SAID SHEHATA

Polymer composites for flexible electronics and wearable devices are evolving to harness tunable negative permittivity, a key attribute for metamaterial design. However, while metal fillers boost negative permittivity, they can overshoot desired values and compromise the material’s flexibility, making the optimal filler balance a critical unresolved challenge in achieving integrated functionality. In this study, we address a critical research gap by demonstrating that weak negative permittivity can be achieved in polymer composite films using low metal content, below the percolation threshold, while retaining the polymer’s high elasticity and thermal stability. Ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA)/copper (Cu) composite films were fabricated at Cu loadings of (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt.% of EVA) through a multilayer casting-assisted hot pressing process. Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the effective preparation of the composites. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed that incorporating small amounts of Cu preserves EVA’s thermal resistance and flexibility. Dielectric properties were examined across a broad frequency range: from 0.1 Hz to 10 MHz using a broadband dielectric spectrometer, and from 20 MHz to 3 GHz using an impedance analyzer. While all samples maintained low dielectric losses and weak frequency dependence at low frequencies, the 40 wt.% (≈6 vol.%) Cu-loaded sample exhibited weak negative permittivity (up to –12 at 2 GHz) that was well captured by the Lorentz model. The findings of this research revealed that the synthesized flexible composites exhibit advanced electromagnetic properties.

Noncontained (1- or combined 1- to 2-wall) periodontal intraosseous defects represent challenging clinical situations with unpredictable surgical therapeutic outcomes. This randomized clinical trial assessed demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) with low speed-platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membrane compared to DFDBA with collagen membrane (CM) in the surgical periodontal therapy of noncontained intraosseous defects of stage III periodontitis patients. Twenty-two stage III periodontitis patients with noncontained intraosseous defects measuring ≥3 mm and clinical attachment loss ≥5 mm were randomly allocated into two groups: test group (low-speed PRF membrane + DFDBA) and control group (CM + DFDBA), with 11 participants per group. Clinical and radiographic assessments were conducted at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months for clinical attachment level (CAL; primary outcome), gingival recession depth (GRD), probing depth (PD), full mouth bleeding score (FMBS) and full mouth plaque score (FMPS), radiographic bone fill and radiographic linear defect depth (RLDD; all secondary outcomes). The mean (±SD) CAL-gain for the test group was 2.45 (±1.51), 2.91 (±1.70), 2.91 (±1.87), and 2.82 (±1.83) mm, while for the control group 2.82 (±1.25), 3.27 (±1.27), 3.00 (±1.41), and 2.64 (±1.50) mm at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively, with no significant intergroup differences ( > 0.05). Despite the absence of significant intergroup differences, both groups demonstrated significant intragroup improvement in CAL- and PD-gain, and RLDD-reduction at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months as well as RLDD improvement at 12 months ( < 0.05). PRF membranes, in conjunction with DFDBA, show significant improvement of periodontal clinical and radiographic parameters, comparable to CMs with DFDBA. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03922503.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly relevant to hepatology, yet real-world adoption in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is uncertain. We assessed awareness, use, perceived value, barriers, and policy priorities among hepatology clinicians in the region.

METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey targeted hepatologists and gastroenterologists across 17 MENA countries. The survey assessed clinical and research applications of AI, perceived benefits, clinical and research use, barriers, ethical considerations, and institutional readiness. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were performed.

RESULTS: Of 285 invited professionals, 236 completed the survey (response rate: 82.8%). While 73.2% recognized the transformative potential of AI, only 14.4% used AI tools daily, primarily for imaging analysis and disease prediction. AI tools were used in research by 39.8% of respondents, mainly for data analysis, manuscript writing assistance, and predictive modeling. Major barriers included inadequate training (60.6%), limited AI tool access (53%), and insufficient infrastructure (53%). Ethical concerns focused on data privacy, diagnostic accuracy, and over-reliance on automation. Despite these challenges, 70.3% expressed strong interest in AI training., and 43.6% anticipating routine clinical integration within 1-3 years.

CONCLUSION: MENA hepatologists are optimistic about AI but report limited routine use and substantial readiness gaps. Priorities include scalable training, interoperable infrastructure and standards, clear governance with human-in-the-loop safeguards, and region-specific validation to enable safe, equitable implementation.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly relevant to hepatology, yet real-world adoption in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is uncertain. We assessed awareness, use, perceived value, barriers, and policy priorities among hepatology clinicians in the region.

METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey targeted hepatologists and gastroenterologists across 17 MENA countries. The survey assessed clinical and research applications of AI, perceived benefits, clinical and research use, barriers, ethical considerations, and institutional readiness. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were performed.

