Harnessing the Potential of Natural Composites in Biomedical 3D Printing.

Natural composites are emerging as promising alternative materials for 3D printing in biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, sustainability, and unique mechanical properties. The use of natural composites offers several advantages, including reduced environmental impact, enhanced biodegradability, and improved tissue compatibility. These materials can be processed into filaments or resins suitable for various 3D printing techniques, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM).

Management of Breast Cancer by Skin-Reducing Mastectomy and Immediate Breast Reconstruction by Prepectoral Implant Approach with Polypropylene Mesh for Patients with Large Breasts.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and outcomes of immediate breast reconstruction using a dermal sling and polypropylene mesh for fixation after skin-reducing mastectomy with prepectoral prosthesis placement in patients with large breasts who were diagnosed with cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study included demographic and clinical data from female patients with breast cancer and large breasts, who were candidates for skin-reducing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. Data regarding operative technique, implant size, operative duration, and intraoperative complications were retrieved.

Floods of Egypt's Nile in the 21st century.

Extreme precipitation and flooding events are rising globally, necessitating a thorough understanding and sustainable management of water resources. One such setting is the Nile River's source areas, where high precipitation has led to the filling of Lake Nasser (LN) twice (1998-2003; 2019-2022) in the last two decades and the diversion of overflow to depressions west of the Nile, where it is lost mainly to evaporation. Using temporal satellite-based data, climate models, and continuous rainfall-runoff models, we identified the primary contributor to increased runoff that reached LN in the past two decades and assessed the impact of climate change on the LN's runoff throughout the twenty-first century.

Effects of Pichia manshurica yeast supplementation on ruminal fermentation, nutrient degradability, and greenhouse gas emissions in aflatoxin B1 contaminated diets.

Yeast feed additives present a natural approach for mitigating ruminal greenhouse gases (GHG) in an environmentally sustainable manner. This study aimed to isolate yeast strains from ruminal fluids capable of reducing GHG from Aflatoxin (AFB1) contaminated diets. Two isolates of Pichia manchuria (FFNLYFC1 and FFNLYFC2) were isolated and identified from the ruminal contents of dairy Zaraibi goats.

Influence of multi-stress factors on the growth of Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus abundans using response surface methodology.

This study evaluated the biofuel production potential of two algal species, Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus abundans, under stress conditions induced by nutrient supplementation or starvation at varying light intensities. Central composite face-centered design response surface methodology (CCFD-RSM) was employed to optimize stress conditions by varying the sodium nitrate (NaNO), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KHPO), dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (KHPO), cultivation time, and light intensity. The study included both C.

Eliciting debriefing experiences: A scoping review.

Debriefing is a process in physical or online learning that encourages learners to reflect on their own learning experiences. Effective questioning techniques and evoking positive experiences are methods for regulating and guiding students toward an environment that promotes mental health. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify effective debriefing questioning techniques and experiences for addressing the three presences in the Community of Inquiry framework, namely social presence, cognitive presence, and instructor presence, among learners in an educational or occupational setting.

Watching the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam from a distance: Implications for sustainable water management of the Nile water.

Increased demands for sustainable water and energy resources in densely populated basins have led to the construction of dams, which impound waters in artificial reservoirs. In many cases, scarce field data led to the development of models that underestimated the seepage losses from reservoirs and ignored the role of extensive fault networks as preferred pathways for groundwater flow. We adopt an integrated approach (remote sensing, hydrologic modeling, and field observations) to assess the magnitude and nature of seepage from such systems using the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa's largest hydropower project, as a test site.

A systematic review of the role of integrated farming and the participation of universities in ensuring food security: Malaysia's effort.

Food security is critical for promoting health and well-being and achieving sustainable development, especially in developing countries. Despite the recent efforts to improve it, food security is still a concern due to the rapid increase in populations, conflicts, and natural disasters worldwide. Universities, particularly agricultural universities, play an essential role in addressing food security issues by researching, developing new technologies, and providing education and training to farmers and other stakeholders.

