Fabrication and Applications of Potentiometric Membrane Sensors Based on γ-Cyclodextrin and Calixarene as Ionophores for the Determination of a Histamine H1-Receptor Antagonist: Fexofenadine

Supramolecular fexofenadine sensors have been constructed. Although noncovalent intermolecular and intramolecular interactions, which are far weaker than covalent contacts, are the main focus of supramolecular chemistry, they can be used to create sensors with an exceptional affinity for a target analyte. The objective of the current research study is to adapt two PVC membrane sensors into an electrochemical approach for the dosage form determination of histamine H1-receptor antagonists: fexofenadine. The general performance characteristics of two new modified potentiometric membrane sensors responsive to fexofenadine hydrochloride were established. The technique was based on the employment of γ-cyclodextrin (CD) (sensor 1), 4-tert-butylcalix[8]arene (calixarene) (sensor 2) as an ionophore, potassium tetrakis (4-chlorophenyl) borate (KTpClPB) as an ion additive, and (o-NPOE) as a plasticizer for sensors 1 and 2. The sensors showed fast responses over a wide fexofenadine concentration range (1 × 10^-2 to 4.5 (4.7) × 10^-6 M), with detection limits of 1.3 × 10^-6 M and 1.4 × 10^-6 M for sensors 1 and 2, respectively, in the pH range of 2-8. The tested sensors exhibit the fexofenadine near-Nernstian cationic response at 56 and 58 mV/decade for sensors 1 and 2, respectively. The sensors exhibit good stability, fast response times, accuracy, precision, and longer life for fexofenadine. Throughout the day and between days, the sensors exhibit good recovery and low relative standard deviations. Fexofenadine in its pure, dose form has been identified with success using the modified sensors. The sensors were employed as end-point indications for the titration of fexofenadine with NaTPB.

Homozygous LOXL2 variant in individuals affected by non-syndromic occipital encephalocele

BACKGROUND

Occipital encephaloceles is a rare congenital defect in which meninges and the brain protrude out as a sac-like structure through opening in the skull. The condition can result in neurologic complications as well as structural abnormalities of the skull. To the best of our knowledge, no genetic variant has been identified as an underlying cause of non-syndromic occipital encephaloceles.

METHODS

In this study, I report a family with 2 individuals having large occipital encephalocele. Clinical and radiological examination did not reveal any other neurological or skeletal manifestations in both affected individuals.

RESULTS

Exome sequencing detected the previously unreported homozygous single nucleotide duplication (NM_002318.3:c.64dupC) in LOXL2 gene. This is a nonsense variant (NP_002309.1:p.Leu22Profs*7) leading to a premature truncation and loss-of-function of the lysyl oxidase-like 2 protein. The variant is segregating in an autosomal recessive manner in a family. Both parents are heterozygous carriers for the variant while unaffected sibs have wild type sequence.

CONCLUSION

We hypothesize that LOXL2 is a potential candidate gene for occipital encephalocele due to the established role of LOXL3, a close paralog of LOXL2, in craniofacial development. This case illustrates the power of exome sequencing to establish genetic diagnosis and expands the spectrum of genetic defects in occipital encephalocele and related disorders.

Effects of Salicylic Acid and Macro- and Micronutrients through Foliar and Soil Applications on the Agronomic Performance, Physiological Attributes, and Water Productivity of Wheat under Normal and Limited Irrigation in Dry Climatic Conditions