RESULTS: Of 285 invited professionals, 236 completed the survey (response rate: 82.8%). While 73.2% recognized the transformative potential of AI, only 14.4% used AI tools daily, primarily for imaging analysis and disease prediction. AI tools were used in research by 39.8% of respondents, mainly for data analysis, manuscript writing assistance, and predictive modeling. Major barriers included inadequate training (60.6%), limited AI tool access (53%), and insufficient infrastructure (53%). Ethical concerns focused on data privacy, diagnostic accuracy, and over-reliance on automation. Despite these challenges, 70.3% expressed strong interest in AI training., and 43.6% anticipating routine clinical integration within 1-3 years.

CONCLUSION: MENA hepatologists are optimistic about AI but report limited routine use and substantial readiness gaps. Priorities include scalable training, interoperable infrastructure and standards, clear governance with human-in-the-loop safeguards, and region-specific validation to enable safe, equitable implementation.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly relevant to hepatology, yet real-world adoption in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is uncertain. We assessed awareness, use, perceived value, barriers, and policy priorities among hepatology clinicians in the region.

METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey targeted hepatologists and gastroenterologists across 17 MENA countries. The survey assessed clinical and research applications of AI, perceived benefits, clinical and research use, barriers, ethical considerations, and institutional readiness. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were performed.

RESULTS: Of 285 invited professionals, 236 completed the survey (response rate: 82.8%). While 73.2% recognized the transformative potential of AI, only 14.4% used AI tools daily, primarily for imaging analysis and disease prediction. AI tools were used in research by 39.8% of respondents, mainly for data analysis, manuscript writing assistance, and predictive modeling. Major barriers included inadequate training (60.6%), limited AI tool access (53%), and insufficient infrastructure (53%). Ethical concerns focused on data privacy, diagnostic accuracy, and over-reliance on automation. Despite these challenges, 70.3% expressed strong interest in AI training., and 43.6% anticipating routine clinical integration within 1-3 years.

CONCLUSION: MENA hepatologists are optimistic about AI but report limited routine use and substantial readiness gaps. Priorities include scalable training, interoperable infrastructure and standards, clear governance with human-in-the-loop safeguards, and region-specific validation to enable safe, equitable implementation.

Freund’s adjuvants have been used in vaccine and autoimmune settings, and their effects can be overlapping or unique to each. While both incomplete Freund’s adjuvants (IFA) and complete Freund’s adjuvants (CFA) influence antibody and T cell responses, the robust T helper 1 cytokines induced by the mycobacterial components make CFA the powerful immunostimulating adjuvant. In these studies, the adjuvant effects are investigated in a select population of cells, and the changes, if any, with the metabolic alterations in the systemic compartment are unclear. We investigated whether the effects of IFA and CFA can be influenced by the metabolic shifts in mice immunized with saline, IFA, or CFA using Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. bovis Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) as a positive control. After seven days of immunization, we analyzed the serum metabolite profiles using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry and multivariate statistical analysis to identify metabolic features between the groups. The data revealed that, in the scores space, the CFA and BCG groups were more closely aligned compared to the saline group, while the IFA group displayed an intermediate profile. Furthermore, comparisons between the CFA and BCG groups showed more significant perturbations in lipid and amino acid metabolism, particularly involving glycerophospholipids, cysteine, and aromatic amino acids. In contrast, comparisons between the BCG and IFA groups indicated a more pronounced disruption in central energy metabolism pathways, such as the citric acid cycle and pyruvate metabolism. Together, the data suggest that the serum metabolite profiles in response to IFA and CFA might play a role in modulating the immune responses.

The growing dietary supplement (DS) market continues to face concerns regarding product quality and regulatory oversight. In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a sweeping reorganization to consolidate and modernize its food-related divisions under the Human Foods Program. As part of this effort, the Office of Dietary Supplement Program has been integrated into a newly established Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation, underscoring the urgent need for improved analytical capabilities and sustainable quality control frameworks. In this context, we developed and validated a sustainable and green micellar-enhanced synchronous spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of trans-Resveratrol (RES), a bioactive polyphenol widely used in DS formulations. The method employs micellar enhancement using Triton X-100 (TX-100) to amplify the native fluorescence of RES without requiring chemical derivatization or photodegradation, offering a greener alternative to conventional chromatographic techniques. The method showed excellent sensitivity with a detection limit of 1.78 ng/mL and linearity over 10–170 ng/mL. Sustainability was systematically assessed through multi-dimensional tools confirming the method's minimal environmental impact. A novel sustainability framework was introduced in this work via alignment with Circular Analytical Chemistry (CAC) goals, marking the first application of this emerging concept in analytical method evaluation. These results reinforce the method's suitability for deployment in modern quality control laboratories aligned with the FDA's regulatory modernization goals. This study not only introduces RES as a model compound for micellar-enhanced fluorimetry but also demonstrates the potential of spectrofluorimetry as a sustainable, regulatory-aligned platform for the evolving landscape of DS quality assessment.

