Explore the vast range of titles available.

As nanosatellites make access to space more affordable and widespread, protecting onboard data from radiation-related damage has become a major challenge for modern low-cost missions. These small satellites often rely on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electronic components, which are particularly vulnerable to radiation-induced Single-Event Effects (SEEs) that can disrupt system operation and compromise mission data integrity. To address this challenge, our study proposes SEEnet, a lightweight ensemble learning framework designed for real-time prediction of SEE occurrence in nanosatellite systems. SEEnet combines multiple decision-tree classifiers with varying model depths using a soft-voting strategy, allowing it to improve prediction reliability while maintaining low computational complexity suitable for resource-constrained onboard environments. Our proposed approach is evaluated using a publicly available dataset from the Institute of Space Systems, University of Stuttgart, describing satellite spatial characteristics and associated SEE events. Experimental results show that SEEnet achieves a classification accuracy of 77%, outperforming several baseline machine-learning models, including Support Vector Machines, Random Forests, and Gradient Boosting, under the same evaluation conditions. In addition, the model demonstrates balanced precision–recall performance and provides bootstrap-based uncertainty estimates, enhancing confidence in its predictions. Overall, the results indicate that SEEnet offers an effective and computationally efficient solution for early SEE risk assessment, supporting proactive fault mitigation and improved data reliability in real-time nanosatellite missions.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a persistent autoimmune disease stimulated by a sophisticated system of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL -17. They contribute significantly to the maintenance of inflammation and mediation of joint damage. The current study aimed to examine the relationship between serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-17 A, and IL-17 F and disease activity in Yemeni RA patients. A case-control study was carried out on 101 RA patients and 80 healthy controls (HCs) matched for age and sex. The serum concentration of TNF-α, IL-17 A, and IL-17 F was determined through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Other hematological, inflammatory parameters and serological tests were also assessed. TNF-α, IL-17 A and IL-17 F serum levels were significantly elevated in RA patients than in HCs ( P  < 0.001) and had a positive correlation with disease activity in RA groups ( P  < 0.001). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between levels of TNF-α, IL-17 A, and IL-17 F and the DAS28. The ROC analysis revealed that all the three cytokines TNF-α, IL-17 A, and IL-17 F were effective in distinguishing between RA patients and HCs, with TNF-α having the highest diagnostic accuracy. To define moderate to high disease activity, IL-17 A demonstrated the best individual quality, whereas TNF-α and IL-17 F demonstrated moderate quality. Interaction of the cytokines improved the diagnostic value as both TNF-α and IL-17 A combination and triple combination of TNF-α, IL-17 A and IL17F which supports the benefits of multiplex cytokine testing in RA activity testing as well as discrimination of moderate to high activity RA.

