The impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the spread of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: Simulation approach.

Objectives: This paper aims to measure the impact of the implemented nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during the pandemic using simulation modeling. Methods: To measure the impact of NPI, a hybrid agent-based and system dynamics simulation model was built and validated. Data were collected prospectively on a weekly basis. The core epidemiological model is based on a complex Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered and Dead model of epidemic dynamics. Reverse engineering was performed on a weekly basis throughout the study period as a mean for model validation which reported on four outcomes: total cases, active cases, ICU cases, and deaths cases. To measure the impact of each NPI, the observed values of active and total cases were captured and compared to the projected values of active and total cases from the simulation. To measure the impact of each NPI, the study period was divided into rounds of incubation periods (cycles of 14 days each). The behavioral change of the spread of the disease was interpreted as the impact of NPIs that occurred at the beginning of the cycle. The behavioral change was measured by the change in the initial reproduction rate (R0). Results: After 18 weeks of the reverse engineering process, the model achieved a 0.4 % difference in total cases for prediction at the end of the study period. The results estimated that NPIs led to 64 % change in The R0. Our breakdown analysis of the impact of each NPI indicates that banning going to schools had the greatest impact on the infection reproduction rate (24 %). Conclusion: We used hybrid simulation modeling to measure the impact of NPIs taken by the KSA government. The finding further supports the notion that early NPIs adoption can effectively limit the spread of COVID-19. It also supports using simulation for building mathematical modeling for epidemiological scenarios.

Indian food habit & food ingredients may have a role in lowering the severity & high death rate from COVID-19 in Indians: findings from the first nutrigenomic analysis.

Background & objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the death rate was reportedly 5-8 fold lower in India which is densely populated as compared to less populated western countries. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary habits were associated with the variations in COVID-19 severity and deaths between western and Indian population at the nutrigenomics level. Methods: In this study nutrigenomics approach was applied. Blood transcriptome of severe COVID-19 patients from three western countries (showing high fatality) and two datasets from Indian patients were used. Gene set enrichment analyses were performed for pathways, metabolites, nutrients, etc., and compared for western and Indian samples to identify the food- and nutrient-related factors, which may be associated with COVID-19 severity. Data on the daily consumption of twelve key food components across four countries were collected and a correlation between nutrigenomics analyses and per capita daily dietary intake was investigated. Results: Distinct dietary habits of Indians were observed, which may be associated with low death rate from COVID-19. Increased consumption of red meat, dairy products and processed foods by western populations may increase the severity and death rate by activating cytokine storm-related pathways, intussusceptive angiogenesis, hypercapnia and enhancing blood glucose levels due to high contents of sphingolipids, palmitic acid and byproducts such as CO2 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Palmitic acid also induces ACE2 expression and increases the infection rate. Coffee and alcohol that are highly consumed in western countries may increase the severity and death rates from COVID-19 by deregulating blood iron, zinc and triglyceride levels. The components of Indian diets maintain high iron and zinc concentrations in blood and rich fibre in their foods may prevent CO2 and LPS-mediated COVID-19 severity. Regular consumption of tea by Indians maintains high high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low triglyceride in blood as catechins in tea act as natural atorvastatin. Importantly, regular consumption of turmeric in daily food by Indians maintains strong immunity and curcumin in turmeric may prevent pathways and mechanisms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity and lowered the death rate. Interpretation & conclusions: Our results suggest that Indian food components suppress cytokine storm and various other severity related pathways of COVID-19 and may have a role in lowering severity and death rates from COVID-19 in India as compared to western populations. However, large multi-centered case-control studies are required to support our current findings.

Advancing Brain Tumor Classification through Fine-Tuned Vision Transformers: A Comparative Study of Pre-Trained Models.