Characterization and isolation method of Gigantochloa scortechinii (Buluh Semantan) cellulose nanocrystals.

This study explored the impact of sodium hydroxide and benzoylation treatment on the production of cellulose nanocrystals from Semantan bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii). Bamboo cellulose nanocrystals (BCNs) were obtained via acid hydrolysis, with the effectiveness of an isolation method and chemical treatments demonstrated in removing non-cellulosic constituents. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a crystalline cellulose II structure for benzoylated BCN (B) and a crystalline cellulose I structure for NaOH-treated BCN (S), with BCN (S) exhibiting a higher crystallinity index (80.

BECN1 mRNA expression in breast cancer tissue; significant correlation to tumor grade.

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogenous disease with multiple pathways implicated in its development, progression, and drug resistance. Autophagy, a cellular process responsible for self-digestion of damaged organelles, had been recognized as eminent player in cancer progression and chemotherapeutic resistance. The haploinsufficiency of Beclin 1 (BECN1), autophagy protein, is believed to contribute to cancer pathogenesis and progression.

Ultrasound guided quadratus lumborum block versus interlaminar epidural block for analgesia in pediatric abdominal surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although the efficacy and safety of epidural block (EB) are fairly high, complications such as inadvertent dural puncture may limit its use. Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a relatively new regional technique that provides perioperative somatic and visceral analgesia for pediatric patients. This trial compared the quality of pain relief in pediatric patients undergoing abdominal surgery who received either QLB or EB.

Fatigue and Impact Properties of Kenaf/Glass-Reinforced Hybrid Pultruded Composites for Structural Applications.

To address the weight, cost, and sustainability associated with fibreglass application in structural composites, plant fibres serve as an alternative to reduce and replace the usage of glass fibres. However, there remains a gap in the comprehensive research on plant fibre composites, particularly in their durability for viable structural applications. This research investigates the fatigue and impact properties of pultruded kenaf/glass-reinforced hybrid polyester composites tailored for structural applications.

Experimental Investigation on the Corrosion Detectability of A36 Low Carbon Steel by the Method of Phased Array Corrosion Mapping.

Petrochemical plants use on-stream inspection often to detect and monitor the corrosion on the equipment and piping system. Compared to ultrasonic thickness gauging and pulse-echo A-scan, phased array corrosion mapping has better coverability and can scan a large area to detect general and localized corrosion. This paper's objective is to obtain documentary evidence for the accuracy of corrosion detection from 30 °C to 250 °C on A36 low-carbon steel by carrying out simulation experiments every 10 °C step.

Ultrasonic Velocity and Attenuation of Low-Carbon Steel at High Temperatures.

On-stream inspections are the most appropriate method for routine inspections during plant operation without undergoing production downtime. Ultrasonic inspection, one of the on-stream inspection methods, faces challenges when performed at high temperatures exceeding the recommended 52 °C. This study aims to determine the ultrasonic velocity and attenuation with known material grade, thickness, and temperatures by comparing theoretical calculation and experimentation, with temperatures ranging between 30 °C to 250 °C on low-carbon steel, covering most petrochemical equipment material and working conditions.

Exploring Prajnamitra Maitreya Buddhists School Pekanbaru: Do leadership, work environment, and organisational culture influence the teachers' competence and work performance?

School administration must pay attention to professional teachers' roles rather than nonprofessional teachers as part of important human resources in imparting learning. This study aims to analyse the influence of leadership, work environment, and organisational culture on the teachers' competence and performance in Prajnamitra Maitreya Foundation Pekanbaru, Indonesia. A total of 57 teachers participated in this research.

Improvement in Erectile Dysfunction Among Male Obese Patient, Following Bariatric Surgery in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HUKM).

