Genetic diversity in casein gene cluster in a dromedary camel (C. dromedarius) population from the United Arab Emirates

Genetic polymorphisms, causing variation in casein genes (CSN1S1, CSN1S2, CSN2, and CSN3), have been extensively studied in goats and cows, but there are only few studies reported in camels. Therefore, we aimed to identify alleles with functional roles in the United Arab Emirates dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) population to complement previous studies conducted on the same species. Using targeted next-generation sequencing, we sequenced all genes in the casein gene cluster in 93 female camels to identify and characterize novel gene variants. Most variants were found in noncoding introns and upstream sequences, but a few variants showed the possibility of functional impact. CSN2 was found to be most polymorphic, with total 91 different variants, followed by CSN1S1, CSN3 and CSN1S2. CSN1S1, CSN1S2 and CSN2 each had at least two variants while CSN3 had only one functional allele. In future research, the functional impact of these variants should be investigated further

Exploring the Linkage between Financial Development and Ecological Footprint in Egypt: Evidence from AVECM Analysis

This study examines the dynamic relationship between financial development and environmental sustainability in Egypt using a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) and Granger causality tests. The research focuses on key indicators of financial development, namely Domestic Credit to the Private Sector (DCPS) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and their impact on CO2 emissions. The VECM results highlight a long-term equilibrium relationship, where both FDI and DCPS have significant impacts on CO2 emissions, reflecting the environmental implications of financial growth. Specifically, FDI is associated with increased environmental degradation, while the effect of DCPS is positive but less pronounced. The Granger causality test reveals a bidirectional causal relationship between DCPS and CO2 emissions, indicating interdependence between financial development and environmental degradation. Furthermore, there is evidence of unidirectional causality from CO2 emissions to FDI, suggesting that environmental conditions may influence foreign investment decisions. These findings underscore the importance of implementing sustainable financial policies to mitigate the environmental impact of financial development in Egypt

Sources of free sugar in the diet of Saudi children

IntroductionData concerning sources of free sugar (FS) in the diet of Saudi children are limited. Identification of the top sources of FS would permit to develop tailored interventions that aid in meeting the recommendations of the World Health Organization for FS (≤ 25 g/day). This study aimed to investigate sources of FS in children’s diet.MethodsA cross-sectional data of healthy children ages between 6 and 12 years who reside in Saudi Arabia were gathered from their mothers using online platforms (WhatsApp, Facebook, and X) (n = 424; 210 boys and 214 girls). An interview was conducted through the phone with the mother and her child to collect data pertaining FS intake using a validated food frequency questionnaire.ResultsThe primary sources of FS were Sweetened Beverages, followed by Sugars, Sweet Bakery Products, Other Desserts, and Candies, of which the added sugar consisted mostly of its total sugar. The consumption of FS coming from solid food sources for the highest quartile of children almost doubled the amount of FS coming from liquid food sources. Compared to boys, girls in the top quartile of FS intake consumed significantly higher amounts of solid sugars (p = 0.030). Only the intake of FS coming from Sweetened Beverages was associated negatively with age of children (p = 0.032).DiscussionPublic health interventions should emphasize the necessity of reducing the consumption of the top sources of FS to practically achieve the recommendations of FS intake

Techniques for Controlling Saltwater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers

Groundwater is a significant freshwater source due to rising water demand for agriculture, industry, rapid population growth, and home usage; however, coastal groundwater is at risk of pollution from seawater intrusion due to intensive pumping. Heavy extraction of groundwater to meet rising demands has resulted in lower groundwater tables and less seaward freshwater flow. As a result, saltwater spreads further inland, threatening fresh groundwater supplies. Saltwater intrusion refers to the introduction of saltwater into an aquifer system. Around the world, there are several coastal and deltaic regions in which seawater intrusion occurs. Underground water supplies are made worthless when seawater flows inland to production wells. The most frequent cause of contamination in coastal aquifers is seawater intrusion. In order to safeguard the resources of groundwater in coastal aquifers, a variety of techniques have been employed to mitigate saltwater intrusion. A brief amount of research has focused on preventing seawater intrusion to safeguard coastal areas\u27 groundwater supplies. To manage coastal aquifers and mitigate seawater intrusion, withdrawal procedures must be carefully planned. Thus, it is vital to effectively manage seawater intrusion to prevent the depletion of groundwater supplies. New techniques for controlling seawater intrusion are given and discussed in detail. The SEAWAT code was used here to investigate the effectiveness of different controlling techniques to mitigate seawater intrusion. The outcomes of this research can be implemented to achieve sustainable development of groundwater resources in coastal aquifers

Evaluation of the anticancer potential of Iraqi Date Palma dactylifera L. seed extract on breast cancer MCF7 and prostate cancer PC3 cell lines

Date seeds are rich in many dietary elements, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory and anticancer phytochemical compounds. The present study aimed to evaluate the anticancer potential of  Iraqi Date Palma dactylifera L. seed extracts on breast cancer MCF7 and prostate cancer PC3 cell lines. The seeds were extracted with 70% ethanol and explored for the presence of many anticancer compounds by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis . The cytotoxicity of date seed extracts on cell lines was studied using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The cytotoxic assay of multi-parameters was carried out to detect the extract activity on valid cell count, total nuclear intensity, cell membrane permeability, mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome C release by using High-Content Screening (HCS) assay. The results of HPLC confirmed the presence of caffeic acid, sinapic acid and gallic acid. The results of MTT assay showed significantly reduced cell viability of MCF7, PC3 and control HdFn cell lines with IC50 of 269,325 and 1499 μg/ml, respectively. Analysis of HCS findings indicated significant changes in all tested parameters at concentrations of 100 μg/ml. Ethanolic extract of seeds was rich in many antioxidant compounds and the extract appeared to have strong cytotoxic activity against both  MCF7 and PC3 cancer cell lines. The cells of MCF7 were more sensitive to extract than PC3. The viability of normal  HDFn cells was not affected by the extract. The study showed the importance of date seeds as a very effective antioxidant and can contribute to reducing the risk of breast and prostate cancer.