Ensuring food security with severe shortages of freshwater and drastic changes in climatic conditions in arid countries requires the urgent development of feasible and user-friendly strategies. Relatively little is known regarding the impacts of the co-application (Co-A) of salicylic acid (SA), macronutrients (Mac), and micronutrients (Mic) through foliar (F) and soil (S) application strategies on field crops under arid and semiarid climatic conditions. A two-year field experiment was designed to compare the impacts of seven (Co-A) treatments of this strategy, including a control, F_{SA + Mic}, F_{SA + Mac}, S_SA + F_Mic, S_SA + F_{SA + Mic}, S_{SA + Mic} + F_SA, and S_{SA + Mic} + F_{Mac + Mic} on the agronomic performance, physiological attributes, and water productivity (WP) of wheat under normal (NI) and limited (LMI) irrigation conditions. The results reveal that the LMI treatment caused a significant reduction in various traits related to the growth (plant height, tiller and green leaf numbers, leaf area index, and shoot dry weight), physiology (relative water content and chlorophyll pigments), and yield components (spike length, grain weight and grain numbers per spike, thousand-grain weight, and harvest index) of wheat by 11.4-47.8%, 21.8-39.8%, and 16.4-42.3%, respectively, while WP increased by 13.3% compared to the NI treatment. The different Co-A treatments have shown a 0.2-23.7%, 3.6-26.7%, 2.3-21.6%, and 12.2-25.0% increase in various traits related to growth, physiology, yield, and WP, respectively, in comparison to the control treatment. The S_SA+ F_{SA + Mic} was determined as the best treatment that achieved the best results for all studied traits under both irrigation conditions, followed by F_{SA + Mic} and S_{SA + Mic} + F_SA under LMI in addition to F_{SA + Mac} under NI conditions. It can be concluded that the Co-A of essential plant nutrients along with SA accomplished a feasible, profitable, and easy-to-use strategy to attenuate the negative impacts of deficit irrigation stress, along with the further improvement in the growth and production of wheat under NI conditions.

Scalable Lightweight IoT-Based Smart Weather Measurement System

The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a critical role in remotely monitoring a wide variety of different application sectors, including agriculture, building, and energy. The wind turbine energy generator (WTEG) is a real-world application that can take advantage of IoT technologies, such as a low-cost weather station, where human activities can be significantly affected by enhancing the production of clean energy based on the known direction of the wind. Meanwhile, common weather stations are neither affordable nor customizable for specific applications. Moreover, due to weather forecast changes over time and location within the same city, it is not efficient to rely on a limited number of weather stations that may be located far away from a recipient's location. Therefore, in this paper, we focus on presenting a low-cost weather station that relies on an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that can be distributed across a WTEG area with minimal cost. The proposed study measures multiple weather parameters, such as wind direction, wind velocity (WV), temperature, pressure, mean sea level, and relative humidity to provide current measurements to recipients and AI-based forecasts. In addition, the proposed study consists of several heterogeneous nodes and a controller for each station in a target area. The collected data can be transmitted through Bluetooth low energy (BLE). The experimental results reveal that the proposed study matches the standard of the National Meteorological Center (NMC), with a nowcast measurement of 95% accuracy for WV and 92% for wind direction (WD).

Design of phononic crystal using open resonators as harmful gases sensor

This paper investigates the ability to use a finite one-dimensional phononic crystal composed of branched open resonators with a horizontal defect to detect the concentration of harmful gases such as CO₂. This research investigates the impact of periodic open resonators, defect duct at the center of the structure, and geometrical parameters such as cross-sections and length of the primary waveguide and resonators on the model's performance. As far as we know, this research is unique in the sensing field. Furthermore, these simulations show that the investigated finite one-dimensional phononic crystal composed of branched open resonators with a horizontal defect is a promising sensor.

Targeting Store-Operated Calcium Entry Regulates the Inflammation-Induced Proliferation and Migration of Breast Cancer Cells

Persistent challenges complicating the treatment of breast cancer remain, despite some recent undeniable successes. Sufficient evidence currently exists demonstrating the crucial role of inflammation, characterized by the enhanced activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the COX-2/PGE2 pathway, in the migration and proliferation of breast cancer cells. Interestingly, the store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) pathway was shown to be essential for the TLR4 activity and COX-2 expression in immune cells such as macrophages and microglia. However, whether SOCE influences inflammatory signaling and the inflammation-induced proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells is still unknown. Thus, the current study intended to delineate the role of SOCE in the TLR4-induced inflammation, migration, and proliferation of breast cancer cells. To this end, MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to activate TLR4, BTP2 to inhibit SOCE, and Thapsigargin to induce SOCE. Following these treatments, several experiments were conducted to evaluate the proliferation and migration rates of the MDA-MB-231 cells and the expression of several inflammatory and oncogenic genes, including COX-2, PGE2, IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF. Different techniques were used to achieve the aims of this study, including qRT-PCR, Western blotting, ELISA, MTT, and wound healing assays. This study shows that SOCE inhibition using BTP2 suppressed the LPS-induced migration and proliferation of breast cancer cells. Additionally, treatment with LPS caused approximately six- and three-fold increases in COX-2 mRNA and protein expression, respectively, compared to the controls. The LPS-induced elevations in the COX-2 mRNA and protein levels were suppressed by BTP2 to the control levels. In addition to its effect on COX-2, BTP2 also suppressed the LPS-induced productions of PGE2, IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF. Conversely, SOCE induction using Thapsigargin enhanced the LPS-induced inflammation, migration, and proliferation of breast cancer cells. Collectively, these results provide evidence for the potentially important role of SOCE in inflammation-induced breast cancer progression processes. Thus, we argue that the current study may provide novel targets for designing new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of breast cancer.