Purpose: Obesity is associated with multiple health-related complications and affects various aspects of life, including erectile dysfunction (ED). The aim of this study is to postulate that erectile dysfunction in male obese patients can be reversed following bariatric surgery.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a non-randomized quasi-experimental study (prospective) between 2 groups, those who underwent surgery with the control group.

Emerging mercury and methylmercury contamination from new artisanal and small-scale gold mining along the Nile Valley, Egypt.

The past decade witnessed the initiation and boom of the Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) activities in the hyper-arid southern Egypt. The ores are mined in the Eastern Desert and then transported to the densely populated farming communities in the Nile Valley, where the river provides the water resources needed for ore processing. In search for economic benefits, the poorly educated farmers with limited technical resources transformed their cultivated lands into ASGM operations, exposing themselves, their families, the residents, and the Nile ecosystems to several environmental and occupational health problems.

Facile and highly precise pH-value estimation using common pH paper based on machine learning techniques and supported mobile devices.

Numerous scientific, health care, and industrial applications are showing increasing interest in developing optical pH sensors with low-cost, high precision that cover a wide pH range. Although serious efforts, the development of high accuracy and cost-effectiveness, remains challenging. In this perspective, we present the implementation of the machine learning technique on the common pH paper for precise pH-value estimation.

Potential of montmorillonite modified by an organosulfur surfactant for reducing aflatoxin B1 toxicity and ruminal methanogenesis in vitro.

Background: Montmorillonite clay modified by organosulfur surfactants possesses high cation exchange capacity (CEC) and adsorption capacity than their unmodified form (UM), therefore they may elevate the adverse impact of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on ruminal fermentation and methanogenesis. Chemical and mechanical modifications were used to innovate the organically modified nano montmorillonite (MNM). The UM was modified using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and grounded to obtain the nanoscale particle size form.

Thermal degradation, visco-elastic and fire-retardant behavior of hybrid /kenaf fiber-reinforced MWCNT-modified phenolic composites.

Natural fibers have emerged as a potential alternate to synthetic fibers, because of their excellent performance, biodegradability, renewability and sustainability. This research has focused on investigating the thermal, visco-elastic and fire-retardant properties of different hybrid Cytostachys Renda (CR)/kenaf fiber () (50/0; 35/ 15, 25/25, 15/ 35, 0/50)-reinforced MWCNT (multi-walled carbon nanotubes)-modified phenolic composites. The mass% of MWCNT-modified phenolic resin was maintained 50 mass% including 0.

Selection of Natural Fibre for Pultruded Hybrid Synthetic/Natural Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites Using Analytical Hierarchy Process for Structural Applications.

Application of synthetic fibres in composites has been raising environmental issues due to carbon emissions from the production site and reliability on non-renewable resources upon production. Hence, this research sets as a preliminary study to select suitable natural fibres to be hybridized with glass fibres for the development of sustainable and high-performance hybrid composites as potential alternative to conventional pultruded fibreglass composites in structural profile applications. In this study, analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was conducted to select the ideal natural fibre as reinforcement in the hybrid pultruded FRP composites suitable for structural applications.

Review of Recent Efforts in Cooling Photovoltaic Panels (PVs) for Enhanced Performance and Better Impact on the Environment.

The global need for energy has grown in tandem with mankind's development and spread. This has resulted in an increase in the use of fossil energy sources, a decline in these sources and an increase in pollution, necessitating the search for renewable energy sources. One of the important ways to reduce pollution resulting from the increasing consumption of fossil energy is to enhance the sources of solar energy, of which photovoltaic cells (PV) are one of its most important tools.

A Review on the Effect of Fabric Reinforcement on Strength Enhancement of Natural Fiber Composites.

The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of reinforcements on the strength of natural fiber composites. Recent advancements in natural fiber composites have minimized the usage of man-made fibers, especially in the field of structural applications such as aircraft stiffeners and rotor blades. However, large variations in the strength and modulus of natural fiber degrade the properties of the composites and lower the safety level of the structures under dynamic load.