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This research presents a pioneering investigation into friction stir processing (FSP) of different aluminum alloys reinforced with silicon nitride powders (Si 3 N 4 ). By optimizing FSP parameters, such as stir tool profile and cooling medium, this study aims to enhance the microstructure and mechanical properties. The findings of this research contribute to the development of advanced FSP techniques for improving the performance of these alloys in different industries. FSP of three aluminum alloys (1050, 2011, and 6063) reinforced with Si 3 N 4 powders was conducted under different processing parameters was investigated. Tensile tests and hardness evaluations were conducted to assess the mechanical properties. The best combinations of processing parameters were defined using the Taguchi L 27 orthogonal array, while a response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design of three factors and three levels was employed to develop the relationship between the FSP parameters (material type, pin profile, and cooling rate). The selected outputs included yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), hardness (Hv), and elongation percentage (El%). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to identify the significant process parameters affecting the responses. The results after FSP on Al plates indicate that the optimum UTS and YS values are achieved by performing FSP on 2011 AA with a conical pin profile and under indirect air-cooling. The highest hardness value was obtained under the same conditions but with indirect R-410 A cooling. Conversely, the optimum value of El% was reached by conducting FSP on 1050 AA with a cylindrical pin profile and indirect R-410a cooling. The maximum UTS, YS, El, and HV values are 286 MPa, 167 MPa, 40%, and 118 HV, respectively. Material type (M) was the primary dominant parameter affecting mechanical properties, while the cooling media ranked second.

Axial loads on machinery are commonly carried by hydrostatic thrust bearings. To ensure sustained performance, designers need to balance the requirement for efficient pumping power with the high load-carrying capacity. This requirement is a common challenge. For the purpose of studying the pumping power losses of hydrostatic thrust bearings, this research presents a numerical analysis of the recess shape design effect. The ANSYS workbench software has been used to implement the numerical simulation. Rectangular and circular pockets with two and four recesses are analyzed for power losses and film thicknesses using FVM and the Navier–Stokes equations. Study results indicated that the number and shape of recesses had a significant effect on power losses.

Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of a light curable resin-modified glass ionomer varnish (Vanish TM XT) in the prevention of occlusal caries compared to topical fluoride varnish in newly erupted first permanent molars over 18 months. Methods A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted using a split-mouth design. A total of 53 participants aged 6–9 years with 97 pairs of caries-free newly erupted first permanent molars were enrolled in the study. Each molar in the pair was randomly assigned either to the experimental group, which received the Vanish TM XT Extended Contact Varnish, or to the control group, which received topical fluoride varnish (Vanish TM 5% Sodium Fluoride White Varnish). Follow-ups were performed at 6, 12, and 18 months to evaluate dental caries development. Results At the 6-month follow-up, caries development was significantly higher in the control group (7.8%) than that in the experimental group (0%) ( P  = 0.031). At the 12-month follow-up, significantly ( P  = 0.012) more occlusal caries developed in the control group (12.2%) compared to the experimental group (1.2%). At the 18-month follow-up, significantly ( P  = 0.002) more occlusal caries developed in the control group (14.3%) compared to the experimental group (1.1%). Conclusion Compared to fluoride varnish, Vanish TM XT was significantly more effective in preventing caries on the occlusal surfaces of newly erupted first permanent molars at 6, 12, and 18 months. Trial registration Registration number at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04579536 on 08/10/ 2020, retrospectively registered.

Many nutritional standards and behaviors are created in the college environment, which may have long-term consequences for the individual. Because of the significant amount of time teenagers spend at college on a typical weekday, it has been estimated that one-third of their food and drink is eaten at college canteens. The current research investigation employed a questionnaire to evaluate the eating behaviors of male and female college participants. There were 206 participants in the study, which consisted of with approximately the same proportion of men (52.9%) and women (47.1%). The participants' average age was 22.6 years, with men being a little older than women on average. The majority of participants resided at home and had bachelor's degrees. Males had greater mean heights and weights, according to anthropometric measures, which led to slightly higher mean Body Mass Index (BMI). The prevalence of underweight individuals was higher among females, while overweight and obesity were more common in males. The majority of participants never bought food from the college canteen and usually ate meals at home. Breakfast consumption varied, with a significant proportion skipping breakfast on schooldays. Differences between genders were observed in the consumption of specific food items and exercise frequency, but no significant correlations were found between incidence of obesity and food consumption patterns. The study highlights the need for dietary interventions based on large scale research studies to address the concerning levels of obesity among college students and improve their overall health and well-being.

Background Health-promoting behaviors are crucial for maintaining well-being, especially among university students who face various lifestyle challenges. Aim This study aimed to evaluate Taibah University students’ Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profiles in Saudi Arabia, focusing on the influence of age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) on health-related behaviors. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia. A total of 397 valid questionnaires were analyzed. A systematic random sampling method was employed, selecting every 20th student from predetermined lists to ensure a balanced representation, with 100 students from each college. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the validated Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II). Results Most participants had a normal BMI (18.5–24.9 kg/m²), with 71.4% of males and 63.3% of females classified as normal weight. Underweight status was more prevalent among females (23.4%) than males (13.4%) (χ² = 7.973, p = .047), and obesity was rare (2.8% in males, 0.9% in females). Females had significantly higher health responsibility scores (M = 24.99, SD = 6.74) compared to males (M = 23.41, SD = 7.19) (t = 2.252, p = .025). They were more engaged in health-promoting behaviors, with 66.1% of females classified at a high HPLP-II level versus 41.3% of males. Younger females (>20 years) exhibited significantly higher physical activity scores (M = 22.67, SD = 5.22) than older females (>20 years) (M = 19.93, SD = 6.87) (p = .004). Conclusion Females demonstrated higher health responsibility and engagement in health-promoting activities than males, with younger females being more physically active. Body mass index significantly influences spiritual growth and overall health behaviors, highlighting the importance of considering demographic and anthropometric factors in health promotion strategies among university students.