Comparative genomics reveals the presence of simple sequence repeats in genes related to virulence in plant pathogenic Pythium ultimum and Pythium vexans

In this study, we evaluated the occurrence, relative abundance (RA), and density (RD) of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in the complete genome and transcriptomic sequences of the plant pathogenic species of Pythium to acquire a better knowledge of their genome structure and evolution. Among the species, P. ultimum had the highest RA and RD of SSRs in the genomic sequences, whereas P. vexans had the highest RA and RD in the transcriptomic sequences. The genomic and transcriptomic sequences of P. aphanidermatum showed the lowest RA and RD of SSRs. Trinucleotide SSRs were the most prevalent class in both genomic and transcriptomic sequences, while dinucleotide SSRs were the least prevalent. The G + C content of the transcriptomic sequences was found to be positively correlated with the number (r = 0.601) and RA (r = 0.710) of SSRs. A motif conservation study revealed the highest number of unique motifs in P. vexans (9.9%). Overall, a low conservation of motifs was observed among the species (25.9%). A gene enrichment study revealed P. vexans and P. ultimum carry SSRs in their genes that are directly connected to virulence, whereas the remaining two species, P. aphanidermatum and P. arrhenomanes, harbour SSRs in genes involved in transcription, translation, and ATP binding. In an effort to enhance the genomic resources, a total of 11,002 primers from the transcribed regions were designed for the pathogenic Pythium species. Furthermore, the unique motifs identified in this work could be employed as molecular probes for species identification.

Methylene Blue Dye Adsorption on Iron Oxide-Hydrochar Composite Synthesized via a Facile Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Carbonization of Pomegranate Peels' Waste

The toxicity of dyes has a long-lasting negative impact on aquatic life. Adsorption is an inexpensive, simple, and straightforward technique for eliminating pollutants. One of the challenges facing adsorption is that it is hard to collect the adsorbents after the adsorption. Adding a magnetic property to the adsorbents makes it easier to collect the adsorbents. The current work reports the synthesis of an iron oxide-hydrochar composite (FHC) and an iron oxide-activated hydrochar composite (FAC) through the microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization (MHC) technique, which is known as a timesaving and energy-efficient method. The synthesized composites were characterized using various techniques, such as FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, and N2 isotherm. The prepared composites were applied in the adsorption of cationic methylene blue dye (MB). The composites were formed of crystalline iron oxide and amorphous hydrochar, with a porous structure for the hydrochar and a rod-like structure for the iron oxide. The pH of the point of zero charge (pHpzc) of the iron oxide-hydrochar composite and the iron oxide-activated hydrochar composite were 5.3 and 5.6, respectively. Approximately 556 mg and 50 mg of MB dye was adsorbed on the surface of 1 g of the FHC and FAC, respectively, according to the maximum adsorption capacity calculated using the Langmuir model.

Improved Photocatalytic and Antioxidant Activity of Olive Fruit Extract-Mediated ZnO Nanoparticles

Photodegradation is an efficient strategy for the removal of organic pollutants from wastewater. Due to their distinct properties and extensive applications, semiconductor nanoparticles have emerged as promising photocatalysts. In this work, olive (Olea Europeae) fruit extract-based zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO@OFE NPs) were successfully biosynthesized using a one-pot sustainable method. The prepared ZnO NPs were systematically characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, SEM, EDX and XRD and their photocatalytic and antioxidant activity was evaluated. SEM demonstrated the formation of spheroidal nanostructures (57 nm) of ZnO@OFE and the EDX analysis confirmed its composition. FTIR suggested the modification/capping of the NPs with functional groups of phytochemicals from the extract. The sharp XRD reflections revealed the crystalline nature of the pure ZnO NPs with the most stable hexagonal wurtzite phase. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized catalysts was evaluated by measuring the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes under sunlight irradiation. Improved degradation efficiencies of 75% and 87% were achieved within only 180 min with photodegradation rate constant k of 0.008 and 0.013 min^-1 for MB and MO, respectively. The mechanism of degradation was proposed. Additionally, ZnO@OFE NPs exhibited potent antioxidant activity against DPPH, hydroxyl, peroxide and superoxide radicals. Hence, ZnO@OFE NPs may have potential as a cost-effective and green photocatalyst for wastewater treatment.