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the classification of brain tumor images using five pre-trained vision transformer (ViT) models, namely R50-ViT-l16, ViT-l16, ViT-l32, ViT-b16, and ViT-b32, employing a fine-tuning approach. The objective of this study is to advance the state-of-the-art in brain tumor classification by harnessing the power of these advanced models. The dataset utilized for experimentation consists of a total of 4855 images in the training set and 857 images in the testing set, encompassing four distinct tumor classes. The performance evaluation of each model is conducted through an extensive analysis encompassing precision, recall, F1-score, accuracy, and confusion matrix metrics. Among the models assessed, ViT-b32 demonstrates exceptional performance, achieving a high accuracy of 98.24% in accurately classifying brain tumor images. Notably, the obtained results outperform existing methodologies, showcasing the efficacy of the proposed approach. The contributions of this research extend beyond conventional methods, as it not only employs cutting-edge ViT models but also surpasses the performance of existing approaches for brain tumor image classification. This study not only demonstrates the potential of ViT models in medical image analysis but also provides a benchmark for future research in the field of brain tumor classification.

Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and risk factors of COVID-19 among children in Saudi Arabia: a multicenter chart review study.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected over 100 million cases worldwide. Children accounted for 1-5% of all cases with less reported symptoms and better prognosis compared to adults. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of pediatric COVID-19 cases in Saudi Arabia in addition to identifying risk factors associated with disease severity. METHODS: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional retrospective study that included confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection among pediatric patients (< 14 years) from the time of initial identification in March 2020 to the end of July 2020 in 6 centers across the country. Patients were classified based on clinical severity. Study outcomes included time to recovery, need for invasive ventilation, and mortality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore factors associated with increased disease severity. RESULTS: The study enrolled 567 children with (51.5%) were males, and (44.6%) aged from 6 to 14 years old. Asymptomatic patients accounted for 38.98% of the cases: while 319 patients (56%) had mild disease, and 27 patients (4.76%) had moderate-to-severe disease. Only 10 patients (1.76%) required Pediatric Intensive Care Unit admission. The calculated case-fatality was 0.7%. After performing multivariate regression analysis, chronic lung conditions [adjusted OR = 12.73, 95% CI (2.05-79.12)] and decreased red blood cells (RBCs) count [adjusted OR = 2.43, 95% CI (1.09-5.41] were found to be significant predictors for moderate-to-severe disease (p = 0.006 and 0.030, respectively). CONCLUSION: Most COVID-19 cases in the current study had a benign course of illness and carried an excellent prognosis. Children with chronic lung conditions or low RBCs count are at higher risk to develop moderate-to-severe COVID-19 disease.

Antibacterial Effects of Commiphora gileadensis Methanolic Extract on Wound Healing.

Commiphora gileadensis (CG) is a small tree distributed throughout the Middle East. It was traditionally used in perfumes in countries in this area. In Saudi Arabia, it was used to treat wounds burns and as an antidote to scorpion stings. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and cutaneous wound healing efficiency of the CG extracts using microbiological tests, rate of wound contraction and histopathological changes. CG plant were extracted using the methanol extraction technique; then, the methanolic extract was characterized using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC−MS). Afterwards, a six-millimetre (mm) excision wound was induced in 60 male Balb/c mice. Mice were classified into two classes; each class consisted of three groups of 10 mice. In the non-infected wound class, the group I was assigned as control and received normal saline. Group II received gentamicin treatment, and group III treated with CG-methanolic extract. In the Staphylococcus aureus-infected class, group IV received normal saline, and groups V and VI were treated with gentamicin and CG-methanolic extract, respectively. The colonization of infected wounds was determined using colony-forming units (CFUs), and the percentage of wound contraction was measured in all groups. Finally, the histopathologic semi-quantitative determination of wound healing was evaluated by inflammatory cell infiltration, the presence of collagen fibres and granulation tissue, and the grade of re-epithelization. Composition analysis of the methanolic extract confirmed the presence of a high amount of ceramide (69%) and, to a lesser extent, hexosylceramide (18%) and phosphatidylethanolamine (7%) of the total amount. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between the percentage of wound contraction in the CG-treated and control groups in both Staphylococcus aureus-infected and non-infected wounds (p < 0.01). The colonization of the infected wounds was lower in the group treated with CG than in the control group (p < 0.01). In both non-infected and infected wounds, the CG-treated group showed significant statistical differences in inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fibres, re-epithelization and granulation tissue formation compared with the control group (p < 0.01). The CG extract possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that induce wound healing.