Recently, use of nanotechnology in biomedical applications such as drug delivery and diagnostic and therapeutic tools has increased greatly. This study evaluated gold nanoparticle (GNPs)-induced nephrotoxic effects in rats in vivo, and examined protective effects of alpha-lipoic acid (α-Lip) and Vitamin E (Vit E) against nephrotoxicity, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory kidney damage induced by GNPs. Twenty-four male Wistar-Kyoto rats (220-240 g, 12 weeks old) were dosed with 50 μL of 10 nm GNPs administered intraperitoneally with or without 200 mg/kg/day Vit E or 200 mg/kg/day α-Lip. Serum was prepared for biochemical analyses. Kidney function was evaluated through measurement of creatinine (CR), uric acid (URIC), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation were evaluated by measurement of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in kidney tissue homogenates. The results showed a significant rise in serum kidney function biomarkers including urea, URIC, CR, and BUN in GNP-treated rats compared to normal control rats. Furthermore, GNPs led to decreased GSH and elevated MDA levels. Vit E or α-Lip supplementation showed a beneficial effect against nephrotoxicity, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory kidney damage induced by GNPs. This study suggests that use of natural antioxidants in combination with GNPs may be a useful tool in preventing GNPs toxicity.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anatomical, physical, and mechanical properties of four pioneer species, i.e., batai ( Paraserianthes moluccana) , ludai ( Sapium baccatum ), mahang ( Macaranga gigantea ), and sesendok ( Endospermum malaccense ). Correlation of factors influencing density, shrinkage, and mechanical properties were also discussed. Samples were obtained from the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) campus. From the result obtained, these four pioneer species characterised by medium-to-large vessel with absent of tyloses and gum deposit, fine ray, thin walled fibre, runkel ratio less than 1.0, low in density, and mechanical properties. Sesendok has significantly higher value in fibre length, fibre diameter, fibre lumen diameter, fibre wall thickness, vessel diameter, density, MOR, MOE, compression parallel to grain, and shear parallel to grain compared to the other three pioneer species which were 2001 µm, 45 µm, 35 µm, 5.1 µm, 300 µm, 514 kg/m 3 , 79.5 N/mm 2 , 9209 N/mm 2 , 38.7 N/mm 2 , and 10.1 N/mm 2 , respectively. Between these four pioneer species, ludai has significantly higher in runkel ratio which was 0.57, whereas mahang shows significantly higher in slenderness ratio and number of vessels/mm 2 which were 50.2 and 5 vessel/mm 2 , respectively. On the other hand, batai has higher tangential, radial and longitudinal shrinkage compared to ludai, mahang, and sesendok which were 3.0%, 2.4%, and 0.8%, respectively. Based on the basic property study, batai, ludai, mahang, and sesendok could be suitable for pulp and paper, plywood, light construction, furniture, interior finishing, and general utility. Fibre length, fibre wall thickness, and vessel diameter correlated significantly with density and mechanical properties. Shrinkage and mechanical properties were significantly influenced by density.

Background: Extensor tendon injuries of the foot and ankle are common, and less literature is available regarding its outcome. Ours is an observational study that aims to evaluate the functional outcome of surgical repair of all extensor tendons of the foot and ankle. Methods: The study was conducted over a period of 1½ years with extensor tendon injury that was repaired within 24 hours of injury. The patients were followed up for a minimum period of 6 months and the functional outcome was evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score. Results: A total of 30 patients were enrolled, and that included 15 patients in a prospective study and another 15 patients in a retrospective study. A total of 22 cases were followed up. The major tendons involved were extensor digitorum longus (60%) followed by a combination of 2 or more tendons (30%). Extensor hallucis longus and tibialis anterior were involved in 6.7% and 3.35% of cases, respectively. The mean follow-up was 16 ± 7.8 months, and the mean AOFAS score was 99.36 ± 2.1, with a range of 90-100. The mean pain score was 39.2 ± 9, with a range of 30-40. The mean functional score was 49.36 ± 2.17, whereas the mean alignment score was 10. Conclusion: Extensor tendon injuries of the foot and ankle are common injuries that require active surgical intervention. Early repair with a good physiotherapy protocol was associated with excellent AOFAS score and a pain-free limb without deformities in the 22 of 30 patients who were followed up. Level of Evidence: Level IV, ambispective observational study. Graphical abstract

Background Nanoparticles (NPs) can potentially cause adverse effects on organ, tissue, cellular, subcellular and protein levels due to their unusual physicochemical properties. Advances in nanotechnology have identified promising candidates for many biological and biomedical applications. The aim of the present study was to investigate the particle-size, dose and exposure duration effects of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) on the hepatic tissue in an attempt to cover and understand the toxicity and their potential therapeutic and diagnostic use. Methods A total of 70 healthy male Wistar-Kyoto rats were exposed to GNPs received 50 or 100 ul of GNPs infusion of size (10, 20 and 50 nm for 3 or 7 days) to investigate particle-size, dose and exposure duration effects of GNPs on the hepatic tissue. Results In comparison with respective control rats, exposure to GNPs doses has produced alterations in the hepatocytes, portal triads and the sinusoids. The alterations in the hepatocytes were mainly vacuolar to hydropic degeneration, cytopasmic hyaline vacuolation, polymorphism, binucleation, karyopyknosis, karyolysis, karyorrhexis and necrosis. Conclusions The hepatocytes swelling might be exhibited as a result of disturbances of membranes function that lead to massive influx of water and Na + due to GNPs effects accompanied by leakage of lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes that lead to cytoplasmic degeneration and macromolecular crowding. Hydropic degeneration is a result of ion and fluid homestasis that lead to an increase of intracellular water. The vacuolated swelling of the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes of the GNPs treated rats might indicate acute and subacute liver injury induced by the GNPs. Binucleation represents a consequence of cell injury and is a sort of chromosomes hyperplasia which is usually seen in regenerating cells. The induced histological alterations might be an indication of injured hepatocytes due to GNPs toxicity that became unable to deal with the accumulated residues resulting from metabolic and structural disturbances caused by these NPs. These alterations were size-dependent with smaller ones induced the most effects and related with time exposure of GNPs. The appearance of hepatocytes cytoplasmic degeneration and nuclear destruction may suggest that GNPs interact with proteins and enzymes of the hepatic tissue interfering with the antioxidant defense mechanism and leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation which in turn may induce stress in the hepatocytes to undergo atrophy and necrosis. More histomorphologcal, histochemical and ultrastrucural investigations are needed in relation of the application of GNPs with their potential role as a therapeutic and diagnostic tool.

