Sebha University

A series of styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymer nanoparticles were prepared by grafting styrene–acrylonitrile from both aggregated silica and colloidally dispersed silica nanoparticles using atom-transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP). Cross-linking and macroscopic gelation were minimised by using a miniemulsion system. The thermal and mechanical behavior of composites were made from PSAN aggregated silica nanoparticles or colloidally dispersed silica has been examined by Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The filler particles increased the rubbery modulus above the Tg of PSAN considerably and led to a temperature-independent plateau of the modulus between 130 and 240 °C similar to that normally observed for crosslinked amorphous polymers. Covalent attachment of PSAN to the silica nanoparticles, by grafting the polymer from the surface of the silica using atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), gave rise to hybrid materials with a comparable elastic plateau. While neat PSAN started to flow and deform irreversibly above 120 °C, the new silica nanoparticle–polymer hybrid materials proved stable up to 240 °C, which was more than 120 °C above the Tg of the polymer. Aggregated silica nanoparticles displayed more affect compared to colloidally dispersed silica.

A BSTRACT Introduction Stresses tend to vary depending on the kind of implant material (titanium or zirconium) because of differences in their mechanical and physical characteristics. Objectives The current research was done to assess the peri-implant stresses around zirconium and titanium dental implants using finite element analysis. Materials and Method Three distinct implant configurations were used to create three-dimensional finite element models (M1, M2, and M3) using ANSYS (11.0 Version) software, a P4 CPU running at 3 GHz, and hardware with three gigabytes of RAM. These configurations are typical for zirconium and titanium implants. Under 250 N of axial force and 50 N of nonaxial load, the stress surrounding the implants was examined. Result When compared to titanium implants, zirconium implants displayed higher strains in cancellous bone and lower stresses in cortical bone. Overall, titanium implants caused larger stresses in the bone than zirconium implants. Conclusion Compared to titanium implants, zirconium implants resulted in reduced peri-implant stresses.

Nanobiostimulants, comprising nanoparticles and biostimulants, represent an emerging and promising domain within agricultural science. The integration of these specialized nanomaterials into agricultural practices aims to boost crop productivity while concurrently moderating the adverse impact of environmental stresses on plant life. The current use of chemical fertilizers poses significant risks to human health and ecological networks, making the application of nanobiostimulants a compelling alternative. These stimulants demonstrate the potential of strengthening plant growth along with enhanced nutritional value, improving productivity, prolonging shelf-life, and reinforcing plants against biotic and abiotic stressors. Despite their potential, the widespread adoption of nanobiostimulants faces challenges. The lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding the complex interrelationship between biostimulants, nanoparticles, and plant biology hampers their broad recognition and utilization in agricultural sector. Addressing this gap necessitates extensive research and exploration to formulate more suitable and commercially viable nanobiostimulants for the global farming community. This book chapter highlights the role of nanobiostimulants in addressing the challenges caused by both abiotic and biotic stresses in plants. The assessment underscores the critical importance of optimizing the synergistic interaction between nanoparticles and biostimulants to ensure efficient delivery and release at the specifically targeted sites, thereby creating effective and precise nanobiostimulants. The development of more sophisticated and practical nanobiostimulants is a pressing need, requiring the application of state-of-the-art methodologies to comprehend the multifaceted factors that drive agricultural success.

Bioconversion of organic orange peel wastes into compost (OPC) or biochar (OPB) can help overcome the effects of soil salinity and maintain agricultural productivity. Effect of 1.0% OPC or 1.0% OPB as soil amendments on soil properties and performance of Phaseolus vulgaris plants under two salinity levels [5.60 dS m−1 (S-1) and 9.60 dS m−1 (S-2)] versus control [1.60 dS m−1 (S-0)] was investigated. Compared to the control, S-1 and S-2 increased soil sodium ion (Na+) content, while reducing soil organic matter (OM), macroand micro-nutrients, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and enzyme (urease, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase) activities, reflecting decreased plant growth and yield. Under S-1 or S-2, OPC application exceeded OPB application, but both considerably enhanced soil OM content, nutrients, CEC, and enzyme activities. These positive results reflected decreased leaf electrolyte leakage and increased leaf-relative water content, pigments, nutrients, K+/Na+ ratio, antioxidant activity, plant growth, and yield. The beneficial impacts of 1.0% OPC were more pronounced under S-2 than S-1 or S-0. In conclusion, adding 1.0% OPC to saline soil (ECe of about 5–10 dS m−1) could mitigate the influences of soil salinity to improve Phaseolus vulgaris growth, physio-biochemistry, and yield.

