American University in Cairo

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) involves abnormal fat accumulation in the liver, mainly as triglycerides. It ranges from steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can lead to inflammation, cellular damage, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial for regulating gene expression across various conditions. LncRNAs are emerging as potential putative diagnostic markers for NAFLD-associated HCC. Methods: We used two human and two mouse datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus to analyze the expression profiles of mRNAs and lncRNAs. We created a network linking lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs to investigate the relationships among these RNA types. Additionally, we identified NAFLD-related lncRNAs from existing literature. We then quantified the expression levels of four specific lncRNAs, including PVT1, DUBR, SNHG17, and SNHG14, in the serum of 92 Egyptian participants using qPCR. Finally, we performed a Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis to evaluate the diagnostic potential of the candidate lncRNAs. Results: Our data suggests that maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), H19, and DPPA2 Upstream Binding RNA (DUBR) were significantly upregulated, and plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) was markedly downregulated. PVT1 showed the highest diagnostic accuracy for both NAFLD and NASH. The combined panels of PVT1 +H19 for NAFLD and PVT1 +H19 +DUBR for NASH demonstrated high diagnostic potential. Uniquely, PVT1 can distinguish between NAFLD and NASH. PVT1 exhibited strong diagnostic potential for NAFLD and NASH, individually and in combination with other lncRNAs. Conclusion: Our study identifies four lncRNAs as putative biomarkers with high specificity and accuracy, individually or combined, for differentiating between NAFLD and NASH. Healthy volunteers with PVT1 possess the highest diagnostic accuracy and significantly discriminate between NAFLD and NASH.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the most important ready‐to‐eat vegetables widely consumed worldwide owing to its nutritional and health benefits. A total of 111 peaks were identified via gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) with sugars represented the most abundant primary metabolite class detected in lettuce specially in sandy soil grown lettuce compared to that in mud soil. The highest sugar level was detected in iceberg lettuce grown in sand soil at 967.1 mg/g versus lowest in “Baladi” lettuce grown in mud soil at 48.2 mg/g. Glucose represented the major sugar at 733.4 mg in iceberg grown in sand soil (SC) compared to 94.7 mg/g in that grown in muddy soil (MC). Sucrose detected at 212‐434 mg/g compared to traces in samples grown in muddy soil (MB and MC). Higher levels of amino acids were detected in green leaf lettuce in sandy soil (SC) at 130 mg/g, with L‐proline as the major amino form. Iceberg lettuce grown in SC was discriminated from other samples with the aid of chemometric analysis due to its richness in sugars, while green leaf lettuce in SC was discriminated by its richness in amino acids, organic acids, and sugar alcohols.

Samples of boro-tellurite glasses reinforced with ZrO2 with chemical formula (51-X)B2O3/XZrO2/10Li2O/20TeO2/19CaO: X = 0 (Zr-0), 1 (Zr-1), 2 (Zr-2), 3 (Zr-3), and 5 (Zr-5) mol% were prepared by the melt-quenching technique. A detailed analysis for linear and nonlinear optical properties was presented. In UV–Vis range, the absorption peak of Zr-X samples shifted towards longer wavelengths. The direct optical gap energy $\left( {E_{g}^{direct} } \right)$ varied from 3.708 ± 0.001 eV to 3.523 ± 0.001 eV, while the indirect optical gap energy $\left( {E_{g}^{indirect} } \right)$ varied from 3.395 ± 0.001 eV to 3.176 ± 0.001 eV. Urbach energy ($E_{u}$) changed from 0.502 ± 0.001 eV to 0.585 ± 0.001 eV. The linear dielectric susceptibility $\left( {\chi^{\left( 1 \right)} } \right)$ increased from 0.341 to 0.361. The linear refractive index (n) enhanced from 2.298 ± 0.001 to 2.351 ± 0.001. Non-linear susceptibility ($\chi^{\left( 3 \right)}$) was changed from 2.406 × 10–15 esu to 2.049 × 10–15 esu. The non-linear refractive index ($n_{2}$) for Zr-X glasses was decreased from 3.944 × 10–14 esu to 3.284 × 10–14 esu. Both optical (σoptical) and electrical (σelectric) conductivity were increased as ZrO2 content increased. The observed optical changes are useful for solar cell and optoelectronics application.

