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•Novel highly porous Ba3Ti4Nb4O21 plasmonic perovskite nanofibers were fabricated.•The fabricated nanofibers were tested as anodes in full solar cell devices.•The porosity of the ...nanofibers increases with increasing the annealing temperature.•The impedance decreases with increasing the annealing temperature.•The efficiency depends mainly on the porosity and crystallinity of the Ba3Ti4Nb4O21 nanofibers.
Ternary oxides are considered promising electrode materials for light harvesting devices due to their optical and electronic properties that can be tuned by controlling their composition and doping ratio. Herein, a facile approach is demonstrated to fabricate ternary oxide perovskite nanofibers (NFs) and their investigation investigated as efficient electrode materials in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The fabricated electrospun hexagonal perovskite-like (A3B8O21) nanofibers are made of several small single crystals that are connected together to several micrometers in length. Upon sintering to 650 ⁰C, highly porous perovskite nanofibers were obtained, which increased the dye adsorption capacity of the nanofibers and in turn resulted in higher photoconversion efficiency than the traditional nanotubes counterparts. The crystallinity, chemical, and thermal characteristics of the fabricated NFs were investigated using XRD, SEM, TEM, and TGA analyses. Moreover, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) measurements were used to evaluate the effect of annealing temperature on the pore size and the overall surface area of the NFs. The fabricated nanofibers were used to construct full solar cell devices, revealing enhancement in the overall performance as indicated via the photocurrent-voltage curves. This enhancement is mainly related to the higher adsorption rate of the dye on the nanofibers surface. Highly porous electrospun nanofibers are good platforms that should be useful for the future development of solar cell devices.
Current guidelines advocate for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in adults who are at risk by using direct visualization methods such as colonoscopy. However, in Egypt, there is a paucity of data ...regarding the current practice of colonoscopy screening. Moreover, more information is needed about the knowledge and attitudes of potential participants regarding the procedure and possible barriers that can limit their participation.
We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study using an interview-based survey of patients aged 45 years or above who presented to outpatient clinics of nine university hospitals throughout Egypt. Participants were surveyed to assess their compliance with CRC colonoscopy screening guidelines, their knowledge of and attitude towards colonoscopy screening, and their perspective on potential barriers to colonoscopy screening.
A total of 1,453 participants responded to our survey in the nine study centers. Only a minority of participants (2.3%) were referred for CRC screening. Referral rates were higher among those who knew someone with a history of CRC (5.3% vs 1.5%, p < 0.001) or had a discussion with their physician about CRC (25.8% vs 0.7%, p < 0.001). Few responders (3.2%) had good knowledge regarding CRC screening. After introducing the concept of CRC screening to all participants, most patients (66.7%) showed a positive attitude towards having the procedure. Financial burden and fear of results were the two most frequently cited barriers to undergoing CRC screening (81.1%; and 60.1%, respecteively).
Despite the positive attitude, there is insufficient knowledge about CRC screening among eligible participants in Egypt. This has probably contributed to low compliance with current CRC screening guidelines and needs to be addressed at the national level.
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•Oxynitride perovskites are investigated for photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction.•They have small electron and hole effective masses, rendering higher mobility.•The effect of cation ...size on the band gap is investigated and discussed.•W-doping allowed the selection of specific CO2 reduction products.
The photocatalytic conversion of CO2 into chemical fuels is an attractive route for recycling this greenhouse gas. However, the large scale application of such approach is limited by the low selectivity and activity of the currently used photocatalysts. Using first principles calculations, we report on the selection of optimum oxynitride perovskites as photocatalysts for photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction. The results revealed six perovskites that perfectly straddle the carbon dioxide redox potential; namely, BaTaO2N, SrTaO2N, CaTaO2N, LaTiO2N, BaNbO2N, and SrNbO2N. The electronic structure and the effective mass of the selected candidates are discussed in details, the partial and total density of states illustrated the orbital hybridization and the contribution of each element in the valence and conduction band minima. The effect of cation size in the ABO2N perovskites on the band gap is investigated and discussed. The optical properties of the selected perovskites are calculated to account for their photoactivity. Moreover, the effect of W doping on improving the selectivity of perovskites toward specific hydrocarbon product (methane) is discussed in details. This study reveals the promising optical and structural properties of oxynitride perovskite candidates for CO2 photoreduction.