Perceived Stress among Healthcare Students and Its Association with Anxiety and Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

Introduction. Healthcare students are subjected to high-stress levels due to different academic, social, and financial stressors. Persistent and severe stress might predispose students to depression and anxiety. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the level of perceived stress among healthcare students and its relation to anxiety and depression. Methods. A prospective cross-sectional study using a validated questionnaire was conducted among healthcare students in Saudi Arabia. The 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to evaluate perceived stress, and depression and anxiety were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). All statistical analyses were carried out using PSPP Statistical Analysis Software version 1.2.0. Results. A total of 701 respondents participated in this study. The average age of the students was 20.9 years old, and 59.3% were female. Almost three-quarters of students perceive themselves as stressed. Around two-thirds were categorized as having borderline/cases of depression or anxiety. Perceived stress was four times more likely among students with cases of anxiety [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 4.83; 95% CI 2.89, 8.06], depression [AOR = 4.79; 95% CI 2.68, 8.53] as compared with those without these conditions. Conclusions. Stress is highly prevalent among healthcare students, and it is strongly associated with female gender and students' anxiety and depression. Therefore, the mental health of healthcare students is an essential factor affecting perceived stress and at-risk individuals. Therefore, preventative mental health interventions targeting healthcare students are necessary to help improve mental health and cope with stressors in academic education.

High-Speed Hardware Architecture Based on Error Detection for KECCAK

The hash function KECCAK integrity algorithm is implemented in cryptographic systems to provide high security for any circuit requiring integrity and protect the transmitted data. Fault attacks, which can extricate confidential data, are one of the most effective physical attacks against KECCAK hardware. Several KECCAK fault detection systems have been proposed to counteract fault attacks. The present research proposes a modified KECCAK architecture and scrambling algorithm to protect against fault injection attacks. Thus, the KECCAK round is modified so that it consists of two parts with input and pipeline registers. The scheme is independent of the KECCAK design. Iterative and pipeline designs are both protected by it. To test the resilience of the suggested detection system approach fault attacks, we conduct permanent as well as transient fault attacks, and we evaluate the fault detection capabilities (99.9999% for transient faults and 99.999905% for permanent faults). The KECCAK fault detection scheme is modeled using VHDL language and implemented on an FPGA hardware board. The experimental results show that our technique effectively secures the KECCAK design. It can be carried out with little difficulty. In addition, the experimental FPGA results demonstrate the proposed KECCAK detection scheme's low area burden, high efficiency and working frequency.

Towards Predicting Length of Stay and Identification of Cohort Risk Factors Using Self-Attention-Based Transformers and Association Mining: COVID-19 as a Phenotype

Predicting length of stay (LoS) and understanding its underlying factors is essential to minimizing the risk of hospital-acquired conditions, improving financial, operational, and clinical outcomes, and better managing future pandemics. The purpose of this study was to forecast patients' LoS using a deep learning model and to analyze cohorts of risk factors reducing or prolonging LoS. We employed various preprocessing techniques, SMOTE-N to balance data, and a TabTransformer model to forecast LoS. Finally, the Apriori algorithm was applied to analyze cohorts of risk factors influencing hospital LoS. The TabTransformer outperformed the base machine learning models in terms of F1 score (0.92), precision (0.83), recall (0.93), and accuracy (0.73) for the discharged dataset and F1 score (0.84), precision (0.75), recall (0.98), and accuracy (0.77) for the deceased dataset. The association mining algorithm was able to identify significant risk factors/indicators belonging to laboratory, X-ray, and clinical data, such as elevated LDH and D-dimer levels, lymphocyte count, and comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes. It also reveals what treatments have reduced the symptoms of COVID-19 patients, leading to a reduction in LoS, particularly when no vaccines or medication, such as Paxlovid, were available.