Introduction: In Saudi Arabia, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with wild-type RAS mutations may be treated with either cetuximab plus chemotherapy (CET + CT) or panitumumab plus chemotherapy (PAN + CT), which are epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies. This study calculated the costs of adverse event (AE) management linked to anti-EGFR treatment in Saudi Arabia’s national health budget from payer and societal perspectives. Methods: An adaptation of a global model developed in Microsoft Excel® was performed to estimate the costs of AE management associated with the first-line treatment (CET + CT and PAN + CT) of RAS wild-type mCRC patients in Saudi healthcare settings. The frequencies of common and highly common AEs were sourced from the summaries of product characteristics of CET and PAN, whereas AE severity was captured from a meta-analysis. Unit costs in Saudi Riyal (SAR) were obtained from the National Guard of Health Affairs and Ministry of Health 2024 price lists. The model assumptions, inputs, and results were validated using a local Delphi panel. Results: Within the Saudi payer perspective model, treatment with CET + CT vs PAN + CT resulted in average population cost savings of SAR 9 246 133 (4 741 606 international dollars [Intl$]) and per-patient cost savings of SAR 20 321 (Intl$10 421) for severe AEs, and average population cost savings of SAR 16 039 427 (Intl$8 225 347) and per-patient cost savings of SAR 35 251 (Intl$18 077) for all-grade AEs. On the other hand, within the Saudi societal perspective model, treatment with CET + CT vs PAN + CT resulted in average population cost savings of SAR 11 386 314 (Intl$5 839 135) and per-patient cost savings of SAR 25 025 (Intl$12 833) for severe AEs, while resulting in average population cost savings of SAR 18 179 608 (Intl$9 322 875) and per patient cost savings of SAR 39 955 (Intl$20 489) for all grade AEs. Conclusion: The CET + CT regimen was associated with a lower AE frequency than the PAN + CT regimen for the treatment of untreated RAS wild-type mCRC patients, thus resulting in AE management cost savings from both the Saudi payer and societal perspectives. These substantial cost savings may mitigate the financial burden of mCRC in Saudi healthcare settings.

Buck-passing analyses of normative concepts in terms of normative reasons face the so-called ‘wrong kind of reason’ (WKR) problem. Most work on this topic has focused either (i) on the WKR problem for the buck-passing account of value or (ii) more generally as an issue for ‘reasons fundamentalists’ (those that hold that all normative concepts can be analysed into normative reasons). This paper concerns the buck-passing analysis of deontic concepts, in particular the concept of wrongness, understood as an analysis into normative reasons for action. I first address the question of whether wrong kind reasons for action are possible in the first place, before examining and rejecting some accounts of the WKR/RKR for action. I end with a suggestion which points to a positive account of the distinction, and I explain one way in which appealing to this distinction can help to resolve the WKR problem.

Background Ageism and ageing anxiety are obstacles to health equity in the community. This study aims to assess ageism and ageing anxiety in Egypt and to elaborate on factors associated with ageism among Egyptians. Method We conducted a cross-sectional online survey on 359 adult Egyptians using a predesigned questionnaire to assess socio-demographic factors, the Fraboni Scale on Ageism (FSA), the Ageing Anxiety Scale (AAS), one question about contact with older adults, and another question about religiosity. Results The mean age of respondents was 27.91 years (SD = 8.99), with over half aged between 18 and 25 years, and the majority being women (68%). The mean total score of ageism was 72.79 (6.3) out of 116, while the mean total score of anxiety of ageing was 54.33 (8.83) out of 100. Male gender (B = 0.117, p = 0.024), infrequent contact with older adults (B = 0.163, p = 0.002), ageing anxiety (B = 0.238, p = 0.000), and insufficient income (B = 0.202, p = 0.007) were associated with increased ageism scores. Conclusion The observed associations between ageism and factors such as male gender, infrequent contact with older adults, insufficient income, and ageing anxiety highlight the potential need for focused educational initiatives. Implementing comprehensive educational programs that not only inform individuals about the ageing process but also promote positive intergenerational interactions could serve as a promising strategy to combat ageism.