Abstract
Background
Omega-3 may alleviate the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by reducing the C-reactive protein (CRP) level, a marker for systemic inflammation. Because the ...scientific evidence indicating such a role is inconsistent, we aimed to evaluate the effect of Omega-3 on CRP change and CRP level in patients with COVID-19.
Methods
We conducted a comprehensive search on four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Scopus). We included all RCTs comparing Omega-3 with a control group regarding their effect on the CRP levels in patients with COVID-19. We used version two of the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool to appraise the included studies. We extracted data to an online data extraction sheet. The primary outcomes were CRP change from baseline and CRP serum levels.
Results
We included four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 274 patients in this study. The overall effect estimate favored Omega-3 over the control group in terms of CRP change from baseline (mean difference (MD) =− 2.53, 95% confidence interval (CI): − 4.40, − 0.66) and CRP serum levels at the end of the study (MD =− 6.24, 95% CI: − 11.93, − 0.54).
Conclusion
Omega-3 showed promising effects on systemic inflammation by reducing CRP levels in COVID-19 patients. Based on this finding, we recommend Omega-3 for COVID-19 patients for its anti-inflammatory actions.
BackgroundVaccination of healthcare workers (HCWs) is pivotal in decreasing the incidence of contagious infections in hospital settings. In this study, we assessed the knowledge, attitude, and ...practice regarding HCWs’ recommended vaccines among medical students and interns in Egypt.MethodsA multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured, pilot-tested, and self-administered questionnaire among Egyptian medical students and interns. We invited 1332 participants to our survey using a systematic random sampling that included participants across nine medical schools in Egypt during the 2021–2022 academic year.ResultsOut of 1332 participants, 1141 completed our questionnaire with a response rate of 85.7%. Overall, 43% of the participants had intermediate knowledge (knew 2–3 HCWs’ recommended vaccines). Furthermore, 36.7% had received a booster dose of at least one of the HCWs’ recommended vaccines over the last 10 years, with only 6.1% having received all recommended vaccines. Hepatitis B vaccine was the most widely known (71%) and received (66.7%). Interns were more likely to know, receive, and recommend HCWs’ recommended vaccines. The majority (> 90%) agreed that vaccination is beneficial and safe, with a median score of eight (interquartile range IQR: Q25-Q75: 7–9) out of ten for vaccine efficacy and eight (IQR: 7–8) for safety. However, the median score for hesitancy was five (IQR: 2–7). The most common influential and limiting factors for vaccination were scientific facts (60.1%) and fear of vaccine side effects (44.9%).ConclusionAlthough medical students in Egypt have good knowledge of and attitudes towards vaccination, there is a gap in their practices. Interventions are needed to improve vaccination uptake among medical students in Egypt.
We demonstrate, for the first time, the synthesis of highly ordered niobium oxynitride microcones as an attractive class of materials for visible-light-driven water splitting. As revealed by the ...ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), photoelectrochemical and transient photocurrent measurements, the microcones showed enhanced performance (~1000% compared to mesoporous niobium oxide) as photoanodes for water splitting with remarkable stability and visible light activity.
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•Highly crystalline niobium oxynitride microcones were fabricated.•The microcones show exceptional stability upon their annealing in ammonia atmosphere.•NbON microcones show photocurrent more than 480% that reported for NbON thin film.•NbON microcones show photocurrent 1000% more than that for mesoporous N-doped Nb2O5.•NbON microcones show enhanced absorption in the visible region of the light spectra.
