The present work aimed to investigate the effect of salinity in natural habitats in Egypt on the main secondary metabolites of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Artemisia monosperma L. plants compared to ...plants grown at normal conditions. Plants grown under salinity were collected from Egyptian Western Coastal region habitats irrigated with underground water. Results showed that salinity increased the essential oil percentage of R. officinalis L. by 52.7% and A. monosperma L by 0.29% in addition to the total phenolics and flavonoids content in dry leaves compared to control plants. GC/MS analysis of rosemary essential oils revealed that salinity decreased the amount of some major oil monoterpenes component as verbenone, with a slight effect on 1,8 cineole and increased Camphor, endo- Boreneol, and linalool in addition to the appearance of new specific components such as Chrysanthenone monoterpene ketone and Caryophyllene sesquiterpene, while, in the case of Artemisia, the GC/MS showed that Artemisia ketone, Camphor, β -phellandrene monoterpenes andα-Bisabolol sesquiterpenewere the major oil components; salinity decreased Camphor and β -phellandrene content and increased artemisia ketone and α-Bisabolol oil content. About 11 new oil constituents were detected such as ( +)-2-Bornanone and Sesquisabinene hydrate. Mineral ions (N, K
, Ca
, P, and Mg
) uptake by R. officinalis and A. monosperma decreased in plants grown under salinity, while Na content increased compared to corresponding controls. Results demonstrated that both plants could tolerate the high salinity level in natural Western Coastal region soil which promoted more production of valuable secondary metabolites. The antimicrobial effect of R. officinalis L. and A. monosperma L. leaf methanolic extracts, results showed that R. officinalis extracts had an inhibitory response against all tested gram-positive and negative bacteria, in addition to the yeast (Candida albicans), whereas there was no any inhibitory effect concerning A. monosperma L extract on the tested species.
This paper extends the work of Sloan (1996. The Accounting Review 71, 289) by linking accrual reliability to earnings persistence. We construct a model showing that less reliable accruals lead to ...lower earnings persistence. We then develop a comprehensive balance sheet categorization of accruals and rate each category according to the reliability of the underlying accruals. Empirical tests generally confirm that less reliable accruals lead to lower earnings persistence and that investors do not fully anticipate the lower earnings persistence, leading to significant security mispricing. These results suggest that there are significant costs associated with incorporating less reliable accrual information in financial statements.
Herein, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) acts as a host matrix for manganese-nickel ferrite (Mn
0.4
Ni
0.6
Fe
2
O
4
) nanoparticles (NPs). Oxalate precursors and a solution-cast method were used to produce a ...Mn
0.4
Ni
0.6
Fe
2
O
4
spinel structure and PVA-Mn
0.4
Ni
0.6
Fe
2
O
4
films, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy (OM), a surface roughness tester, and FT-IR spectroscopy were used to identify the structure and morphology of the PVA-Mn
0.4
Ni
0.6
Fe
2
O
4
films. XRD confirmed the formation of Mn
0.4
Ni
0.6
Fe
2
O
4
spinel, and its additive into the PVA matrix causes an increase in the PVA amorphousity. The PVA-Mn
0.4
Ni
0.6
Fe
2
O
4
film's transmission and absorption spectra were recorded with the help of a UV-visible spectrophotometer. The addition of 4%Mn
0.4
Ni
0.6
Fe
2
O
4
to PVA resulted in a decrease in the optical bandgap from 5.53 eV to 4.83 eV. The Urbach energy increases from 0.46 eV for pure PVA to 2.14 eV for PVA-4%Mn
0.4
Ni
0.6
Fe
2
O
4
, indicating a rise in the defect density. In addition, the refractive index and extinction coefficient were calculated theoretically and were found to increase as the Mn
0.4
Ni
0.6
Fe
2
O
4
content increases in the PVA matrix.
SEM images and EDX for Mn
0.4
Ni
0.6
Fe
2
O
4
and PVA-4% Mn
0.4
Ni
0.6
Fe
2
O
4
film.
Both elevated and low resting heart rates are associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), suggesting a U-shaped relationship. However, evidence for a U-shaped causal association between ...genetically-determined resting heart rate and incident AF is limited. We investigated potential directional changes of the causal association between genetically-determined resting heart rate and incident AF.