Potential Predictors of Poor Prognosis among Severe COVID-19 Patients: A Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND: Timely detection of the progression of the highly contagious coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is of utmost importance for management and intervention for patients in intensive care (ICU). AIM: This study aims to better understand this new infection and report the changes in the various laboratory tests identified in critically ill patients and associated with poor prognosis among COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU. METHODS: This was a retrospective study that included 160 confirmed SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. RESULTS: Elevated serum ferritin, D-dimer, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and nonconjugated bilirubin levels were present in 139 (96%), 131 (96%), 107 (68%), 52 (34%), and 89 (70%) patients, respectively. Renal parameters were abnormal in a significant number of cases with elevated creatinine and blood urea nitrogen in 93 (62%) and 102 (68%) cases, respectively. Hematological profiles revealed lower red blood cell count, hemoglobin, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes in 90 (57%), 103 (65%), 89 (62%), 105 (73%), 35 (24%), and 119 (83%) cases, respectively. The neutrophil count was found to increase in 71.3% of the cases. There was significantly higher mortality (83%) among patients older than 60 years (p=0.001) and in female patients (75%) (p=0.012). Patients with lung diseases had a poor outcome compared to patients with other comorbidities (p=0.002). There was a significant association between elevated D-dimer levels and increased mortality (p=0.003). Elevated levels of AST, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and bilirubin were significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes. CONCLUSION: Different parameters can be used to predict disease prognosis, especially the risk of poor prognosis. Accurate diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression from the early stages will help in reducing mortality and unfavorable outcomes.

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in brain tumor patients undergoing craniotomy: a meta-analysis.

Brain tumor patients undergoing craniotomy generally receive prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism (VTE), but modalities in use differ widely and have been debated in the literature. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of VTE prophylaxis among brain tumor patients undergoing craniotomy. Ten randomized controlled trials were included in the final efficacy analysis. The various prophylactic measures employed in these studies reduced the risk for thrombosis compared to controls with an overall risk ratio of 0.61 (95 % CI: 0.47-0.79) in the fixed effect model. Although Cochrane Q-test showed unimportant heterogeneity across studies (p = 0.19) and the I2, a measure of heterogeneity between studies, was reasonably low at 28 %, subgroup analysis indicated that intervention type was a potential effect modifier for efficacy (p = 0.04). Unfractionated heparin alone showed a stronger reduction in VTE risk compared to placebo (RR = 0.27; 95 % CI: 0.10-0.73), and LMWH combined with mechanical prophylaxis showed a lower VTE risk as compared to mechanical prophylaxis alone (0.61; 95 % CI: 0.46-0.82). This meta-analysis demonstrates a statistically significant VTE risk reduction among brain tumor patients receiving prophylaxis, with chemical prophylaxis showing the strongest risk reduction. Five studies were included in the safety analysis, which showed an overall increased risk of bleeding comparing different prophylactic measures to different controls (RR = 2.02; 95 % CI: 1.14-3.58; I2 = 0 %; p = 0.86). Interventions in these studies were associated with an increased risk of post-operative, minor hemorrhage (RR = 2.20; 95 % CI = 1.00; 4.85), while the risk of major hemorrhage was not increased by chemoprophylaxis.

An influence of adrenaline (1:80,000) containing local anesthesia (2% Xylocaine) on glycemic level of patients undergoing tooth extraction in Riyadh.

OBJECTIVE: Aim is to compare the glycemic level among patients before, and after local anesthesia containing adrenaline 1:80,000 among patients who need dental extraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 60 patients were randomly selected including 30 healthy and 30 with a diabetes history for this study in Riyadh city. First the blood glucose level was measured before administering local anesthesia containing adrenaline after taking their history with glucocheck according to instructions, then blood Sugar level was recorded after administering local anesthesia containing adrenaline 1:80,000 concentrations. Blood sugar level was also checked 5 min after the tooth extraction procedure. RESULTS: There were no significant results found after the administration of local anesthesia containing adrenaline in both healthy and diabetic patients (p > 0.05). However, change of significance (p < 0.05) was noticed in diabetic patients who had not taken their hypoglycemic medication; there was a rise in their blood glucose level after extraction. CONCLUSION: The study concluded no significant effect on the glycemic level of patients after the administration of local anesthesia containing adrenaline 1:80,000 in healthy and diabetic patients whether hypoglycemic medication was taken or not but a rise in blood sugar level was found among diabetic patients who did not take their hypoglycemic medications undergoing tooth extraction.

