Journals
2025 EN
AbdelFatah Yasmeen Madeeh · Elbarbary Tarek Ali · Ibrahim Ibrahim Ahmed
ABSTRACT The hydrometallurgy processing of copper from electronic waste (e‐waste) by citric and malic acids was studied as a friendly leaching process. Influencing factors, for example, contact time, temperature, pulp density, and acid concentration, were studied. These studies revealed that 98.07% of copper can be dissolved by using 0.5 g e‐waste/100 mL of 3% citric acid at 70°C for 15 h. Whereas, 100% can be leached by using 0.5 g/100 mL of 1% malic acid at 80°C for 20 h. Also, the mechanism of leaching by these acids was studied and found that the leaching process is performed by acidification and complexion reactions. Finally, kinetic studies of copper leaching were studied using the modified shrinking core models.
Journals
2025 EN
Diemer Tanner J. · Nanu Douglas P. · Nguyen Shaun A.
+3 more
Objective To systematically review polysomnographic and cephalometric data in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients with obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m 2 ) treated with maxillomandibular advancement (MMA). Data Sources Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, and The COCHRANE Library. Review Methods A search was performed from inception until April 3, 2024, in each database. Results A total of 14 studies (143 subjects) were included. The mean age was 44.3 years (range: 17–69), 80.2% males (95% CI: 72.5–86.5), mean BMI of 35.3 (95% CI: 33.1–37.5), and mean duration to follow‐up post‐MMA was 13.7 months (95% CI: 10.1–17.3). All objective outcomes improved significantly; overall, apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI) decreased by −57.3 ([95% CI: −71.5 to −43.2], p < 0.0001) lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT) increased by 14.1% ([95% CI: 9.9 to 18.3], p < 0.0001), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) decreased by −9.4 ([95% CI: −13.5 to −5.2], p < 0.0001). Surgical cure was 39.2% (95% CI: 20.3–60.0), and surgical success was 85.6% (95% CI: 77.8–91.5). Comparing percent reduction in class 3 obesity (−92.9%) as compared to class 1 (−85.5%) and class 2 (−83.6%) exhibited a significant difference (1 vs 3 p = 0.0012, 2 vs 3 p = 0.015). Conclusions Our findings suggest that MMA significantly improves subjective and objective outcomes in OSA amongst patients with obesity with results comparable to the overall population. Success rates remained above 80% in studies with the highest mean BMI. In addition, patients with class 3 obesity yielded a significantly increased benefit based on percent reduction in AHI compared with class 1 and 2. Level of Evidence 1 Laryngoscope , 135:507–516, 2025
Journals
2025 EN
Ibrahim Ezzeldin · Gaafar Alaa Hazem · Mehanna Radwa Ali
+2 more
ABSTRACT Objective Acquired laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is notorious for recurrence and the need for repeated procedures to achieve a satisfactory outcome. This limitation is, at least partly, due to the suboptimal healing process of the airway following trauma. Consequently, innovative interventions are required to improve wound healing, which would reflect on improving the outcome of the management of LTS. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of the application of BM‐MSCs in preventing subglottic acute stenosis following trauma. Methods Twenty‐four Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three equal groups ( n = 8): two intervention groups and one control group. Subglottic trauma was performed in the three groups. In the intervention groups, bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs) were applied either systemically (TS group) or via local injection (TL group). Subglottic specimens from the three groups were compared by histopathological appearance, lamina propria (LP) thickness, and luminal anteroposterior (AP) diameter. Results An intense inflammatory reaction was observed in the control specimens, while a mild inflammatory reaction was detected in the two intervention groups. The LP thickness and the AP diameter were significantly different between the control group and the two intervention groups. Conclusions In the present animal model, stem cell application, either systemic or local application, can mitigate subglottic inflammation and stenosis after trauma.