Seven cohorts of the AFGen consortium contributed data to this meta-analysis. All participants were of European ancestry with known AF status, genotype information, and a heart rate measurement from a baseline electrocardiogram (ECG). Three strata of instrumental variable-free resting heart rate were used to assess possible non-linear associations between genetically-determined resting heart rate and the logarithm of the incident AF hazard rate: <65; 65-75; and >75 beats per minute (bpm). Mendelian randomization analyses using a weighted resting heart rate polygenic risk score were performed for each stratum. We studied 38,981 individuals (mean age 59±10 years, 54% women) with a mean resting heart rate of 67±11 bpm. During a mean follow-up of 13±5 years, 4,779 (12%) individuals developed AF. A U-shaped association between the resting heart rate and the incident AF-hazard ratio was observed. Genetically-determined resting heart rate was inversely associated with incident AF for instrumental variable-free resting heart rates below 65 bpm (hazard ratio for genetically-determined resting heart rate, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.94-0.99; p = 0.01). Genetically-determined resting heart rate was not associated with incident AF in the other two strata.
For resting heart rates below 65 bpm, our results support an inverse causal association between genetically-determined resting heart rate and incident AF.
To assess associations between treatment and recurrence-free survival (RFS) among patients with isolated tumor cells (ITCs) in sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) and otherwise stage I/II endometrioid ...endometrial cancer (EC).
A multi-institutional retrospective study of patients with SLN ITCs (<200 cells and < 0.2 mm) was performed. Only patients with otherwise stage I/II EC, endometrioid histology, and no evidence of micro-or macrometastases were included. Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate associations between treatment, tumor characteristics, and RFS.
175 patients were included. Median follow up time was 31 months. 39% stage IB and 12% stage II disease. 76 (43%) received no adjuvant therapy or vaginal brachytherapy only (NAT/VBT), 21 (12%) had external beam radiation (EBRT), and 78 (45%) received chemotherapy +/− radiation. Patients who received chemotherapy more often had tumors with deep myoinvasion, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), and higher grade. Nine (5.1%) patients recurred; 5 distant, 3 retroperitoneal, and 1 vaginal. Extra-vaginal recurrences were similar in patients with or without chemotherapy (5.2% vs 3.8%, p = 0.68). After controlling for stage, LVSI and grade, chemotherapy and EBRT were not associated with RFS (HR = 0.63, 95%CI 0.11–3.52, and HR = 0.90, 95%CI 0.22–3.61, respectively). Type of lymph node dissection and ITC detection method were not associated with RFS.
Risk of retroperitoneal and/or distant recurrence is low (4.6%) for patients with stage I/II endometrioid EC and ITCs in SLNs regardless of treatment. Our preliminary data suggests that adjuvant therapy may not be significantly associated with RFS. However, longer follow-up time and a larger sample size are needed before definitive recommendations regarding adjuvant therapy for patients with EC and only ITCs in SLN can be made.
•This is the largest cohort of stage I/II endometrial cancer and only ITCs in SLN.•Adjuvant therapy may not reduce the risk of recurrence or location of recurrence.•Adjuvant therapy should be based on uterine and/or molecular factors.•ITCs in SLN does not warrant increased utilization and toxicity of adjuvant therapy.
Aims
Marine seaweeds (macroalgae) cause an eutrophication problem and affects the touristic activities. The success of the production of the third‐generation bioethanol from marine macroalgae depends ...mainly on the development of an ecofriendly and eco‐feasible pretreatment (i.e. hydrolysis) technique, a highly effective saccharification step and finally an efficient bioethanol fermentation step. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potentiality of different marine macroalgal strains, collected from Egyptian coasts, for bioethanol production via different saccharification processes.
Methods and Results
Different marine macroalgal strains, red Jania rubens, green Ulva lactuca and brown Sargassum latifolium, have been collected from Egyptian Mediterranean and Red Sea shores. Different hydrolysis processes were evaluated to maximize the extraction of fermentable sugars; thermochemical hydrolysis with diluted acids (HCl and H2SO4) and base (NaOH), hydrothermal hydrolysis followed by saccharification with different fungal strains and finally, thermochemical hydrolysis with diluted HCl, followed by fungal saccharification. The hydrothermal hydrolysis of S. latifolium followed by biological saccharification using Trichoderma asperellum RM1 produced maximum total sugars of 510 mg g−1 macroalgal biomass. The integration of the hydrothermal and fungal hydrolyses of the macroalgal biomass with a separate batch fermentation of the produced sugars using two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, produced approximately 0·29 g bioethanol g−1 total reducing sugars. A simulated regression modelling for the batch bioethanol fermentation was also performed.