We present a comprehensive roadmap for the precise control of the dimensions and optical properties of anodically fabricated zirconia nanotubes. The effects of anodization time, applied voltage, ...solvent composition, as well as fluoride and water content are investigated. The length of the resulting nanotubes showed a strong dependence on the concentration and mobility of F
−
ions, whilst O
2−
ion content was found to play a key role in controlling the nanotube wall thickness. A new insight into the formation of Zirconia nanotubes is introduced and discussed based on the Point Defect Model (PDM). Also, the energy consumption in the fabrication process of the nanostructured electrodes is modelled based on the involved thermodynamics and kinetic aspects. The effect of the dimensions of the nanotubes on the optical characteristics of the arrays was studied using Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD). The results show a decrease in transmittance with increasing length and wall thickness, and decreasing pore size of the nanotubes. The reported results provide deep insight into the structure–property relationships of ZrO
2
nanotubes, which will be of great help in large-scale industrial applications.
•Most osteoarthritis treatments are based on controlling symptoms and reducing pain and they exhibit modest safety and efficacy.•Many sources of mesenchymal cells like bone marrow cells exhibit ...promising effects. However, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) tend to be superior.•ADMSCs were associated with significant pain reductions, improvement in the quality of life and knee functions, and achieving disease modification in patients with knee osteoarthritis.•Large sample-sized randomized controlled trials with a long-term follow-up period are needed to implement ADMSCs in routine clinical practice and establish guidelines for their use.
This research aimed to study the safety and efficacy of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) for knee osteoarthritis (OA).
We used six databases to search for records and then screened them for eligibility. In both randomized and non-randomized studies, the risk of bias was assessed. The data were then retrieved and used in single-arm and double-arm analyses using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) Version 3.0 and RevMan Version 5.3, respectively.
Based on the study's inclusion criteria, we included 15 studies with a total of 463 patients. According to our single-arm analyses, there was a significant improvement in quality of life (QOL) among the three dose subgroups (high, medium, and low doses), as measured by SF-36 scores after a year of follow-up low dose: mean (M)=−23.99; 95% confidence interval (CI) −31.49 to −16.49; P<0.001; medium dose: M=−15.96; 95% CI −23.5 to−8.42; P<0.001; high dose: M=−19.31; 95% CI −28.02 to −10.59, P<0.001 and the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) QOL sub-score after six months following ADMSCs injection in the low-dose group (M=24.9; 95% CI 4.3 to 45.6; P<0.05). Moreover, after three months of follow-up, we detected significant pain reduction as measured by the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), with no significant difference between the low and medium doses (low dose: M=−3.12; 95% CI −5.09 to −1.14; P<0.01; medium dose; M=−2.17; 95% CI −3.13 to −1.21; P<0.001). However, after a year, the results were no longer significant. Despite finding no significant difference between them after 6 and 12 months post-treatment in the Visual Analogue scale (VAS) scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) total score, double-arm analyses revealed significant pain reduction in the ADMSCs group over the control after 12 months as estimated by the WOMAC pain sub-score (mean difference (MD)=−1.85, 95% CI −3.55, −0.15, P<0.05). After six months, the low dosage group's knee functions and activity levels improved significantly, as determined by the WOMAC physical function and stiffness subscales (M=−23.79; 95% CI −38.43 to −9.16; P=0.001; M=−10.25; 95% CI −17.31 to −2.59; P<0.01, respectively), as well as the KOOS scores after a year (P<0.01 for all KOOS subscales). In the ADMSCs injections group, there were no serious adverse effects event rate (ER)=0.11; 95% CI 0.03–0.3; P=0.001.
In the present single-arm meta-analysis, ADMSCs were associated with significant reduction in pain and improvement in QOL and knee functions in patients with knee OA. However, double arm analyses did not confirm these positive findings, which may be returned to the small sample size of included patients. Therefore, to introduce ADMSCs into clinical practice and establish guidelines for their use, more randomized controlled clinical trials with large sample sizes and long-term follow-ups are needed.