Background The study of supercentenarians (individuals aged 110 years or older) offers valuable insights into aging, longevity, and the factors contributing to exceptional lifespans. These individuals often exhibit extraordinary cognitive and physical performance, which can inform strategies to improve the health of the general population. Research on centenarians (individuals aged 100 years or older), semi-supercentenarians (individuals aged 105-109 years), and supercentenarians covers themes like genetic factors, microbiome, inflammation, diet, lifestyle, and psychological aspects. These studies often focus on various aspects of extreme longevity, using varied objectives and methodologies, highlighting the need for a comprehensive synthesis to map the breadth of research and identify gaps in understanding this demographic. Objective This scoping review aims to map and synthesize existing evidence on the determinants of extreme longevity, focusing on individuals living beyond 105 years. This review seeks to categorize genetic factors associated with semi-supercentenarians and supercentenarians; explore the range of socioecological factors contributing to their longevity; and identify common themes such as health, functional capacity, cognition, mental health, behaviors, social support, quality of life, personality traits, environmental factors, and religiosity. Additionally, it aims to examine and describe the methodologies and assessment tools used in studies on extreme longevity and provide an overview of global demographic trends and patterns among supercentenarians, including geographic distribution, gender prevalence, and socioeconomic characteristics. Methods This scoping review follows the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) 2015 guidelines and the Population, Exposure, and Outcome framework. It includes observational and interventional, quantitative and qualitative studies on supercentenarians and semi-supercentenarians. Data will be sourced from databases like Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, PsycINFO, and The Cochrane Library. The selection process involves abstract and full-text screening by two independent reviewers, with data extraction focusing on study characteristics, participant demographics, interventions or exposures, and key findings. A thematic analysis will identify patterns across various themes Results As of October 2, 2024, five databases were searched, yielding 844 studies. After removing duplicates, 706 studies remained. Following the first and second screening stages, 135 studies were found to be eligible. The study is expected to be completed by the end of February 2025. Conclusions By synthesizing evidence, this study will understand the global scope of supercentenarians, describe the main themes of research interest, and identify gaps. The findings are expected to contribute significantly to the body of knowledge on longevity, informing future research and public health policies. This scoping review aims to enhance the understanding of factors promoting healthy aging and extreme longevity, benefiting broader public health initiatives. Trial Registration PROSPERO CRD42024512298; https://tinyurl.com/4cmux7h4

In this study, Faujasite Na-zeolite was synthesized using a hydrothermal method involving partial de-alumination metakaolin (PDK), sodium hydroxide, and aluminum sulfate. PDK is the solid residue generated during the aluminum sulfate manufacturing process. The synthesized Faujasite-Na-zeolite was evaluated for its effectiveness in removing methylene blue (MB), a positively charged dye, from contaminated water. The prepared zeolite was characterized using several analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM micrographs revealed that the Faujasite possessed a high surface area and spherical crystals of diameters ≤ 1 micron. The efficiency of the synthesized Faujasite Na-zeolite in eliminating the methylene blue (MB) dye from tainted water was assessed. Various factors were tested including; the amount of zeolite added, the initial concentration of the dye, the removal temperature, the solution pH, and the contact period. The results indicated that the adsorption capacity of methylene blue wear (195.6 mg/g) was attained under the following conditions: an initial dye concentration of 0.1 g/L, a temperature of 55 °C, a contact period of 4 h, and a pH of 10. The adsorption data were analyzed using many isothermal models, including the Freundlich, Langmuir, and Temkin models. The findings suggested that the adsorption process is best fitted by the Freundlich isotherm model. Additionally, the kinetics of the adsorption process were investigated by applying pseudo 1st and pseudo 2nd models. The results indicated that a pseudo 1st order model effectively describes the adsorption behavior of the methylene blue dye using the Faujasite Na type zeolite.

Vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and doxorubicin (OEPA)/cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and dacarbazine (COPDAC) regimen represents a preferred chemotherapy backbone for response‐adapted treatment of pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL). Epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics differ between children with HL from developing and developed countries. Administration of OEPA/COPDAC in low‐middle‐income countries (LMIC) has been associated with high treatment‐related mortality (TRM), hindering its wide adoption. In this comprehensive analysis, we evaluated OEPA/COPDAC‐associated adverse events and their impact on treatment delivery in 301 Egyptian patients with pediatric HL aged 2.5–17.9 years. The mean age at presentation was 10.1 years (72% of patients ≤ 13 years) with a male‐to‐female ratio of 2.6:1. The three treatment groups (TG) were represented. Nodular Sclerosis classic HL (59.8%) represented the most common histopathological subtype. Adverse events were reported during 49.8% of the administered cycles. Eighty‐nine and 76.4% of the patients encountered toxicity during OEPA1 and OEPA2 cycles respectively. The frequency of toxicity during COPDAC cycles ranged from 16% to 29.4%. Grade 3/4 decreased neutrophils were the most commonly occurring AE during OEPA cycles (range 71%–85%). Profound neutropenia occurred in 27.9% and 13.8% during OEPA1 and OEPA2 respectively. Profound neutropenia significantly differed across age groups. Treatment‐related mortality (TRM) occurred in 1% of the patients. Ninety‐eight percent of the scheduled chemotherapy cycles were successfully administered. Treatment modification due to toxicity was required in 9.3% of patients whereas 121 hospital admissions (891 days) were reported. Recurrent toxicity that is, toxicity in > 50% of administered cycles and consequently hospital admission significantly differed across age groups. Our findings support that low TRM is achievable in LMIC centers with adequate infrastructure and treatment capabilities. We additionally provide real‐life data on the associated treatment modification and hospital admission.

The Line of Balance (LOB) technique is essential for scheduling repetitive projects, offering benefits over the Critical Path Method (CPM) by ensuring consistent workflow and reducing project duration through the learning rate effect. This effect shortens activity durations when the same crew repeats tasks. Consistent crew assignments for each activity are key to maximizing this benefit, as routing crews between activities can disrupt the learning rate momentum. However, crew routing can be cost-effective by lowering indirect costs. This study explores the balance between maintaining distinct crews for each activity and allowing crew routing. Results indicate that while specific crew assignments optimize duration, they require more crews. In contrast, routing reduces the number of crews but extends project duration. The study proposes a simulation approach to optimize crew numbers and movements. However, the study has limitations, as the simulation model must be customized for each specific project, and crew assignments must comply with the model’s requirements.

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) have emerged as intriguing players in cellular regulation, challenging the traditional view of non-coding RNAs as mere "dark genome". Non-coding DNA makes up most of the human genome and plays a pivotal role in cancer development. These RNA molecules, which do not code for proteins, have captivated researchers with their diverse and crucial roles in gene regulation, chromatin dynamics, and other cellular processes. In several physiological and pathological circumstances, lncRNAs serve critical functions. This review will tackle the complex function of the lncRNA myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) in various solid malignancies. A special emphasis would be directed on the correlation between cancer patients' clinicopathological features and the expression profile of MIAT. MIAT is a oncogenic regulator in many malignant tumors, where it can control the growth, invasion, metastasis, and resistance to death of cells. As a result, MIAT is thought to be a possible biomarker and therapeutic target for cancer patients. The biological functions, mechanisms and potential clinical implications of MIAT during carcinogenesis and finally the current possible therapeutic approaches targeting MIAT are also outlined in this review.