In order to use Libyan mobile phone services, users are required to recharge the balance of a mobile phone cell using the prepaid cards. The recharge process is done manually, which is time-consuming and error-prone. This paper proposes an automated detection model for prepaid mobile phone cards using YOLOv5. The detection model uses original and augmented data, including the 300 original images from the dataset and the 773 images from the augmented dataset. In different sizes of images (320, 416, 640), the dataset is trained using Yolov 5. The experimental results show that the model trained on the augmented data improved at mAP 0.5:0.95 in comparison with the original data. The results of the model with the images with a size of 416 reach 80.5% in mAP 0.5:0.95.

Cronobacter sakazakii is associated with the ingestion of contaminated reconstituted powdered infant formula (PIF), resulting in necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis and meningitis in neonatal infants. Potential virulence determinants include the variable capsular polysaccharides; K-antigen and colanic acid (CA). Strains encoding for the capsule variant K2:CA2 have been strongly associated with neonatal meningitis cases. This study aimed to develop and apply a multiplex PCR assay to determine C. sakazakii K-antigen and colanic acid types. Twenty-six strains of C. sakazakii which had previously been isolated from food and environmental sources were used. These cover 18 multilocus sequence types and four serotypes. Based on our research findings, we have identified two K-antigen types present. Specifically, the K1-antigen was observed in sequence types ST1, ST8, ST20, ST23, ST64, ST198, ST263, ST264 and ST406, while the K2-antigen was present in ST4, ST9, ST12, ST13, ST136, ST233, ST245 and ST405. Additionally, we detected colanic acid (CA) type 1 in sequence types ST1, ST8, ST9, ST20, ST245 and ST405, and colanic acid (CA) type 2 in ST4, ST12, ST13, ST23, and ST64. We compared the predicted K-antigen and colanic acid types with the entire genome sequences of the strains. The comparison showed complete agreement between the PCR amplification results and the genomic analysis of the K-antigen and colanic acid-encoding regions. This assay is a useful tool for rapid identification of C. sakazakii, K-antigen and colanic acid types, in routine diagnoses and foodborne investigations. In addition, it will contribute to our knowledge of virulence factors associated with life-threatening neonatal meningitis.

Cancer stands as a prevalent global cause of mortality, with its evolving pattern raising serious concerns. Despite the accessibility of surgical operations, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies for cancer treatment, many patients encounter issues such as drug resistance, disease recurrence, and unpleasant side effects. The interest in biopharmaceuticals has grown due to their limited off-target side effects. Reports suggest that the host gut microbiota significantly influences the effectiveness of anticancer medications and the emergence of chemotherapy resistance. The gut microbiome indirectly impacts the immune system, orchestrating responses to tumor-operator mutations. This chapter delves into the role of changes in the gut microbiome signature in carcinogenesis and cancer treatment. We comprehensively review the mechanisms supporting cancer therapy and the involvement of gut microbiota in achieving cancer cure. Furthermore, we emphasize the need for additional pre-clinical or early clinical research on prebiotics and probiotics to enhance awareness regarding the potential of microbiome-based medicines for cancer treatment.