Hydrostatic bearings are expected to attract significant attention in the coming years due to their wide use in engineering applications, such as high-speed machine tool spindles, fast-moving machinery, and precision grinding tools. However, there is still a need to better understand the flow behavior related to different pressure pocket patterns. The aim of this research is to investigate how the supplied pressure and the shape of the pocket affect the pressure distribution in hydrostatic bearings with rectangular pads. Using the 3D Navier–Stokes equations and the finite volume method in ANSYS-CFD-19 R3, different recess designs — specifically rectangular and circular recesses — were analyzed to determine their impact on static pressure. The results showed that conical-shaped recesses produced higher pressure values compared to non-conical shapes. This study focused on two main types of recess shapes: rectangular and circular.

This study aimed to identify the incidence and risk factors of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) using an Arabic version of the pediatric sleep questionnaire (PSQ). A total of 2000 PSQs were circulated to children aged 6–12 years who were randomly selected from 20 schools in Al-Kharj city, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaires were filled out by the parents of participating children. The participants were further divided into two groups (younger group: 6–9 years and older group: 10–12 years). Out of 2000 questionnaires, 1866 were completed and analyzed (93.3% response rate), of which 44.2% were from the younger group and 55.8% were from the older group. Among all the participants, a total of 1027 participants were female (55%) and 839 were male (45%) with a mean age of 9.67 ± 1.78 years. It showed that 13% of children were suffering from a high risk of SDB. Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses within this study cohort showed a significant association between SDB symptoms (habitual snoring; witnessed apnea; mouth breathing; being overweight; and bedwetting) and risk of developing SDB. In conclusion: habitual snoring; witnessed apnea; mouth breathing; being overweight; and bedwetting strongly contribute the to development of SDB.

Background The purpose of this study was to predict the annual growth rate of the mandible and total anterior facial height using IGF-1 levels together with cervical stage, skeletal classification, and gender. Methods Twenty-five orthodontic patients (12 females and 13 males) had their cervical stages, blood-spot IGF-1 levels, and cephalometric parameters measured at 1-year intervals. The number of years each patient was followed up varied between 1 and 5 years resulting in 43 12-month intervals collected from 77 observations. Descriptive, bivariate, and regression analyses were used to analyze this data. Results The linear regression model for predicting the annual mandibular growth rate was significant at p  < 0.01 with an R -square value of 0.52. We found that the average IGF-1 level for the interval, the change in IGF-1 level, and the presence of a skeletal class III pattern were statistically significant predictors of mandibular growth. The regression model for predicting the annual change in anterior facial height was significant at p  < 0.01 with an R -square value of 0.42. We found that the change in IGF-1 level was the only statistically significant predictor of this outcome. Conclusions The proposed method which combines IGF-1 levels with information that is readily available to clinicians can be used to predict the timing and intensity of the growth spurt. These factors together explain more of the observed individual variation in growth rate than any of the factors used in isolation.

To evaluate the effectiveness of a light curable resin-modified glass ionomer varnish (Vanish XT) in the prevention of occlusal caries compared to topical fluoride varnish in newly erupted first permanent molars over 18 months. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted using a split-mouth design. A total of 53 participants aged 6-9 years with 97 pairs of caries-free newly erupted first permanent molars were enrolled in the study. Each molar in the pair was randomly assigned either to the experimental group, which received the Vanish XT Extended Contact Varnish, or to the control group, which received topical fluoride varnish (Vanish 5% Sodium Fluoride White Varnish). Follow-ups were performed at 6, 12, and 18 months to evaluate dental caries development. At the 6-month follow-up, caries development was significantly higher in the control group (7.8%) than that in the experimental group (0%) (P = 0.031). At the 12-month follow-up, significantly (P = 0.012) more occlusal caries developed in the control group (12.2%) compared to the experimental group (1.2%). At the 18-month follow-up, significantly (P = 0.002) more occlusal caries developed in the control group (14.3%) compared to the experimental group (1.1%). Compared to fluoride varnish, Vanish XT was significantly more effective in preventing caries on the occlusal surfaces of newly erupted first permanent molars at 6, 12, and 18 months. Registration number at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04579536 on 08/10/ 2020, retrospectively registered.

Presently, Gulf Cooperation Council countries are lagging in the generation of real-world data and use of real-world evidence for patient-centered care compared with the global average. In a collaborative effort, experts from multiple domains of the healthcare environment from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries came together to present their views and recommended key action points for the generation of robust real-world data and leveraging real-world evidence in the countries. The opinions of the experts are presented, along with existing barriers to the effective generation of real-world evidence in the countries. The Gulf Cooperation Council countries are undergoing transformative changes paving the way for improved healthcare measures; however, the challenges in generating reliable, robust, accessible, and secure real-world evidence are persistent. Hence, ongoing public–private engagements, as well as collaborations between regulators, policymakers, healthcare professionals, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, and patients, are warranted. A few notable examples of real-world evidence studies highlighting the benefits of real-world evidence for gaining valuable insights into patient-centric decision making are also discussed. The actionable steps identified for successful real-world evidence generation would provide long-term, real-world evidence-based patient-centric benefits for the countries.