A genetic algorithm for shortest path with real constraints in computer networks

The shortest path problem has many different versions. In this manuscript, we proposed a muti-constrained optimization method to find the shortest path in a computer network. In general, a genetic algorithm is one of the common heuristic algorithms. In this paper, we employed the genetic algorithm to find the solution of the shortest path multi-constrained problem. The proposed algorithm finds the best route for network packets with minimum total cost, delay, and hop count constrained with limited bandwidth. The new algorithm was implemented on four different capacity networks with random network parameters, the results showed that the shortest path under constraints can be found in a reasonable time. The experimental results showed that the algorithm always found the shortest path with minimal constraints

Improving utilization of rotavirus vaccination among children in Kuwait: an intervention study

Vaccination against rotavirus is an effective strategy to overcome the consequences of rotavirus infection. This study aims to raise the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of both parents or caregivers and healthcare providers towards the rotavirus vaccination. The design of the study was an interventional pre-test and post-test. The type of intervention used in this study is an educational intervention. The intervention consisted of a health education message delivered to the participants including both parents or caregivers and healthcare providers. It included three phases, the first one was carried out to assess the KAP of mothers and caregivers before the intervention, the second phase involved the evaluation of participants’ post-intervention, and the third phase involved the assessment of healthcare providers. The study used a survey to assess the demographics, KAP of the participants. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS program. The overall KAP among mothers were high (11.6%). After the intervention, the level of KAP of mothers toward the rotavirus vaccine was improved significantly (p=0.0001). Also, after the health education message, the level of KAP of the healthcare providers was significantly improved (p=0.0001). The levels of KAP of mothers and healthcare providers were improved after the educational intervention and the health educational message, reflecting the important role of educational intervention in raising the awareness of both mothers and healthcare providers

Dermatological Lesions of Cholesterol Embolization Syndrome and Kaposi Sarcoma Mimic Primary Systemic Vasculitis: Case Report Study

Primary systemic vasculitis can present with a wide spectrum of manifestations ranging from systemic non-specific features such as fever, malaise, arthralgia, and myalgia to specific organ damage. We describe two cases of cholesterol embolization syndrome and Kaposi sarcoma mimicking primary systemic vasculitis, both of which were characterized by features such as livedo reticularis, blue toe syndrome, a brown, purpuric skin rash, and positive p-ANCA associated with Kaposi sarcoma. Establishing the right diagnosis was challenging, and thus we aim in this study to highlight the possible ways to distinguish them from primary systemic vasculitis. Keywords: Dermatological lesions, Cholesterol embolization syndrome, Kaposi sarcoma, vasculitis mimic

A review on sustainable machining: Technological advancements, health and safety considerations, and related environmental impacts

Elsheikh A., Ali A.B.M., Saba A., et al. A review on sustainable machining: Technological advancements, health and safety considerations, and related environmental impacts. Results in Engineering 24, 103042 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2024.103042.The evolution of advanced engineering materials and high-speed cutting techniques has emphasized the critical role of cutting fluids (CFs) in machining processes to meet sustainability requirements. Cutting fluids application offers several key benefits, including temperature reduction during cutting, decreased friction between the workpiece/chip and tool, extended tool lifespan, enhanced machining efficiency, and boosted surface finish. These positive outcomes are primarily attributed to the core functions of cutting fluid, namely lubrication, cooling, cleaning, and corrosion protection. However, they have serious disadvantages such as posing risks to ecosystems and human health as well as high disposal costs. Despite these disadvantages, ongoing research and development efforts are focused on improving the environmental sustainability, health and safety, and performance of metal cutting fluids through the use of green biodegradable oils, developing advanced recycling technologies, and the use of efficient application methods such as high-pressure cooling and minimum quantity lubrication (MQL). This review paper sheds light on sustainable machining technologies that are utilized to minimize the environmental impacts of conventional cutting fluids. Different types of CFs including their benefits and role in cutting operations are also introduced. Finally, sustainable assessment including economical, environmental, and social aspects of green machining technologies is discussed

An Overview of Rheumatic Heart Disease Role of Physicians, Clinical Laboratory and Pharmacist in Management and Prevention

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) continues to be a significant public health concern that impacts children and young people in developing nations. This study sought to assess the contributions of physicians, clinical laboratories, and pharmacists in the field of treatment and prevention. Chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD) sometimes manifests with illness complications or the recurrence of rheumatic fever (RF). Insufficient management of RF/RHD results in significant harm to the heart valves and subsequent impairments. It is crucial to make active efforts in diagnosing and treating RF/RHD at an early stage, as well as implementing effective preventive measures. And everyone of the healthcare worker including physcians, nurses, pharmacist and clinical laboratory teams, have a very important roles in the management and increase the awarness among population, as well as they play a crucial role in management of RHD