Dr Mohammed Mahmoud Youssif

This study investigates the collision model of cassava seed stems in precision planters. Utilizing a physical property analyzer and a custom test platform based on collision dynamics principles, we measured and analyzed the forces and recovery coefficients of seed stem collisions. Mixed orthogonal and one-way tests were conducted to identify the main factors affecting the collision recovery coefficient of seed stems, including collision contact material, drop height, seed stem mass, moisture content, drop direction, and seed stem variety. The results from the orthogonal tests indicated that the factors influencing the collision recovery coefficient were ranked as follows: collision contact material > drop height > seed stem mass > moisture content > drop direction > seed stem variety. Notably, the effects of impact contact material, drop height, stem mass, and moisture content were significant, while the effects of drop direction and seed stem variety were relatively insignificant. The one-way test results revealed that the collision recovery coefficients for cassava seed stems with structural steel Q235, rubber sheet, seed stems, and sandy loam soil decreased progressively, with values for SC205 being 0.8172, 0.6975, 0.6649, and 0.6341, respectively, and values for GR4 being 0.7796, 0.7132, 0.6913, and 0.6134, respectively. Furthermore, as drop height increased, the collision recovery coefficient of cassava seed stems decreased; similarly, higher stem mass and moisture content correlated with lower coefficients. To minimize impact during critical stages of cassava planting, transportation, and processing, materials with lower recovery coefficients should be prioritized in equipment design. Incorporating rubber coatings can effectively mitigate collision effects in components such as seed supply and planting mechanisms. These findings provide valuable insights for designing and enhancing key mechanical features in machinery used for planting, transporting, and processing cassava.

CONTEXT: Insulin resistance and a disturbed lipid profile are common associations with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and different skin diseases, particularly psoriasis (PsO).

OBJECTIVES: We investigated potential therapeutic mechanisms of metformin in a murine animal model of psoriasiform lesions in T2DM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two rats were randomly divided into control, PsO, and type II DM (T2DM) groups. After confirmation of DM, the type II diabetic rats were allocated into T2DM+ PsO, T2DM+ PsO+ systemic metformin (S. met), T2DM+ PsO+ topical metformin (T. met)), and T2DM+ PsO + combined metformin (C. met). PsO was induced by topical imiquimod.

RESULTS: Systemic administration of the cornerstone antidiabetic drug, metformin, was able to improve insulin resistance and lipid profile. At molecular levels, both topical and systemic metformin significantly increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and lowered keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) / "Signal transducer and activator of transcription" (STAT)3 protein levels, and the IL-17RA and IL-17RC gene expression.

CONCLUSION: Although its glucose-controlling effect was not optimum, T.met gel served anti-psoriatic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Liver injury is a globally serious problem that may be observed post-chemotherapeutic administration in chronic crises such as tuberculosis (TB). Rifamycin (RIF), particularly, is an indispensable treatment regimen for TB with a significant negative hepatic impact. Therefore, this research aims to assess the restorative role of melatonin (MEL) against rifampicin (RIF)-associated hepatic damage in rats. Moreover, to investigate the ultimate mechanism of the antioxidant potential of MEL with multimodal assessment and in silico molecular conformation. Adult male Wistar albino rats were weighed and divided into four groups of ten rats each. The control group received the vehicle (0.5 ml/day), the RIF-intoxicated group (100 mg/kg/day orally), the MEL-treated group (10 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally), and the Co-administered RIF and MEL group at the same regimen for 21 consecutive days. Blood and hepatic tissue samples were obtained for biochemical, histological, and molecular studies. High in vitro antioxidant scavenging potential of MEL with an IC of 94.66 µg/ml was attained using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses of MEL indicated the presence of mainly cinnamic acid, m-(trimethyl-silyl ester), in addition to several reactive antioxidant moieties. The plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lipid profiles were significantly reduced in the MEL + RIF co-administered group in contrast to the RIF-treated group (P < 0.05). Moreover, MEL significantly decreased the hepatic oxidative biomarkers malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly increased the estimated antioxidant enzyme levels (P < 0.05) of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). Histological evaluations revealed mild hepatic injuries and inflammatory cellular infiltration in MEL-treated animals. Molecular docking explored the high-affinity interaction of MEL and cinnamic acids with hepatic cytochrome P450 isoform 3A4 (CYP3A4) protein target, confirming their hepatic restorative potential. This study endorses the antioxidant potential role of MEL in RIF-hepatic injury.