Alterations in Histone Methylation States Increased Profusion of Lethal(2)-Essential-for-Life-Like (l(2)elf), Trithorax and Polycomb Genes in Apis mellifera under Heat Stress.

Histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) represent a key mechanism in the thermal adaptation of the honeybee Apis mellifera. In this study, a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and qPCR were employed to explore the changes in the methylation states of H3K4m2, H3K4m3, H3K27m2 and H3K27m3 associated with l2efl (ID: 72474, 724405, 724488), histone methyltransferases (HMTs) ((trx) and PR-set7) and Polycomb (Pc) and (Su(z)12) genes in A. m. jemenitica (tolerant subspecies) and A. m. carnica (susceptible subspecies) in response to heat treatment (42 °C for 1 h). The results revealed significant enrichment fold changes in the methylation/demethylation of most H3K4 and H3K27 marks at all targeted genes. These changes increased the profusion of l2efl (ID: 72474, 724405, 724488), histone methyltransferases (HMTs) (trx) and Polycomb (Pc) and Su(z)12 and decreased the profusion of HMT (PR-set7) in both honeybee subspecies. The changes in the methylation enrichment folds of histone methyltransferases (HMTs) ((trx), PR-set) and Polycomb (Pc), Su(z)12 genes demonstrate the well-harmonized coordination of epigenetic gene regulation in response to heat treatment. Compared to the control, the changes in the methylation enrichment folds of H3K4m3 at Polycomb Su(z)12 were about 30× and 100× higher in treated A. m. jemenitica and A.m. carnica, respectively. Similarly, changes in the methylation/demethylation enrichment folds of HMT (trx) and Polycomb (Pc) and Su(z)12 were 2-3× higher in A. m. carnica than in A. m. jemenitica after treatment (42 °C). It is evident that post-translational chromatin modification in both honeybee subspecies can diminish heat stress impact by (I) increasing the transcriptional provision of l2efl associated with survival and (II) increasing the silencing of genes associated with general cellular activities.

Reaction Atmosphere-Controlled Thermal Conversion of Ferrocene to Hematite and Cementite Nanomaterials-Structural and Spectroscopic Investigations.

Recently, we have reported the influence of various reaction atmospheres on the solid-state reaction kinetics of ferrocene, where oxalic acid dihydrate was used as a coprecursor. In this light, present study discusses on the nature of decomposed materials of the solid-state reactions of ferrocene in O2, air, and N2 atmospheres. The ambient and oxidative atmospheres caused the decomposition to yield pure hematite nanomaterials, whereas cementite nanomaterials along with α-Fe were obtained in N2 atmosphere. The obtained materials were mostly agglomerated. Elemental composition of each material was estimated. Using the absorbance data, the energy band gap values were estimated and the related electronic transitions from the observed absorption spectra were explored. Urbach energy was calculated for hematite, which described the role of defects in the decomposed materials. The nanostructures exhibited photoluminescence due to self-trapped states linked to their optical characteristics. Raman spectroscopy of hematite detected seven Raman modes, confirming the rhombohedral structure, whereas the D and G bands were visible in the Raman spectra for cementite. Thus, the reaction atmosphere significantly influenced the thermal decomposition of ferrocene and controls the type of nanomaterials obtained. Plausible reactions of the undergoing solid-state decomposition have been proposed.

Advancing brain tumor detection: harnessing the Swin Transformer's power for accurate classification and performance analysis.

The accurate detection of brain tumors through medical imaging is paramount for precise diagnoses and effective treatment strategies. In this study, we introduce an innovative and robust methodology that capitalizes on the transformative potential of the Swin Transformer architecture for meticulous brain tumor image classification. Our approach handles the classification of brain tumors across four distinct categories: glioma, meningioma, non-tumor, and pituitary, leveraging a dataset comprising 2,870 images. Employing the Swin Transformer architecture, our method intricately integrates a multifaceted pipeline encompassing sophisticated preprocessing, intricate feature extraction mechanisms, and a highly nuanced classification framework. Utilizing 21 matrices for performance evaluation across all four classes, these matrices provide a detailed insight into the model's behavior throughout the learning process, furthermore showcasing a graphical representation of confusion matrix, training and validation loss and accuracy. The standout performance parameter, accuracy, stands at an impressive 97%. This achievement outperforms established models like CNN, DCNN, ViT, and their variants in brain tumor classification. Our methodology's robustness and exceptional accuracy showcase its potential as a pioneering model in this domain, promising substantial advancements in accurate tumor identification and classification, thereby contributing significantly to the landscape of medical image analysis.

