Urban Emissions of Fine and Ultrafine Particulate Matter in Los Angeles: Sources and Variations in Lung-Deposited Surface Area.

Airborne particulate matter (PM) in urban environments poses significant health risks by penetrating the respiratory system, with concern over lung-deposited surface area (LDSA) as an indicator of particle exposure. This study aimed to investigate the diurnal trends and sources of LDSA, particle number concentration (PNC), elemental carbon (EC), and organic carbon (OC) concentrations in Los Angeles across different seasons to provide a comprehensive understanding of the contributions from primary and secondary sources of ultrafine particles (UFPs). Hourly measurements of PNC and LDSA were conducted using the DiSCmini and Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS), while OC and EC concentrations were measured using the Sunset Lab EC/OC Monitor.

Laser-Driven Dissection Achieves Earlier Continence Recovery Than Blunt Dissection During Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate.

Objectives: During holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HOLEP), blunt dissection (BD) by pushing the tip of the scope may exert mechanical force on the sphincter that could be avoided by adopting laser dissection (LD). This study evaluates the continence recovery in consecutive patients who underwent BD and LD.

Methods: A prospective cohort of patients who underwent LD was compared with a retrospective control that underwent BD.

Impacts of Ramadan fasting during pregnancy on pregnancy and birth outcomes: An umbrella review.

Background: Despite a large number of primary research studies, and systematic and narrative reviews, there is no consensus on the impact of fasting during Ramadan while pregnant on pregnancy and birth outcomes. Currently, there is no evidence-based guideline for Muslim women regarding Ramadan fasting during pregnancy and clinicians cannot provide firm recommendations.

Objectives: To review the current evidence regarding the impact of Ramadan fasting during pregnancy on pregnancy and birth outcomes.

NiCr-LDH/VC MXene nanocomposites as an efficient electrocatalyst for urea oxidation.

The quest for highly efficient electrocatalysts for direct urea fuel cells (DUFCs) is vital in addressing the energy deficits and environmental crisis. Ni-based LDHs are widely known for their substantial capability in urea oxidation reactions (UOR). This study involved the synthesis of NiCr-LDH/VC MXene nanocomposites (NCVs) and the evaluation of their electrochemical efficiency towards UOR.

Unraveling the Atomistic Mechanism of Electrostatic Lateral Association of Peptide β-Sheet Structures and Its Role in Nanofiber Growth and Hydrogelation.

Guiding molecular assembly of peptides into rationally engineered nanostructures remains a major hurdle against the development of functional peptide-based nanomaterials. Various non-covalent interactions come into play to drive the formation and stabilization of these assemblies, of which electrostatic interactions are key. Here, the atomistic mechanisms by which electrostatic interactions contribute toward controlling self-assembly and lateral association of ultrashort β-sheet forming peptides are deciphered.

Environmental triggers and ecological implications of a harmful algal bloom in the northern Arabian/Persian Gulf: Insights into the driving forces and consequences.

The Arabian/Persian Gulf, a marginal sea of the northern Indian Ocean, has been significantly impacted by human activities, leading to a rise in harmful algal blooms (HABs). This study investigates the summer blooming of an ichthyotoxic phytoflagellate Chattonella marina var. antiqua and associated fish-kill in Kuwaiti waters, connecting the events to a previous dust storm and eutrophication status in the coastal waters of the Northern Arabian Gulf (NAG).

Prophylactic direct oral anticoagulants vs. low molecular weight heparin after urological surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of using prophylactic direct oral anti-coagulants (DOAC) and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) after major urologic surgery.

Materials And Methods: Systematic literature searches of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL were performed up to 9 November 2023, and protocols were registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024494424). The primary outcomes were post-operative incidence of VTE and bleeding.

Sarcocystis Cymruensis in the Brown Rat (Rattus Norvegicus) from an Urban District in Kuwait: Detailed Morphologic and Molecular Characterization.

Purpose: The objective of the study was to establish the prevalence of Sarcocystis (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in brown rats from Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Kuwait, and to describe detected parasites using morphological and DNA analysis methods.

Methods: Ninety-eight brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) were examined for Sarcocystis spp. Obtained sarcocysts were investigated using light microscopy and electron microscopy.

Comparative Evolutionary Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron Variants in Kuwait.

Continuous surveillance is critical for early intervention against emerging novel SARS-CoV-2 variants. Therefore, we investigated and compared the variant-specific evolutionary epidemiology of all the Delta and Omicron sequences collected between 2021 and 2023 in Kuwait. We used Bayesian phylodynamic models to reconstruct, trace, and compare the two variants' demographics, phylogeographic, and host characteristics in shaping their evolutionary epidemiology.

Integrating Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, and BPL Technologies for a Secure Indoor Communication System.

In today's digital age, there is an increasing demand for integrated wireless and wired technologies; however, there is a difficulty in achieving secure and reliable communications within buildings and facilities. This paper presents a proposal for maintaining the infrastructure while expanding it to implement communication technologies with high transmission and reception speeds and high levels of data confidentiality to enhance the operational efficiency of organizations. Three main technologies have emerged as promising solutions for this purpose: Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, and BPL.