The growing dietary supplement (DS) market continues to face concerns regarding product quality and regulatory oversight. In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a sweeping reorganization to consolidate and modernize its food-related divisions under the Human Foods Program. As part of this effort, the Office of Dietary Supplement Program has been integrated into a newly established Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation, underscoring the urgent need for improved analytical capabilities and sustainable quality control frameworks. In this context, we developed and validated a sustainable and green micellar-enhanced synchronous spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of trans-Resveratrol (RES), a bioactive polyphenol widely used in DS formulations. The method employs micellar enhancement using Triton X-100 (TX-100) to amplify the native fluorescence of RES without requiring chemical derivatization or photodegradation, offering a greener alternative to conventional chromatographic techniques. The method showed excellent sensitivity with a detection limit of 1.78 ng/mL and linearity over 10–170 ng/mL. Sustainability was systematically assessed through multi-dimensional tools confirming the method's minimal environmental impact. A novel sustainability framework was introduced in this work via alignment with Circular Analytical Chemistry (CAC) goals, marking the first application of this emerging concept in analytical method evaluation. These results reinforce the method's suitability for deployment in modern quality control laboratories aligned with the FDA's regulatory modernization goals. This study not only introduces RES as a model compound for micellar-enhanced fluorimetry but also demonstrates the potential of spectrofluorimetry as a sustainable, regulatory-aligned platform for the evolving landscape of DS quality assessment.

In this study, the design and characterization of a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) as a light source for a mid-infrared supercontinuum generation (SCG) is presented. This PCF is based on a highly nonlinear chalcogenide $${\text{As}}_{40}{\text{Se}}_{60}$$background material with a hexagonal structure arrangement of air-holes rings. The PCF parameters such as the chromatic dispersion (D), the effective refractive index ($${n}_{eff}$$) and the nonlinear coefficient (γ) have been investigated. We study the stimulated SCG in two types of dispersion regimes: anomalous and all-normal dispersion (ANDi). We initiate the study by sending a 28.4 fs wide optical pulse with a peak power of 10 kW and a central wavelength of 2.8 µm through a 2 cm long PCF. In the anomalous dispersion, we demonstrate the generation of coherent and broadband SCG spectrum spanning the wavelength region from 1.6 to 7.8 µm. While, in the ANDi regime we demonstrate the generation of a broad, ultra-flat-top and highly coherent SCG spectrum extending from 2 to 4 µm at 6 dB spectral flatness. Thus, we achieve ultra-flat SCG spectrum source with a bandwidth as wide as 2400 nm within only 2 cm propagation length of the proposed PCF. This spectrum range is very suitable for variety of applications in mid-infrared region such as optical metrology, frequency comb generation, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results further demonstrate that with an applied pump power of 15 kW through the ANDi regime, a flat spectral bandwidth of 380 nm (wavelengths ranging from 1260 to 1640 nm) at just 3 dB spectral flatness is achieved. This band covers the five-telecommunication optical bands O-, E-, S-, C- and L-bands that comply with ITU-T-compliant wavelengths for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) applications like coarse WDM (CWDM) and dense WDM (DWDM).

Parasitic infections caused by Clinostomum complanatum and Euclinostomum heterostomum pose significant threats to aquaculture systems and public health. This study examined their molecular, immunological, and pathological impacts in Egyptian Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), with COXI gene sequencing confirming both species and revealing genetic similarities to regional isolates, suggesting broad geographical distribution. Euclinostomum heterostomum-infected fish exhibited significant upregulation of immune-related genes (IFN-γ: 1.96-fold; IL-10: 2.06-fold; IL-12: 1.91-fold; IL-1β: 4.07-fold; CYP-1α: 2.07-fold) and elevated oxidative stress markers (SOD: 2.96-fold; CAT: 3.52-fold; GSH: 3.07-fold; TAC: 2.58-fold) compared to uninfected controls (p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Similarly, Clinostomum complanatum infections triggered upregulation of IFN-γ (2.17-fold), IL-10 (2.09-fold), IL-12 (2.25-fold), IL-1β (2.51-fold), and CYP-1α (2.58-fold), alongside increased SOD (2.63-fold), CAT (2.70-fold), GSH (2.99-fold), and TAC (2.65-fold) compared to uninfected controls (p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Histopathology revealed necrosis, fibrosis, and inflammation in gill and kidney tissues, with immunohistochemical staining confirming localized inflammatory markers. These findings demonstrate systemic immune activation and physiological stress caused by clinostomid infections, providing critical insights for aquaculture disease management strategies.