Numerical analysis of Phase change material and graphene-based tunable refractive index sensor for infrared frequency spectrum

Here, we present the findings of parametric analysis into a phase transition material Ge2Sb2Te5(GST)-based, graphene-based, with a wide dynamic range in the infrared and visible electromagnetic spectrum. The suggested structure is studied in multi-layered configurations, built up with layers of GST, graphene, silicon, and silver materials. These multilayer structures' reflectance behavior has been described for refractive indices between 1.3 and 2.5. The complete design is simulated using a computational process called the finite element method. Additionally, we have investigated the impact of material heights on the structure's performance in general. We have presented several resonating tracing curves in polynomial equations to determine the sensing behavior across a specific wavelength range and refractive index values. The proposed design is also investigated at various inclined angles of incidence to ascertain its wide-angle stability. A computational study of the proposed structure can assist in the evolution of biosensors to identify a wide range of biomolecules, including malignant, hemoglobin urine, saliva-cortisol, and glucose.

Multifunctional Zn(II) Coordination Polymer as Highly Selective Fluorescent Sensor and Adsorbent for Dyes

A new Zn(II)-based coordination polymer (1) comprising the Schiff base ligand obtained by the condensation of 5-aminosalicylic acid and salicylaldehyde has been synthesized. This newly synthesized compound has been characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods, and finally, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique in this study. The X-ray analysis reveals a distorted tetrahedral environment around the central Zn(II) center. This compound has been used as a sensitive and selective fluorescent sensor for acetone and Ag⁺ cations. The photoluminescence measurements indicate that in the presence of acetone, the emission intensity of 1 displays quenching at room temperature. However, other organic solvents caused meagre changes in the emission intensity of 1. Additionally, the fluorescence intensity of 1 has been examined in the presence of different ketones viz. cyclohexanone, 4-heptanone, and 5-nonanone, to assess the interaction between the C=O group of the ketones and the molecular framework of 1. Moreover, 1 displays a selective recognition of Ag⁺ in the aqueous medium by an enhancement in its fluorescence intensity, representing its high sensitivity for the detection of Ag⁺ ions in a water sample. Additionally, 1 displays the selective adsorption of cationic dyes (methylene blue and rhodamine B). Hence, 1 showcases its potential as an excellent luminescent probe to detect acetone, other ketones, and Ag⁺ with an exceptional selectivity, and displaying a selective adsorption of cationic dye molecules.

Nitric Oxide and Strigolactone Alleviate Mercury-Induced Oxidative Stress in Lens culinaris L. by Modulating Glyoxalase and Antioxidant Defense System

Developmental activities have escalated mercury (Hg) content in the environment and caused food security problems. The present investigation describes mercury-incited stress in Lens culinaris (lentil) and its mitigation by supplementation of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and strigolactone (GR24). Lentil exposure to Hg decreased root and shoot length, relative water content and biochemical variables. Exogenous application of SNP and GR24 alone or in combination enhanced all of the aforementioned growth parameters. Hg treatment increased electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content, but this significantly decreased with combined application (Hg + SNP + GR24). SNP and GR24 boosted mineral uptake and reduced Hg accumulation, thus minimizing the adverse impacts of Hg. An increase in mineral accretion was recorded in lentil roots and shoots in the presence of SNP and GR24, which might support the growth of lentil plants under Hg stress. Hg accumulation was decreased in lentil roots and shoots by supplementation of SNP and GR24. The methylglyoxal level was reduced in lentil plants with increase in glyoxalase enzymes. Antioxidant and glyoxylase enzyme activities were increased by the presence of SNP and GR24. Therefore, synergistic application of nitric oxide and strigolactone protected lentil plants against Hg-incited oxidative pressure by boosting antioxidant defense and the glyoxalase system, which assisted in biochemical processes regulation.

Combined Supplementation of Clostridium butyricum and Bifidobacterium infantis Diminishes Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-Induced Intestinal Alterations via Activation of Nrf-2 Signaling Pathway in Rats

Exposure to long-term chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) can cause redox imbalance and inflammation, which may affect the integrity of the gut barrier. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of a probiotics bacterium mixture, including Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum) and Bifidobacterium infantis (B. infantis), on the intestinal homeostasis in rats exposed to multiple low-intensity stressors for 28 days. The mechanism of CUMS-induced altered intestinal homeostasis was evaluated by focusing on the nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf-2) pathway. In contrast to the CUMS group, probiotic mixture supplementation significantly (p < 0.01) reversed the stress-induced elevated corticosterone level, protein and lipid oxidation, and increased enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels, as well as upregulated Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway. Probiotics supplementation further significantly (p < 0.01) decreased the CUMS-induced inflammation, altered T-lymphocyte levels, and suppressed the protein expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in rat intestines. Improvement in histological changes and intestinal barrier integrity further validate the beneficial effects of probiotic mixtures on CUMS-induced altered intestinal morphology. In conclusion, our results suggest that the combination of C. butyricum and B. infantis significantly attenuated CUMS-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and T-lymphocyte modulation by upregulating Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling and inhibiting NF-κB expression in rat intestine.

