes into account the physical impacts of the heat source/sink, temperature jamp, and viscous dissipation. TiO 2 nanoparticles in water are taken into consideration in this work for enhanced cooling. Using the numerical program Maple, Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg 4th–5th-order method is utilized to solve the present research. Making use of graphs, all of the flow parameters are shown, and the physical consequences on the flow and temperature profiles are thoroughly examined. It is noted that a higher inclined angle enhances the velocity profile whereas a larger temperature jump declines the temperature profile. Furthermore, Corcione’s model often has greater velocities, temperatures, and reduced surface drag forces than the Tiwari–Das model.