This paper examines the impact of two storage policies—dedicated storage (D-SLAP) and randomized storage (R-SLAP)—on warehouse operational efficiency. It integrates the Storage Location Assignment Problem (SLAP) with the unrelated parallel machine scheduling problem (UPMSP), which represents the scheduling of the material handling equipment (MHE). This integration is intended to elucidate the interplay between storage strategies and scheduling performance. The considered evaluation metrics include transportation cost, average waiting time, and total tardiness, while accounting for product arrival and demand schedules, precedence constraints, and transportation expenses. Additionally, considerations such as MHE eligibility, resource requirements, and available storage locations are incorporated into the analysis. Given the complexity of the combined problem, a tailored Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) was developed to assess the performance of the two storage policies across various randomly generated test instances of differing sizes. Parameter tuning for the NSGA-II was conducted using the Taguchi method to identify optimal settings. Experimental and statistical analyses reveal that, for small-size instances, both policies exhibit comparable performance in terms of transportation cost and total tardiness, with R-SLAP demonstrating superior performance in reducing average waiting time. Conversely, results from large-size instances indicate that D-SLAP surpasses R-SLAP in optimizing waiting time and tardiness objectives, while R-SLAP achieves lower transportation cost.

Transposable elements (TE) are widespread genetic components that affect the structure and function of eukaryotic genomes. However, the comprehensive genomic and transcriptome characterization of buffalo TE remains unclear. Here, we first constructed a pan-TE library from 7 buffalo genomes representing both river and swamp buffalo breeds. We identified 46,389 unique TE comprising 15,975 cores and 30,414 variable elements. These TE span approximately 1.04 Gb and its length account for 33.53% of the buffalo reference genome. The core TE exhibited distinct chromosomal patterns, with the long-interspersed element (LINE), short interspersed element (SINE), and long-terminal repeats (LTR) superfamilies representing the most abundant groups, which varied across subspecies and individuals. Notably, these elements showed a preference for genic regions, with DNA and LTR transposons frequently located within gene introns. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the TE-derived genes displayed tissue-specific expression, particularly in somatic and gametic tissues. Co-expression analysis identified several SINE-derived hub genes that played key roles in testicular and muscle tissue development. This study provides a comprehensive buffalo pan-TE library, offering an invaluable resource for exploring TE functions, and laying the foundation for future transposome studies in buffalo genetics.

The prevalence of fatty liver disease in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) is significantly higher than in general population. This study aims to compare the burden of fatty liver disease in Egyptian PLHIV using both metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and steatotic liver disease (SLD) criteria. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on PLHIV attending the HIV reference center at Embaba Fever Hospital in Egypt between November 2019 and July 2021. Data collection included demographics, comorbidities, physical examination, laboratory tests, liver ultrasound, controlled attenuation parameter, and liver stiffness measurement using Fibroscan®. The prevalence of SLD and MAFLD was 26.92% and 21.15%, respectively. The concordance between MAFLD and SLD definitions was low (kappa = 0.465). The presence of SLD was significantly associated with increased odds of significant fibrosis ( = 0.045). However, MAFLD was not significantly associated with fibrosis ( = 0.369). SLD demonstrates a stronger association with significant fibrosis than MAFLD in PLHIV. This highlights the potential of SLD as a more inclusive and representative classification for steatosis in PLHIV.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as essential regulators of gene expression, significantly influencing various biological processes. Approximately half of all lncRNAs are classified as long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs), which are situated among coding genes. Recent studies have documented the role of lincRNAs in the pathogenesis of lung diseases, including lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. These lincRNAs can modulate gene expression through various mechanisms, including epigenetic modifications, transcriptional regulation, and post-transcriptional regulation. By functioning as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), lincRNAs can affect the activity of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their corresponding target genes. This review delves into the intricate mechanisms by which lincRNAs contribute to the development and progression of various lung diseases. Furthermore, it discusses the potential of lincRNAs as therapeutic targets.