Background: Advanced gastroesophageal cancers are still associated with poor outcomes. We aim to study PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in phase III clinical trials that have compared them to chemotherapy in gastric, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Methods: On March 28, 2024, we searched: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov. We only included randomized clinical trials for PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors alone or with chemo vs chemotherapy in advanced gastric, GEJ, or esophageal adenocarcinoma. The primary endpoints were overall survival and progression-free survival. A subgroup analysis was conducted for the following variables: treatment line, type of intervention, age group, gender, ECOG Performance Status, combined positive scores (CPS), microsatellite instability (MSI) status, liver metastasis, and primary tumor location. Results: Only 10 out of 8,942 articles were included, involving 6,782 patients. PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors showed a significant improvement in the overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio (HR): 0.86, 95% CI: 0.80-0.93; p=0.0002). Combining PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors with chemotherapy significantly improved overall and progression-free survival compared to monotherapy (combined therapy HR 0.80; p<0.00001 vs. monotherapy HR 0.98; p=0.77). CPS ≥1 had an HR of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.73-0.84; p<0.00001), CPS ≥10 had an HR of 0.67 (95% CI: 0.59-0.76; p<0.00001), and MSI-high status had an HR of 0.35 (95% CI: 0.24-0.52; p<0.00001). Esophageal adenocarcinoma, reported in three trials, did not show significant improvement in the overall survival (HR 0.89; 95% CI: 0.69-1.14; p=0.37). Conclusions: PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have significantly improved overall survival, and combining them with chemotherapy is more effective than monotherapy. Both CPS ≥10 and MSI-H showed an added benefit to overall survival and should be included in biomarker investigations. Clinical trials are needed for second-line treatments and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Determining the optimal loading schedule and measuring implant stability at different times are critical tasks. Numerous tools have been created to assess implant-bone stability as a sign of a well-treated implant. Thus, the objective of this cross-sectional study was to estimate the validity of the Osstell ISQ system for assessing implant stability. Osstell ISQ was used to complete implant stability registers for 60 implants across 18 patients. Two distinct SmartPegs (types I and II) were used to complete six measurements on each implant, or three measurements in a row with each transducer. In the 1st, 2nd, and 3rdmeasurements with SmartPegs I and II, the average ISQ was 71.36, 71.31, and 71.65, and 71.02, 71.58, and 71.76, respectively. For SmartPegs I and II, equivalent values or variations below three ISQ points were found in 46.3% and 58.6% of the cases, respectively. Both SmartPegs had an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.96, and they also had repeatability and reproducibility of 0.96. An intra-class correlation coefficient analysis reveals nearly excellent repeatability and reproducibility for the RFA system Osstell ISQ. Measurements of Osstell ISQ have excellent repeatability.

Patients who are allergic to nickel, which is present in stainless steel brackets and wires, commonly utilise clear aligners. The objective of this research was to compare the management of mandibular incisor crowding with nickel titanium (NiTi) wires and clear aligners. A random division of forty participants into two groups of twenty samples each was made. Participants in group B received transparent aligners, whereas those in group A received NiTi arch wires. We assessed malocclusion using Little's irregularity index. A survey instrument was utilised to document the degree of discomfort. Patients were routinely recalled every one, two, and three months. The mean score for groups A and B was 2.86 mm and 2.88 mm at baseline, 1.71 mm and 1.52 mm at one month, 1.02 mm and 1.23 mm at two months, and 0.72 mm and 0.48 mm at three months, respectively. The difference wasn't that big (p > 0.05). In groups A and B, the mean change in Little's irregularity index score was 1.19 mm and 1.21 mm at one month, 0.55 mm and 0.51 mm at two months, and 0.26 mm and 0.45 mm at three months, respectively. The difference wasn't that big (p > 0.05). For groups A and B, the corresponding mean discomfort scores were 2.6 and 2.3 at baseline, 2.2 and 1.8 after one month, 1.6 and 1.5 at two months, and 1.1 and 0.9 at three months. Since p > 0.05, the difference was not significant. The results of this study showed that NiTi wires and clear aligners worked just as well to treat cases of mandibular anterior crowding.

Missing data is one of the challenges a researcher encounters while attempting to draw information from data. The first step in solving this issue is to have the data stage ready for processing. Much effort has been made in this area; removing instances with missing data is a popular method for handling missing data, but it has drawbacks, including bias. It will be impacted negatively on the results. How missing values are handled depends on several vectors, including data types, missing rates, and missing mechanisms. It covers missing data patterns as well as missing at random, missing at completely random, and missing not at random. Other suggestions include using numerous imputation techniques divided into various categories, such as statistical and machine learning methods. One strategy to improve a model’s output is to weight the feature values to better the performance of classification or regression approaches. This research developed a new imputation technique called correlation coefficient min-max weighted imputation (CCMMWI). It combines the correlation coefficient and min-max normalization techniques to balance the feature values. The proposed technique seeks to increase the contribution of features by considering how those elements relate to the desired functionality. We evaluated several established techniques to assess the findings, including statistical techniques, mean and EM imputation, and machine learning imputation techniques, including k-NNI, and MICE. The evaluation also used the imputation techniques CBRL, CBRC, and ExtraImpute. We use various sizes of datasets, missing rates, and random patterns. To compare the imputed datasets and original data, we finally provide the findings and assess them using the root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and R2. According to the findings, the proposed CCMMWI performs better than most other solutions in practically all missing-rate scenarios.