Objectives
We aimed to assess undergraduate medical students’ knowledge, attitude, and perception regarding artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine.
Methods
A multi-national, multi-center ...cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2022, targeting undergraduate medical students in nine Arab countries. The study utilized a web-based questionnaire, with data collection carried out with the help of national leaders and local collaborators. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of knowledge, attitude, and perception among the participants. Additionally, cluster analysis was employed to identify shared patterns within their responses.
Results
Of the 4492 students surveyed, 92.4% had not received formal AI training. Regarding AI and deep learning (DL), 87.1% exhibited a low level of knowledge. Most students (84.9%) believed AI would revolutionize medicine and radiology, with 48.9% agreeing that it could reduce the need for radiologists. Students with high/moderate AI knowledge and training had higher odds of agreeing to endorse AI replacing radiologists, reducing their numbers, and being less likely to consider radiology as a career compared to those with low knowledge/no AI training. Additionally, the majority agreed that AI would aid in the automated detection and diagnosis of pathologies.
Conclusions
Arab medical students exhibit a notable deficit in their knowledge and training pertaining to AI. Despite this, they hold a positive perception of AI implementation in medicine and radiology, demonstrating a clear understanding of its significance for the healthcare system and medical curriculum.
Clinical relevance statement
This study highlights the need for widespread education and training in artificial intelligence for Arab medical students, indicating its significance for healthcare systems and medical curricula.
Key Points
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Arab medical students demonstrate a significant knowledge and training gap when it comes to using AI in the fields of medicine and radiology
.
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Arab medical students recognize the importance of integrating AI into the medical curriculum. Students with a deeper understanding of AI were more likely to agree that all medical students should receive AI education. However, those with previous AI training were less supportive of this idea
.
•
Students with moderate/high AI knowledge and training displayed increased odds of agreeing that AI has the potential to replace radiologists, reduce the demand for their services, and were less inclined to pursue a career in radiology, when compared to students with low knowledge/no AI training
.
ObjectivesWe aimed to assess undergraduate medical students’ knowledge, attitude, and perception regarding artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine.MethodsA multi-national, multi-center ...cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2022, targeting undergraduate medical students in nine Arab countries. The study utilized a web-based questionnaire, with data collection carried out with the help of national leaders and local collaborators. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of knowledge, attitude, and perception among the participants. Additionally, cluster analysis was employed to identify shared patterns within their responses.ResultsOf the 4492 students surveyed, 92.4% had not received formal AI training. Regarding AI and deep learning (DL), 87.1% exhibited a low level of knowledge. Most students (84.9%) believed AI would revolutionize medicine and radiology, with 48.9% agreeing that it could reduce the need for radiologists. Students with high/moderate AI knowledge and training had higher odds of agreeing to endorse AI replacing radiologists, reducing their numbers, and being less likely to consider radiology as a career compared to those with low knowledge/no AI training. Additionally, the majority agreed that AI would aid in the automated detection and diagnosis of pathologies.ConclusionsArab medical students exhibit a notable deficit in their knowledge and training pertaining to AI. Despite this, they hold a positive perception of AI implementation in medicine and radiology, demonstrating a clear understanding of its significance for the healthcare system and medical curriculum.Clinical relevance statementThis study highlights the need for widespread education and training in artificial intelligence for Arab medical students, indicating its significance for healthcare systems and medical curricula.Key Points• Arab medical students demonstrate a significant knowledge and training gap when it comes to using AI in the fields of medicine and radiology.• Arab medical students recognize the importance of integrating AI into the medical curriculum. Students with a deeper understanding of AI were more likely to agree that all medical students should receive AI education. However, those with previous AI training were less supportive of this idea.• Students with moderate/high AI knowledge and training displayed increased odds of agreeing that AI has the potential to replace radiologists, reduce the demand for their services, and were less inclined to pursue a career in radiology, when compared to students with low knowledge/no AI training.