The Prevalence of Nephrolithiasis and Associated Risk Factors Among the Population of the Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia.

Background and objective Kidney stones, also referred to as nephrolithiasis or renal calculi, is a condition where crystal depositions are formed within the kidney and ideally excreted from the body via the urethra with no pain; however, larger calculi may cause significant pain and require further medical assistance. The vast majority of patients who develop renal calculi form calcium stones, which are either a composition of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate. Other types include uric acid, struvite, and cysteine. While kidney stones are one of the most significant diseases among the Saudi population, which require an acute emergency intervention to prevent serious long-term complications, there are limited studies published regarding this condition in Saudi communities. In light of this, we performed this study to assess the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors of kidney stones among the population of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between August and October 2023, aiming to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of nephrolithiasis among residents of the Riyadh province. Data were collected through an electronic questionnaire in both Arabic and English and distributed via social media in addition to barcode handouts in various selected venues in Riyadh. The questionnaire involved 12 questions categorized into three sections. The first section obtained demographical information while the second section collected data about the past medical history of the participants. Lastly, the third section aimed to assess the prevalence of nephrolithiasis among participants or any history of the condition among their families. Results A total of 1,043 participants were surveyed, of whom 533 were males (51.1%). The prevalence of kidney stones was reported in 98 individuals (9.4%) overall. Individuals in the age groups of 36-50, 51-60, and >60 years showed significantly more renal stone prevalence than those in younger age groups (p<0.001). The prevalence was found to be higher in participants who were smokers, diabetic, hypertensive, and those who suffered from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), gout, chronic kidney disease (CKD), hyperthyroidism, and hyperparathyroidism. Participants who took calcium supplements or had a positive family history of renal stones were found to have a higher prevalence of renal stones as well. However, only hypertension, gout, and family history showed any statistical significance (p<0.05). Conclusions A direct correlation was observed between hypertension, gout, positive family history, and aging and an increased prevalence of kidney stones among the inhabitants of the Riyadh province. Therefore, we encourage the local authorities to raise awareness of kidney stones and their related risk factors among the general public. Moreover, further local studies need to be conducted to gain deeper insights into kidney stone prevalence, especially pertaining to associated comorbidities and the pattern of the disease itself.

Transcriptomics data integration and analysis to uncover hallmark genes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heterogeneous disease that mainly affects the myocardium. In the current study, we aim to explore HCM-related hub genes through the analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HCM and normal sample groups. METHODS: The GSE68316 and GSE36961 expression profiles were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database for the identification of DEGs, to explore hub genes, and to perform their expression analysis. Clinical HCM and control tissue samples were taken for expression and promoter methylation validation analysis via RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and targeted bisulfite sequencing (bisulfite-seq) analyses. Then, other different bioinformatics tools were employed to perform STRING, lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks, gene enrichment, and drug prediction analyses. RESULTS: In total, the top 20 DEGs, including 10 up-regulated and 10 down-regulated, were obtained from GSE68316. Out of the 20 DEGs, we subsequently identified the 8 most important hub genes including 5 up-regulated genes (EPB42, UQCRH, CA1, PFDN5, and LSM5) and 3 down-regulated genes (RPS24, TNS1, and RPL26). Expression and promoter methylation dysregulation of these genes were further validated on clinical HCM samples paired with controls. Next, we further investigated hub genes' regulatory 6 miRNAs (has-mir-1-3p, has-mir-129-5p, has-mir-16-5p, has-mir-23b-3p, has-mir-27-3p, and has-mir-182-5p) and miRNAs regulatory 4 lncRNAs (NUTMB2-AS1, NEAT1, XIST, and GABPB1-AS1) in this study via the lncRNA-cricRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network. Later on, gene enrichment analysis revealed that hub genes were enriched in various important pathways including Nitrogen metabolism, Ribosome, RNA degradation, Cardiac muscle contraction, and Coronavirus disease, etc. Finally, the drug prediction analysis highlighted different potential candidate drugs for altering the expression of hub genes in the treatment of HCM. CONCLUSION: In summary, the identification of key hub genes and their enrichment analysis in the current study may shed light on the mechanisms behind the occurrence and development of HCM.