It is important to develop a hydrotechnical assessment of the existing habitat in the river system for potential proposals for flood protection solutions. The basic factors in the assessment are accurate and up- to-date geodetic assessment, terrain reconnaissance, history of the area and hydrological data necessary for the calculation. In the past, minor improvements to the banks of the Hnilec River were conducted in the vicinity of the town of Gelnica, but these were not large-scale improvements to the entire riverbed. A plausible reason for the non-implementation of large-scale modifications is the dense construction of dwellings in close proximity to the riverbed, the confluence of the railway line with the river and road bridges. The objective of the assessment is the evaluation of critical sections, description of threats in the treated area and the possibility of pointing out the improvement of hydrotechnical parameters to mitigate flood conditions. If it will not be possible to apply flood defence measures in the town residential area, it is necessary to point out another potential solution.

Aim To investigate the dynamic recovery of biofilms within dentinal tubules after primary irrigation with different protocols, and to evaluate the efficacy of various re‐irrigation protocols on recovered biofilm, considering factors such as smear layer, nutrient conditions, and primary irrigants. Methodology A total of 416 mono or multi‐species biofilms samples were prepared from human teeth and incubated for 3 weeks. After inducing a smear layer on half of the samples, all specimens were irrigated with one of the following irrigant sequences: (1) 6% NaOCl +17% EDTA, (2) 6% NaOCl +8.5% EDTA, (3) 6% NaOCl and (8.5% EDTA +10 μg/mL DJK‐5 antimicrobial peptide), or (4) sterile water. Thirty‐two samples were used to assess immediate effect, whilst the rest were re‐incubated to assess biofilms recovery. Nutrient conditions were defined based on whether culture media were changed (nutrient‐rich) or not (nutrient‐poor) during re‐incubation. After 16 weeks, recovered biofilms underwent re‐irrigation using four additional protocols, with or without DJK‐5 peptide, based on primary irrigants. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was employed to evaluate immediate irrigant effects, biofilms recovery intervals (1, 3, 5, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after primary irrigation), and re‐irrigation effects at the 16‐week. Statistical analysis included one‐way anova and two‐way mixed anova tests. Results The DJK‐5 peptide irrigation protocols demonstrated the highest killing rates during primary irrigation and resulted in a longer biofilms recovery time of 16 weeks compared to non‐peptide protocols ( p < .001). Both primary irrigation type and smear layer presence significantly influenced biofilms recovery ( p < .001). In the absence of smear layer, re‐irrigation efficacy didn't significantly differ from primary irrigation, regardless of primary irrigation type or nutrient conditions. However, with a smear layer present, re‐irrigation led to significantly higher proportion of dead bacteria compared to primary irrigation ( p < .05). Inclusion of the DJK‐5 peptide into the re‐irrigation protocol displayed superior killing rate compared to other protocols ( p < .001). Conclusions Biofilms exhibited susceptibility to both peptide and non‐peptide protocols during re‐irrigation, irrespective of nutrient conditions or primary irrigation protocols. The DJK‐5 peptide irrigation protocols consistently displayed superior effectiveness compared to non‐peptide protocols.

The issue of illegal migration dominates political and media discourse, particularly on social media, generating interest in collecting and analyzing textual data from platforms like Twitter, and Facebook. Named Entity Recognition (NER) is a natural language processing technique used to extract information from unstructured text, including identifying named entities such as people, organizations, and locations. This study aims to contribute to the identification of entities within the collected textual data from Twitter related to illegal migration associated with Libya. The study will employ data mining tools, particularly pre-trained NER models, to achieve its objective. The research is significant as there is currently no Libyan study that has addressed this specific subject using this technique. NER can help researchers, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and humanitarian organizations better understand the scope, dynamics, and impact of this complex issue.