Fabrication and Characterization of Eco-Friendly Thin Films as Potential Optical Absorbers for Efficient Multi-Functional Opto-(Electronic) and Solar Cell Applications

The necessity for reliable and efficient multifunctional optical and optoelectronic devices is always calling for the exploration of new fertile materials for this purpose. This study leverages the exploitation of dyed environmentally friendly biopolymeric thin films as a potential optical absorber in the development of multifunctional opto-(electronic) and solar cell applications. Uniform, stable thin films of dyed chitosan were prepared using a spin-coating approach. The molecular interactivity between the chitosan matrix and all the additive organic dyes was evaluated using FTIR measurements. The color variations were assessed using chromaticity (CIE) measurements. The optical properties of films were inspected using the measured UV-vis-NIR transmission and reflection spectra. The values of the energy gap and Urbach energy as well as the electronic parameters and nonlinear optical parameters of films were estimated. The prepared films were exploited for laser shielding as an attenuated laser cut-off material. In addition, the performance of the prepared thin films as an absorbing organic layer with silicon in an organic/inorganic heterojunction architecture for photosensing and solar energy conversion applicability was studied. The current-voltage relation under dark and illumination declared the suitability of this architecture in terms of responsivity and specific detectivity values for efficient light sensing applications. The suitability of such films for solar cell fabrications is due to some dyed films achieving open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current values, where Saf-dyed films achieved the highest V_oc (302 mV) while MV-dyed films achieved the highest J_sc (0.005 mA/cm²). Finally, based on all the obtained characterization results, the engineered natural cost-effective dyed films are considered potential active materials for a wide range of optical and optoelectronic applications.

Anticancer Potential of Sulfonamide Moieties via In-Vitro and In-Silico Approaches: Comparative Investigations for Future Drug Development

Several kinds of anticancer drugs are presently commercially accessible, but low efficacy, solubility, and toxicity have reduced the overall therapeutic indices. Thus, the search for promising anticancer drugs continues. The interactions of numerous essential anticancer drugs with DNA are crucial to their biological functions. Here, the anticancer effects of N-ethyl toluene-4-sulphonamide (8a) and 2,5-Dichlorothiophene-3-sulphonamide (8b) on cell lines from breast and cervical cancer were investigated. The study also compared how these substances interacted with the hearing sperm DNA. The most promising anticancer drug was identified as 2,5-Dichlorothiophene-3-sulfonamide (8b), which showed GI₅₀ of 7.2 ± 1.12 µM, 4.62 ± 0.13 µM and 7.13 ± 0.13 µM against HeLa, MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. Moreover, it also exhibited significant electrostatic and non-electrostatic contributions to the binding free energy. The work utilized computational techniques, such as molecular docking and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, to demonstrate the strong cytotoxicity of 2,5-Dichlorothiophene-3-sulfamide (8b) in comparison to standard Doxorubicin and cisplatin, respectively. Molecular docking experiments provided additional support for a role for the minor groove in the binding of the 2,5-Dichlorothiophene-3-sulfamide (8b)-DNA complex. The molecular docking studies and MD simulation showed that both compounds revealed comparable inhibitory potential against standard Doxorubicin and cisplatin. This study has the potential to lead to the discovery of new bioactive compounds for use in cancer treatment, including metallic and non-metallic derivatives of 2,5-Dichlorothiophene-3-sulfonamide (8b). It also emphasizes the worth of computational approaches in the development of new drugs and lays the groundwork for future research.