Fluoride Removal Using Nanofiltration-Ranged Polyamide Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membrane Incorporated Titanium Oxide Nanosheets.

Drinking water defluoridation has attracted significant attention in the scientific community, from which membrane technology, by exploring thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes, has demonstrated a great potential for treating fluoride-contaminated water. This study investigates the development of a TFN membrane by integrating titanium oxide nanosheets (TiO2 NSs) into the polyamide (PA) layer using interfacial polymerization. The characterization results suggest that successfully incorporating TiO2 NSs into the PA layer of the TFN membrane led to a surface with a high negative charge, hydrophilic properties, and a smooth surface at the nanoscale. The TFN membrane, containing 80 ppm of TiO2 NSs, demonstrated a notably high fluoride rejection rate of 98%. The Donnan-steric-pore-model-dielectric-exclusion model was employed to analyze the effect of embedding TiO2 NSs into the PA layer of TFN on membrane properties, including charge density (Xd), the pore radius (rp), and pore dielectric constant (εp). The results indicated that embedding TiO2 NSs increased Xd and decreased the εp by less than the TFC membrane without significantly affecting the rp. The resulting TFN membrane demonstrates promising potential for application in water treatment systems, providing an effective and sustainable solution for fluoride remediation in drinking water.

Ni-Sr/TiZr for H2 from methane via POM: Sr loading & optimization.

Achieving remarkable H2 yield with significantly high H2/CO over Ni-based catalysts through partial oxidation of methane (POM) is a realistic approach to depleting the concentration of CH4 and using H2 and CO as synthetic feedstock. This study examined Ni catalysts on titania-zirconia for methane conversion via POM at 600 °C and atmospheric pressure. The addition of strontium to the catalyst was explored to improve its performance. Catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman-infrared-UV-vis spectroscopy, and Temperature-programmed reduction-desorption techniques (TPR, TPD). 2.5 wt% Sr addition induced the formation of the highest concentration of extreme basic sites. Interestingly, over the unpromoted catalyst, active sites are majorly generated by hardly reducible NiO species whereas upon 2.5 wt% promoted Sr promotional addition, most of active sites are derived by easily reducible NiO species. 45% CH4 conversion and 47% H2 yield with H2/CO = 3.5 were achieved over 2.5 wt% Sr promoted 5Ni/30TiO2 + ZrO2 catalyst. These results provide insight into the role of basic sites in enhancing activity through switching indirect pathways over direct pathways for POM. Further process optimization was carried out in the range of 10 000-22 000 SV, 0.35-0.75 O2/CH4, and 600-800 °C reaction temperature over 5Ni2.5Sr/30TiO2 + ZrO2 by using central composite design under response surface methodology. The optimum activity as high as ∼88% CH4 conversion, 86-87% yield of H2, and 2.92H2/CO were predicted and experimentally validated at 800 °C reaction temperature, 0.35O2/CH4 ratio, and 10 000 space velocity.

The Value of Various Post-Processing Modalities of Diffusion Weighted Imaging in the Detection of Multiple Sclerosis.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) showed its adequacy in evaluating the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and lesions in the brain that are difficult to evaluate with routine clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in multiple sclerosis (MS). Recently, MRI systems have been developed with regard to software and hardware, leading to different proposed diffusion analysis methods such as diffusion tensor imaging, q-space imaging, diffusional kurtosis imaging, neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging, and axonal diameter measurement. These methods have the ability to better detect in vivo microstructural changes in the brain than DTI. These different analysis modalities could provide supplementary inputs for MS disease characterization and help in monitoring the disease's progression as well as treatment efficacy. This paper reviews some of the recent diffusion MRI methods used for the assessment of MS in vivo.