Journals
2025 EN
Alsaggaf Majid Ibrahim
ABSTRACT Understanding the complex connections between land utilization, economic activity, technological development, and carbon emissions will be essential as the world struggles to address climate change and the resulting environmental problems. For empirical analysis, we have used pooled mean group (PMG) and Method of Moment Quantile Regression (MMQR) to precisely capture the details of these relationships across various quantiles. The study uses a balanced panel dataset from 1980 to 2019 that includes 10 emerging nations which are common in G20 and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and China. The study discovers an environmental Kuznets curve with an inverted U form, highlighting the complex link between economic development and environmental degradation in emerging countries. The study also clarifies how internet use, foreign direct investment, and renewable energy (REN) affect environmental consequences at different quantiles. Moreover, the findings confirm the adverse impact of carbon emission, FDI, and REN on land degradation. The findings have implications for sustainable development policy, highlighting the necessity of customized approaches for the distinct contexts and levels of development of every nation.
Journals
2025 EN
Khoshro Hamid Hassaneian · Mohammadzadeh Arash · Eskandari Iraj
+1 more
ABSTRACT In recent times, conservation agriculture (CA) has emerged as a prominent sustainable production method, gaining significant traction among farmers. The objective of this research project was to assess the potential for enhancing the land, water, and energy productivity of four dryland chickpea genotypes through the implementation of three tillage systems over three cropping seasons (2016–2019) in the rainfed conditions of northwest of Iran. The mean values for grain yield (GY), land productivity (LP), rainwater productivity (RWP), and energy productivity (EP) were found to be greater in the third year of the zero‐tillage (ZT) system in comparison to the minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems. In comparison to the CT system, both MT and ZT resulted in significantly reduced energy input values, with a reduction of 19.4% and 34.5%, respectively. The greatest energy‐intensive inputs were diesel fuel (44%), seed (18%), and nitrogen fertilizer (17%), in that order. The findings also indicated that the type of tillage, crop variety and duration of tillage exert an influence on the carbon footprint (CF) and global warming potential (GWP). In this regard, the lowest CF of 0.123 kg CO 2 eq kg −1 was observed in the Zarrin variety under the ZT system. The findings illustrate that the sustainable cultivation of chickpeas in cold, arid, and semi‐arid regions necessitates the expansion of conservation tillage (ZT or MT) and the selection of appropriate crop varieties in dryland chickpea production. These practices enhance land, rainwater, and energy productivity; mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; and enhance carbon efficiency.
Journals
2025 EN
Ibrahim Mona M. · Cavallero Andrea · Zaki Eman R.
+3 more
ABSTRACT This study reports the purification and characterization of protease inhibitors (PIs) from three Egyptian legumes: soybean ( Glycine max ), cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ), and chickpea ( Cicer arietinum ). Their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities were also assessed. PIs were extracted using different buffers: 0.02 M HCl yielded the highest activity for soybean and cowpea, while 0.3 M NaCl was optimal for chickpea. Ammonium sulfate precipitation at 0%–90% saturation was best for soybean and chickpea, whereas 0%–60% was most effective for cowpea. Purification via DEAE‐Sepharose showed that 0.25 M NaCl fractions had the highest total and specific activity across all legumes. Sephadex G‐50 further enhanced specific PIs activity. Electrophoresis revealed bands at 25 kDa (soybean), 45 kDa (cowpea), and 35 kDa (chickpea). PIs showed variable cytotoxicity depending on legume, lyophilization, cell line, and exposure time. Lyophilized soybean PIs significantly reduced human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell viability after 48 h, while nonlyophilized chickpea PIs also affected HepG2. Cowpea PIs notably induced human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT‐29) cell death at higher concentrations; instead, human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells were generally less sensitive, except at high cowpea PI doses. All lyophilized PIs inhibited Bacillus subtilis but were inactive against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas stutzeri .