Microstructure, Texture, and Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir Spot-Welded AA5052-H32: Influence of Tool Rotation Rate

Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) of similar AA5052-H32 joints has numerous benefits in shipbuilding, aerospace, and automotive structural applications. In addition, studying the role of tool rotation speed on the microstructure features, achieved textures, and joint performance of the friction stir spot-welded (FSSWed) joint still needs more systematic research. Different FSSWed AA5052-H32 lap joints of 4 mm thickness were produced at different heat inputs using three tool rotation speeds of 1500, 1000, and 500 rpm at a constant dwell time of 2 s. The applied thermal heat inputs for achieving the FSSW processes were calculated. The produced joints were characterized by their appearance, macrostructures, microstructures, and mechanical properties (hardness contour maps and maximum tensile-shear load) at room temperature. The grain structure and texture developed for all the FSSWed joints were deeply investigated using an advanced electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) technique and compared with the base material (BM). The main results showed that the average hardness value of the stir zone (SZ) in the welded joints is higher than that in the AA5052-H32 BM for all applied rotation speeds, and it decreases as the rotation speed increases from 500 to 1000 rpm. This SZ enhancement in hardness compared to the BM cold-rolled grain structure is caused by the high grain refining due to the dynamic recrystallization associated with the FSSW. The average grain size values of the stir zones are 11, 9, and 4 µm for the FSSWed joints processed at 1500, 1000, and 500 rpm, respectively, while the BM average grain size is 40 µm. The simple shear texture with B/-B components mainly dominates the texture. Compared to the welded joints, the joint processed at 500 rpm and a 2 s duration time attains the highest tensile-shear load value of 4330 N. This value decreases with increasing rotation speed to reach 2569 N at a rotation speed of 1500. After tensile testing of the FSSWed joints, the fracture surface was also examined and discussed.

Recognizing Brain Tumors Using Adaptive Noise Filtering and Statistical Features

The human brain, primarily composed of white blood cells, is centered on the neurological system. Incorrectly positioned cells in the immune system, blood vessels, endocrine, glial, axon, and other cancer-causing tissues, can assemble to create a brain tumor. It is currently impossible to find cancer physically and make a diagnosis. The tumor can be found and recognized using the MRI-programmed division method. It takes a powerful segmentation technique to produce accurate output. This study examines a brain MRI scan and uses a technique to obtain a more precise image of the tumor-affected area. The critical aspects of the proposed method are the utilization of noisy MRI brain images, anisotropic noise removal filtering, segmentation with an SVM classifier, and isolation of the adjacent region from the normal morphological processes. Accurate brain MRI imaging is the primary goal of this strategy. The divided section of the cancer is placed on the actual image of a particular culture, but that is by no means the last step. The tumor is located by categorizing the pixel brightness in the filtered image. According to test findings, the SVM could partition data with 98% accuracy.

Prognosis Prediction in COVID-19 Patients through Deep Feature Space Reasoning

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique challenge for physicians worldwide, as they grapple with limited data and uncertainty in diagnosing and predicting disease outcomes. In such dire circumstances, the need for innovative methods that can aid in making informed decisions with limited data is more critical than ever before. To allow prediction with limited COVID-19 data as a case study, we present a complete framework for progression and prognosis prediction in chest X-rays (CXR) through reasoning in a COVID-specific deep feature space. The proposed approach relies on a pre-trained deep learning model that has been fine-tuned specifically for COVID-19 CXRs to identify infection-sensitive features from chest radiographs. Using a neuronal attention-based mechanism, the proposed method determines dominant neural activations that lead to a feature subspace where neurons are more sensitive to COVID-related abnormalities. This process allows the input CXRs to be projected into a high-dimensional feature space where age and clinical attributes like comorbidities are associated with each CXR. The proposed method can accurately retrieve relevant cases from electronic health records (EHRs) using visual similarity, age group, and comorbidity similarities. These cases are then analyzed to gather evidence for reasoning, including diagnosis and treatment. By using a two-stage reasoning process based on the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence, the proposed method can accurately predict the severity, progression, and prognosis of a COVID-19 patient when sufficient evidence is available. Experimental results on two large datasets show that the proposed method achieves 88% precision, 79% recall, and 83.7% F-score on the test sets.