INTRODUCTION The increased interest in evidence‐based medicine has led to the emergence of disease registries worldwide to help tackle the impact of chronic diseases. A national dementia registry in Egypt would provide a valuable source of patient data that will significantly advance the disease management strategies, quality of patient care, and impact health policy‐ and decision making. METHODS This study investigates the complexity of creating a disease registry for dementia in Egypt by interviewing 24 experts to provide recommendations for the most appropriate registry model to be developed. RESULTS Several core themes emerged from the analysis discussing many points that should direct the creation of any registry in Egypt in terms of functionality, planning, comprehension, governance, ethics, and challenges to avoid. DISCUSSION Developing such a dataset is beneficial to the Egyptian health‐care system, which makes the investment worthwhile. Support and collaborative work from all stakeholders, along with suitable funding, are essential elements of the proper implementation of the project. Highlights Building a dementia registry is essential to progress research in understudied populations Qualitative analysis of 24 experts interviews provided insightful plan for dementia registry Core domains to address include: functionality, planning, comprehension, governance, ethics, and challenges to avoid.

Dyes are known to pose environmental threats due to their mutagenic and persistent effects. To address this concern, researchers have explored various unconventional dye degradation materials, such as metal oxides with carbon materials. However, challenges related to degradation efficiency and regeneration have been significant obstacles. Consequently, there has been a surge in interest in recent years toward using nanomaterials with carbon materials activated by peroxymonosulfate for organic pollutant degradation. In this study, we present a novel approach to prepare a hybrid nanocomposite catalyst, CoS/CoFe2O4-CNTs (CS/CF-CNTs), using a carbon nanotube decorated with cobalt ferrite and further enhanced by embedding with cobalt sulfide nanoflowers. This catalyst aims at enhancing Rhodamine-B degradation through advanced oxidation processes. The carbon nanotubes provide a stable substrate for the cobalt materials, with cobalt ferrite (CF) serving as a magnetic component, facilitating catalyst removal and regeneration for multiple uses. Due to the oxidation involved in the degradation process, high electronic conductivity of the carbon nanotubes and the active cobalt sites of the composite play a crucial role in activating peroxymonosulfate to generate reactive oxygen radicals. Notably, the CS/CF-CNTs catalyst showed a remarkable Rhodamine-B degradation rate of 98% in less than 10 min. The catalyst also exhibited excellent stability even after four cycles of regeneration. The operating reaction conditions were optimized by investigating the effects of pH, dye concentration, salinity with different salts, catalyst dose, and peroxymonosulfate dose, and the results demonstrated the superior effectiveness of CS/CF-CNTs compared to CS and to CF-CNTs, emphasizing the synergistic interaction between the carbon nanotubes and the two cobalt materials. Quenching experiments revealed the involvement of sulfate and hydroxyl radicals in the degradation reaction mechanism.

The anisotropy of crystal structures mandates the direction dependence of materials’ mechanical properties. Key properties of interest are the Young’s modulus and Poisson ratio in the small strain limit, and the ideal tensile strength in the large strain regime. To date, atomistic computations of these properties have been conducted using two approaches. The first approach explicitly calculates the stress–strain response using computational tensile test experiments. The second approach computes the single crystal elastic constants then derives the mechanical properties using analytical equations. The two approaches have been used interchangeably and their equivalence not assessed. This work systematically computes the mechanical properties of 13 BCC and 12 face centered cubic (FCC) metals via the two approaches using first principles density functional theory calculations and hypothesize the robustness of the first approach. Analysis of the results has revealed the shortcomings of the elastic constants method in detecting instabilities in the structures captured by the first principles computational tensile test approach. Large discrepancies in calculations of Young’s moduli using the latter approach are herein reported, as well as auxetic repossess and large Poisson ratio for some metals. Beyond the small strain results, we systematically examined the lateral strain response up to 0.5 applied strain in 3 crystallographic directions and reported large changes in slopes and peculiarities around the Bain transformation strain. From the computational stress–strain results, we validated empirical equations in the literature relating the ideal strength to the direction-dependent Young’s modulus and the Bain strain along [001] in BCC and [110] in FCC but also presented further relations for other crystallographic directions. In conclusion, we believe that the elastic constants approach, while computationally efficient, has to be used with caution and should be validated against the computational tensile tests. In addition, we highlight the importance of examining different crystallographic directions with possibly desirable properties.