Conclusions
This study supported the possibility of using seaweeds as a renewable source of bioethanol throughout a suggested integration of macroalgal biomass hydrothermal and fungal hydrolyses with a separate batch bioethanol fermentation process of the produced sugars.
Significance and Impact of the Study
The usage of marine macroalgae (i.e. seaweeds) as feedstock for bioethanol; an alternative and/or complimentary to petro‐fuel, would act as triple fact solution; bioremediation process for ecosystem, renewable energy source and economy savings.
It is very important to determine the amount of mechanical damage to biomass pellets during handling, transportation, and storage. However, it is difficult to determine the amount of damage to ...biomass pellets caused by existing external forces. However, a useful method is the finite element methods, which can be used in different engineering fields to simulate the posture of the material under defined boundary conditions. In this research, a drop test simulation of biomass pellet samples was performed by using the finite element method. An experimental study (compressive test) was carried out to measure some mechanical properties of the sample and use the obtained data in the finite element method simulation. The stress–strain curve of different biomass pellets was determined. Yield strength, Poisson’s ratio, ultimate strength and modulus of elasticity, and stress were identified. In the end, the maximum equivalent stress, highest contact force (generated normal force from target surface at impact), and shape of deformation of samples at impact were obtained from simulation results. The drop scenario was created with 25 steps after the impact site, and the FEM simulation was solved. The maximum stress value was 9.486 MPa, and the maximum generated force was 485.31 N. at step 8 of the FEM simulation. When the stress magnitudes were assessed, simulation outputs indicated that simulation stress values are inconsistent with experimental data.
This research examined the effectiveness of Biobran as a bioactive substance that could potentially improve wound healing. It also looked at how Biobran affects the properties of a nanofibrous ...scaffold made through coaxial electrospinning. This is the first study exploring the use of Biobran in this context and its interaction with nanofibrous scaffolds. The scaffolds were composed of poly( -caprolactone) (PCL) in the shell and various concentrations of Biobran blended with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in the core. The properties of the scaffolds were characterized by SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, TGA, DSC, stress-strain test, WCA, release test, MTT cytotoxicity assay, wound scratching assay, and the dye exclusion method using trypan blue. The scaffolds loaded with Biobran exhibited a more compact and smooth morphology compared with the scaffold without Biobran. The physical interaction and crystallinity of the polymers in the scaffolds were also affected by Biobran in a concentration-dependent manner. This positively influenced their tensile strength, elongation at break, thermal stability, and hydrophilicity. The porosity, water uptake capacity, and WVTR of the nanofibrous scaffolds are within the optimal ranges for wound healing. The release rate of Biobran, which revealed a biphasic release pattern, decreased with increasing Biobran concentration, resulting in controlled and sustained delivery of Biobran from the nanofiber scaffolds. The cell viability assays showed a dose-dependent effect of Biobran on WISH cells, which might be attributed to the positive effect of Biobran on the physicochemical properties of the nanofibrous scaffolds. These findings suggest that Biobran-loaded core/shell nanofiber scaffolds have a potential application in wound healing as an ideal multifunctional wound dressing.
Biobran encapsulated PCL/PVA core shell nanofibers.
The corrosion inhibition of poly ethylene glycol (PEG) toward the aluminum surface in 1.0M HCl has been studied by weight loss and polarization techniques. The results showed that the PEG acts as a ...good inhibitor and the inhibition efficiency is due to the anodic and cathodic inhibition (mixed type). The thermodynamic functions were calculated to find a good correlation with the inhibition efficiency. Quantum chemical parameters were calculated using ab initio and DFT methods to find a good correlation with the inhibition efficiency. A good correlation was found between the theoretical calculations and experimental observations.
In this paper, a hybrid deep learning neural network controller (HDLNNC) for nonlinear systems is proposed. The proposed controller structure consists of a multi-layer feed-forward neural network, ...which can be trained based on the hybrid deep learning. The Lyapunov stability criterion is used to develop an adaptive learning rate due to the learning rate of the updating parameters plays a worthy role in achieving the stability of a system. To show the robustness of the proposed controller and its performance, several tests such as disturbance signals and parameter variations are carried on a numerical example. In this concern, the practical implementation of the proposed HDLNNC is executed on a real system. The results indicate that the proposed controller is able to improve the system performance compared with other existing controllers.
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