Molecular Spectroscopy Evidence of 1,3,5-Tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene Binding to DNA: Anticancer Potential along with the Comparative Binding Profile of Intercalation via Modeling Studies

One of medicinal chemistry's top priorities is the discovery of new molecules with anticancer potential. Compounds that interact with DNA are an intriguing family of chemotherapeutic medications used to treat cancer. Studies in this area have uncovered a plethora of potential anticancer medicines, such as groove binding, alkylating, and intercalator compounds. The anticancer activity of DNA intercalators (molecules that intercalate between DNA base pairs) has drawn special interest. The current study investigated the promising anticancer drug 1,3,5-Tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (H3BTB) against breast and cervical cancer cell lines. In addition, 1,3,5-Tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene binds to DNA by groove binding. The binding of H3BTB to DNA was found to be significant which unwinds the DNA helix. Considerable electrostatic and non-electrostatic contributions were present in the binding's free energy. The cytotoxic potential of H3BTB is effectively demonstrated by the computational study outcomes, which include molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The minor groove binding for the H3BTB-DNA complex is supported by molecular docking research. This study will promote empirical investigation into the synthesis of metallic and non-metallic H3BTB derivatives and their potential use as bioactive molecules for the treatment of cancer.

Enhanced Skin Permeation and Controlled Release of β-Sitosterol Using Cubosomes Encrusted with Dissolving Microneedles for the Management of Alopecia

The use of synthetic medication for treating alopecia is restricted because of systemic exposure and related negative effects. Beta-sitosterol (β-ST), a natural chemical, has lately been studied for its potential to promote hair development. The cubosomes with dissolving microneedles (CUBs-MN_D) created in this study may be a useful starting point for the creation of a sophisticated dermal delivery system for β-ST. Cubosomes (CUBs) were prepared by the emulsification method, using glyceryl monooleate (GMO) as a lipid polymer. CUBs were loaded with dissolving microneedles (MN_D) fabricated with HA and a PVP-K90 matrix. An ex vivo skin permeation study and an in vivo hair growth efficacy test of β-ST were performed with both CUB and CUB-MN_D. The average particle size of the CUBs was determined to be 173.67 ± 0.52 nm, with a low polydispersity index (0.3) and a high zeta potential value that prevents the aggregate formation of dispersed particles. When compared to CUBs alone, CUBs-MN_D displayed higher permeating levels of β-ST at all-time points. In the animals from the CUB-MN_D group, significant hair development was observed. According to the results of the current investigation, CUBs that integrate dissolving microneedles of β-ST are superior in terms of transdermal skin penetration and activity for the treatment of alopecia.

Nurses' self-efficacy and well-being at work amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study

AIMS

To explore the factors associated with the nurses' well-being at work.

DESIGN

A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design.

METHODS

The quantitative part of the study included a conveniently sampled 271 nurses employed in healthcare facilities in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. A purposive sample of 21 nurses were interviewed in the qualitative part of the study. Data collection was performed from May to August 2021. This article followed the STROBE checklist.

RESULTS

Nurses working in private hospitals reported higher level of self-efficacy than nurses in public hospitals. Being a Filipino, working in private hospital, and having higher self-efficacy were associated with better well-being at work among nurses during the pandemic. The thematic analysis revealed four important themes in understanding their well-being at work: safe work environment, ensuring staff nurses' health, leadership support, and solidarity in the workplace.

Solar-Driven Thermocatalytic Synthesis of Octahydroquinazolinone Using Novel Polyvinylchloride (PVC)-Supported Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) Catalysts

The chemical industry is one of the main fossil fuel consumers, so its reliance on sustainable and renewable resources such as wind and solar energy should be increased to protect the environment. Accordingly, solar-driven thermocatalytic synthesis of octahydroquinazolinone using polyvinylchloride (PVC)-supported aluminum oxide (Al2O3) as a catalyst under natural sunlight is proposed in this work. The Al2O3/PVC catalysts were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, BET, XRD, and XPS techniques. The obtained results indicate that the yield and reaction time can be modified by adjusting the molar ratio of the catalyst. To investigate the stability of the catalyst, the spent catalyst was reused in several reactions. The results indicated that, when a 50% Al2O3 catalyst is employed in an absolute solar heat, it performs exceptionally well in terms of yield (98%) and reaction time (35 min). Furthermore, the reaction times and yield of octahydroquinazolinone derivatives with an aryl moiety were superior to those of heteroaryl. All the synthesized compounds were well characterized by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR. The current work introduces a new strategy to use solar heat for energy-efficient chemical reactions using a cost-effective, recyclable environmentally friendly PVC/Al2O3 catalyst that produces a high yield.