This study investigates the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in empowering women entrepreneurs, with a focus on the Egyptian context. The study draws upon the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), to identify five chief factors that affect ICT adoption: Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease Of Use (PEOU), Social Expectancy (SE), Facilitating Conditions (FC), and Personal Traits (PT). These factors were also confirmed by five Heads of NGOs supporting women entrepreneurs in Egypt. This paper presents the first stage of our research which involves gathering qualitative data through semi‐structured interviews with six Egyptian women entrepreneurs from Cairo, Giza, and Alexandria Egyptian governorates. This research aimed to empirically explore the existence of the five factors that affect ICT adoption leading to the development of a conceptual framework. Our qualitative study allowed us also to obtain rich information regarding the interviewees' experience with ICT adoption and usage and the benefits reaped in terms of increasing all facets of Power and Social Capital. The study revealed that access to technology and education does not pose any barriers for the participants because they live in big cities with good Internet infrastructure. In addition, all participants are highly educated and have relatively high living standards. They are also exposed to several opportunities such as funding and training support from government entities and NGOs. However, they all expressed their need to acquire advanced training in different software applications. Furthermore, the study confirmed that ICT offers significant opportunities for women's empowerment and can reduce societal challenges such as age and male‐dominant culture. Being considered among the middle class or above, the outcome of using ICT is not directed to financial reasons; it is primarily towards confidence and self‐satisfaction.

A new modified approach was used to synthesize hydroxyapatite-carbon nanocomposite (HAP-C) by utilizing cement kiln dust (CKD), which is an industrial waste product, as a source of calcium. Calcium from CKD was first chelated using citric acid, and the chelate was transformed into calcium carbonate and carbon by calcination at 450 °C for 1 h, then reacted with ortho-phosphoric acid using a precipitation method, thus serving as a precursor for the formation of HAP-C. Then, HAP-C was calcined at various temperatures for 2 h after it reached the desired temperature at a heating rate of 10 °C/min. By characterizing the adsorbent, the composite was mesoporous, with a negatively charged surface at the operating pH, and an average diameter and length of 10 ± 3.6 nm and 8 ± 2.9 nm, respectively. Quantile regression analysis showed that the removal varies directly with time and dose, and inversely with initial concentration. Removal efficiency reached about 95% and about 80% at 10 ppm initial concentration, 10 min contact time, and a dose of 3.8 g/L, at pH 7 for RB and pH 4 for LV, respectively. Adsorption isotherms followed Sips model as inferred from linear and non-linear regression analysis. Adopting this novel approach in synthesizing HAP-C using a single precursor and a waste raw material reduces the environmental impact and incurred costs associated with the conventional synthesis route, while following the principles of circular economy in converting wastes to value-added products.

Mosquitoes are abundant near temporary, semipermanent, and permanent water in North Dakota and are associated with human and veterinary diseases. Little is known about the feeding habits of mosquitoes as related to the transmission of arboviruses. We report on the identification of vertebrate hosts of 9 species of mosquitoes collected in 2003 to 2006. Blood meals of 1,223 from 9 mosquito species were identified to vertebrate species by PCR assays using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Aedes dorsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) and Culiseta inornata fed only on mammals, and Aedes vexans fed almost exclusively on mammals. Aedes trivittatus fed significantly more on mammals than on birds. Culex tarsalis acquired blood meals from the most diverse group of vertebrates, frequently fed on American Robins, and did not exhibit a seasonal shift of feeding on birds to mammals. The extensive feeding of Cx. tarsalis on passerine birds and the isolation of West Nile virus (WNV) from 2 specimens that had fed on passerines supports their role in horizontal transmission of WNV. This species also transmits western equine encephalitis virus. Host feeding by Ae. trivittatus, Ae. vexans, Cs. inornata, and Ae. dorsalis in relation to their possible importance in transmission of trivittatus virus, Cache Valley virus, Jamestown Canyon virus, Potosi virus, or snowshoe hare virus is presented. The identification of host feeding behavior pattern of specific species of mosquitoes enhances our understanding of the enzootic and epizootic nature of 7 viruses in North Dakota.