This study aimed to evaluate the nephrotoxicity caused by gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and investigate the potential roles of quercetin (Qur) and arginine (Arg) in mitigating the inflammatory kidney damage and dysfunction and inhibiting the toxicity induced by GNPs in rats. Kidney function was assessed using various serum biomarkers, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (URIC), and creatinine (CR), while toxicity was evaluated by measuring the biomarkers glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in kidney tissues. Administration of GNPs to the rats severely affected the serum kidney biomarkers, as confirmed by the notable increases in BUN, URIC, and CR. Substantial changes in the levels of the biomarkers MDA and GSH in the kidney tissues were also observed, with a reduced level of GSH and elevated MDA activity. The administration of Qur or Arg exerted a protective effect against GNP-induced inflammatory kidney damage and toxicity, but with different responses according to their evaluated normalized values. This study demonstrates the beneficial effects of supplementation with Qur or Arg during the treatment with GNPs, potentially providing a powerful tool for cancer therapy.

Background Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are finding increased use in therapeutics and imaging. However, their toxic effects still remain to be elucidated. Therefore this study was undertaken to study the biochemical effects of AuNPs on rat brain and identify potential biomarkers of AuNP toxicity. Methods Male Wister rats weighing 150–200 g were injected with 20 μg/kg body weight of 20-nm gold nanoparticles for 3 days through the intraperitoneal route. The rats were killed by carbon dioxide asphyxiation 24 h after the last dose of gold nanoparticle injection. The parameters studied included lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase, 8- hydroxydeoxyguanosine, caspase-3, heat shock protein70, serotonin, dopamine, gamma amino-butyric acid and interferon-γ. Results In this study AuNPs caused generation of oxidative stress and a decrease of antioxidant enzyme, viz., glutathione peroxidase activity in rat brain. This was accompanied by an increase in 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, caspase-3 and heat shock protein70, which might lead to DNA damage and cell death. Gold nanoparticles also caused a significant decrease in the levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, indicating a possible change in the behavior of the treated animals. There was a significant increase in the cerebral levels of IFN-γ in treated animals. Conclusion This study concludes that AuNPs cause generation of oxidative stress and an impairment of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase in rat brain. AuNPs also cause generation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG), caspase-3 and heat shock protein70 (Hsp70), and IFN-γ, which may lead to inflammation and DNA damage/cell death.

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has allowed performing a complete characterization of the chemical composition of thirty soil samples soil samples from ten locations collected from the Toshki area in Upper Egypt. The samples were irradiated with thermal neutrons at the Mainz TRIGA research reactor. Gamma-ray spectra were recorded using a high efficiency HPGe detector to determine the contents of major, minor and trace elements in these samples. As a result of the analysis, altogether 32 elements were identified qualitatively and quantitatively. These elements are: Al, As, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hf, K, La, Lu, Mg, Mn, Na, Nb, Nd, Rb, Sc, Sm, Sn, Ta, Ti, Th, U, V, Yb, Zn and Zr. In several cases, X-ray fluorescence analysis was used for comparison. The results obtained for U and Th were compared with data reported in literature.