Linking Histone Methylation States and hsp Transcriptional Regulation in Thermo-Tolerant and Thermo-Susceptible A. mellifera L. Subspecies in Response to Heat Stress.

Genetic and epigenetic responses to environmental cues of worker honeybees mediate hsp synthesis, a key mechanism to tolerate high ambient temperatures in Apis mellifera. In this study, the chromatin immunoprecipitation assay followed by qPCR were used to determine alterations in histone methylation states (H3K27me2, H3K27me3, H3K4me2, and H3K4me3) associated with hsp/hsc/trx in A. m. jemenetica (thermo-tolerant subspecies) and A. m. carnica (thermo-susceptible subspecies) after heat treatment. The results revealed significant changes in enrichment folds of histone methylation states associated with hsp/hsc/trx. Indeed, the enrichment of H3K27me2 decreased strongly in response to heat stress. Changes in histone methylation states were significantly higher in A. m. carnica samples compared to A. m. jemenitica samples. Our study provides a new perception on linking histone post-translational methylation as an epigenetic mechanism of gene regulation with hsp/hsc/trx in A. mellifera subspecies exposed to heat stress.

Expression Levels of Heat-Shock Proteins in Apis mellifera jemenetica and Apis mellifera carnica Foragers in the Desert Climate of Saudi Arabia.

A. m. jemenetica is the indigenous honeybee of the Arabian Peninsula. It is highly adapted to extreme temperatures exceeding 40 °C, yet important molecular aspects of its adaptation are not well documented. In this study we quantify relative expression levels of small- and large-molecular-weight heat-shock proteins (hsp10, hsp28, hsp70, hsp83, hsp90 and hsc70 (mRNAs)) in the thermos-tolerant A. m. jemenetica and thermosusceptible A. m. carnica forager honeybee subspecies under desert (Riyadh) and semi-arid (Baha) summer conditions. The results showed significant day-long higher expression levels of hsp mRNAs in A. m. jemenetica compared to A. m. carnica under the same conditions. In Baha, the expression levels were very modest in both subspecies compared those in Riyadh though the expression levels were higher in A. m. jemenetica. The results also revealed a significant interaction between subspecies, which indicated milder stress conditions in Baha. In conclusion, the higher expression levels of hsp10, hsp28, hsp70ab, hsp83 and hsp90 mRNAs in A. m. jemenetica are key elements in the adaptive nature of A. m. jemenetica to local conditions that enhance its survival and fitness in high summer temperatures.

Healthcare Providers' Adherence to Recommended Pneumococcal and Influenza Vaccination in Patients Discharged with Respiratory Diseases from General Medical Wards.

The periodic assessment of adherence to vaccination recommendations is an essential component of any vaccination process. This study aimed to investigate the adherence of healthcare providers to the international recommendations on influenza and pneumococcal vaccine in patients discharged from the internal medicine department with respiratory diseases. All medical records of adult patients who are 18 years of age and older with respiratory illnesses and who were discharged in January-February, May-June, and October-November of 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 264 discharge summaries from 190 patients were included in this analysis. The mean age was 55.5 years, with 54.7% of them being males. Pneumonia was the leading cause of hospitalization (63.7%), followed by asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation (27.4%). None of the discharged patients had immunization recommendations at discharge or a documented immunization request within 6 months of discharge from the hospital. The findings of this study demonstrated that healthcare providers need to pay more attention to adhering to the global recommendations on influenza and pneumococcal vaccine among patient who were recently discharged with respiratory disease. Additional measures are needed to improve adherence to routinely recommended vaccines among adults with respiratory diseases.

Double Intussusceptions in a 20-Year-Old Lady Harboring a Tubulovillous Adenoma with High-Grade Dysplasia: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Underlying malignancy is a concern when intussusception is diagnosed in adults and the elderly. Management includes oncological resection of the intussusception. We report a case of a 20-year-old female patient who presented with signs of bowel obstruction. Computed tomography demonstrated double intussusceptions (ileo-cecal and transverse colo-colonic). During laparotomy, the mid-transverse intussusception reduced spontaneously while the other did not. Both intussusceptions were managed with oncological resection. The final pathology showed a tubulovillous adenoma with high-grade dysplasia. As a result, intussusception in adults should be investigated thoroughly to exclude malignant potential.