Journals
2025 EN
Alshehri Hassan · Yousef Medhat · Ibrahim Anas
+2 more
ABSTRACT Objective Conventional hearing aids (HAs) and bone conduction devices have limitations in providing clear and audible sound in some cases and situations. The clinicians' primary purpose is to enhance audibility and intelligibility in hearing, offering a solution for users dissatisfied with current hearing technologies. This study proposes a novel hybrid system and investigates its performance compared to HAs. Methods This pilot study compares the performance of a novel hybrid system with traditional HAs. Ten HA users underwent a prospective intra‐subject study at a tertiary hearing center. Audiological tests measured unaided and aided thresholds across specific frequencies in two conditions (HAs and Hybrid system). Furthermore, subjective outcomes were assessed via a questionnaire on the perceptual consequences. Results The patient's mean age was 36 years. The mean PTA4 values were 63.75, 40.74‐, and 37.88‐dB HL in the unaided, HA‐aided, and Hybrid‐aided groups, respectively. The speech reception thresholds varied significantly between the unaided and (i) aided using HA ( p = 0.0009) and (ii) aided using the Hybrid solution ( p = 0.0001). There is no significant variation between HA and Hybrid solutions ( p < 0.4195). The mean SDS at 65 dB using the HA and Hybrid solution was 87% and 90%, respectively. Conclusion The proposed Hybrid system, combining conventional air‐conduction HAs with bone‐conduction devices, offers promising improvements in sound quality and user satisfaction. Further studies are essential to fully understand the Hybrid system's capabilities and evaluate its ability to avoid the dissatisfaction that could result from HA in some instances. Level of Evidence Prospective cohort study (Level 3).
Journals
2025 EN
Pasha Doron · Abu Aisheh Majd · August Isaac Y.
+1 more
Abstract A concept and demonstration of a fast multispectral imager operating across the visible (Vis) and near‐infrared (NIR) ranges is presented. This system utilizes a specially designed LC tunable metal‐insulator‐metal (MIM) cavity combined with a passive multiband pass filter (MBF). The integration of the MBF with the MIM device, along with advanced artificial intelligence algorithms, provides several key benefits: i) lower production cost, ii) dual functionality of the metal layers as reflectors and electrodes, iii) a richer spectrum exhibiting a larger number of peaks and valleys at reduced thickness, enabling faster switching and robust spectrum reconstruction, iv) a broader operational spectrum, v) higher light throughput as only one polarizer is needed, vi) reduced tolerance requirements on the contrast of the spectrum due to the use of artificial neural nets reconstruction algorithm, and vii) lower operation voltage. The MIM tunable device exhibits as fast as 50 µs stabilization time with an average value of 250 µs, and a total acquisition time of <5 ms, highlighting the potential of this technology for high‐rate multispectral video. The system's applicability is demonstrated in food monitoring, showcasing its potential for real‐time efficient spectral analysis.
Journals
2025 EN
Golshirazi Atefeh · Mohammadzadeh Mahsa · Labbaf Sheyda
Abstract The stratum corneum, which acts as a strong barrier against external agents, presents a significant challenge to transdermal drug delivery. In this regard, microneedle (MN) patches, designed as modern systems for drug delivery via permeation through the skin with the ability to pass through the stratum corneum, are known to be convenient, painless, and effective. In fact, MN have shown significant breakthroughs in transdermal drug delivery, and among the various types, hydrogel MN (HMNs) have demonstrated desirable inherent properties. Despite advancements, issues such as limited loading capacity, uncontrolled drug release rates, and non‐uniform therapeutic approaches persist. Conversely, nanomaterials (NMs) have shown significant promise in medical applications, however, their efficacy and applicability are constrained by challenges including poor stability, low bioavailability, limited payload capacity, and rapid clearance by the immune system. Incorporation of NMs within HMNs offers new prospects to address the challenges associated with HMNs and NMs. This combination can provide a promising field of research for improved and effective delivery of therapeutic agents and mitigate certain adverse effects, addressing current clinical concerns. The current review highlights the use of NMs in HMNs for various therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
Journals
2025 EN
Ibrahim Mai S.Y. · AlHazmi Faten E. · Peeters Marloes
+8 more
ABSTRACT Ion beam and surface analysis complemented with optical and electron microscopy are used to analyze the structure of spin‐coated films of blends of polystyrene and polybutadiene. Both polystyrene and polybutadiene preferentially segregate to the surface depending on the molar mass of the blend, but only the smallest polystyrene chains dominate surface‐enriched layers. Contact angle experiments reveal that the surface energy of the films is dominated by film morphology rather than the surface energy of the individual components. It is concluded that polymer chain mobility in the toluene solvent during spin casting is an important factor in controlling the surface structure.