Bovine Colostrum in Pediatric Nutrition and Health.

Bovine colostrum (BC), the first milk secreted by mammals after birth, is a trending alternative source for supplementing infants and children, offering benefits for gut and immune health. Its rich components, such as proteins, immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, and glycans, are used to fortify diets and support development. Preterm development is crucial, especially in the maturation of essential systems, and from 2010 to 2020, approximately 15% of all premature births occurred at less than 32 weeks of gestation worldwide.

Coffee and Cardiovascular Health: A Review of Literature.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and is on the rise. Diet is considered to be a key modifiable risk factor for reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Dietary approaches have proved advantageous for preventing disease morbidity and mortality but tend to focus on fruit, vegetables, fiber, lean protein and healthy fats.

ANN-QSAR, Molecular Docking, ADMET Predictions, and Molecular Dynamics Studies of Isothiazole Derivatives to Design New and Selective Inhibitors of HCV Polymerase NS5B.

RNA polymerase (NS5B), serves as a crucial target for pharmaceutical interventions aimed at combating the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which poses significant health challenges worldwide. The present research endeavors to explore and implement a variety of advanced molecular modeling techniques that aim to create and identify innovative and highly effective inhibitors that specifically target the RNA polymerase enzyme. In this study, a QSAR investigation was carried out on a set of thirty-eight isothiazole derivatives targeting NS5B inhibition and thus hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment.

Targeting mTOR Kinase with Natural Compounds: Potent ATP-Competitive Inhibition Through Enhanced Binding Mechanisms.

: The mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is a central regulator of cell growth, proliferation, metabolism, and survival. Dysregulation of mTOR signaling contributes to many human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Therefore, inhibitors against mTOR's catalytic kinase domain (KD) have been developed and have shown significant antitumor activities, making it a promising therapeutic target.

Altered Cellular Metabolism Is a Consequence of Loss of the Ataxia-Linked Protein Sacsin.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in the pathogenesis of the neurological condition autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS), yet precisely how the mitochondrial metabolism is affected is unknown. Thus, to better understand changes in the mitochondrial metabolism caused by loss of the sacsin protein (encoded by the SACS gene, which is mutated in ARSACS), we performed mass spectrometry-based tracer analysis, with both glucose- and glutamine-traced carbon. Comparing the metabolite profiles between wild-type and sacsin-knockout cell lines revealed increased reliance on aerobic glycolysis in sacsin-deficient cells, as evidenced by the increase in lactate and reduction of glucose.

Association Between Severe Periodontitis and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults.

(1) Background: Periodontal disease, a progressive inflammatory condition, disrupts the oral microbiome and releases inflammatory cytokines, leading to systemic issues, including cognitive decline. This study investigates the association between severe periodontitis and cognitive decline, exploring the role of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an enzyme linked to systemic inflammation, as an effect modifier. (2) Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Application of the U-Net Deep Learning Model for Segmenting Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Myocardial Perfusion Images.

Background: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is a type of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) used to evaluate patients with suspected or confirmed coronary artery disease (CAD). Detection and diagnosis of CAD are complex processes requiring precise and accurate image processing. Proper segmentation is critical for accurate diagnosis, but segmentation issues can pose significant challenges, leading to diagnostic difficulties.

The role of taxation in environmental sustainability in G-20 economies: A double dividend theoretical assessment.

This study analyses the influence of environmental taxes, renewable energy, economic growth, green innovation and financial development on environmental sustainability in G-20 countries from 1990 to 2022. To this end, the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) was applied to obtain the reference results, complemented with Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) and Driscoll-Kraay techniques to perform a comparative analysis. Our results confirm a negative relationship between environmental taxes and sustainability in all quantiles, although this relationship is only significant in the middle and upper quantiles.

Exploring the relationship between trauma, mental health, and occupational performance in health science center students.

Introduction: Attending university marks a pivotal yet stressful phase in students' lives, characterized by significant adjustments to a new environment that can impact mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The journey through the acceptance and admissions process into university introduces substantial challenges, academic performance and changes to daily life. Such challenges and corresponding conditions can be intensified for students entering university with prior traumatic experiences.

Motivational orientation and perception of active learning instruction by pre-service language teachers.

This study investigates the impact of active learning instruction on the motivational orientation of pre-service language teachers. The data were collected by using the AGQ-R and the StRIP questionnaire, and analyzed through repeated measures of MANOVAs and correlation coefficient. Pre-service language teachers reported a higher approach goal orientation emphasizing the desire to succeed rather than avoidance goal orientation, i.

Investigations on the synthesis and characterization of silver-doped MoO thin films for photocatalytic applications.

In this study, we aimed to enhance the photocatalytic performance of molybdenum oxide (MoO) thin films by doping with silver (Ag) via a spray pyrolysis technique. The primary objective for silver incorporation was intended to introduce additional energy levels into the band structure of MoO, improving its efficiency. Structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical spectroscopy.