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\"The Arab - Islamic city has been always a glamorous urban dream in human cultural memory. This is manifested in Cairo, the world's largest medieval urban system where traditional lifestyles are still implemented. Nevertheless, despite the extensive efforts to preserve Historic Cairo, it is sadly vulnerable. Ahmed Sedky investigates the reasons behind this condition, exploring and comparing regional and international case studies. Questions such as how and what to conserve are raised and elaborated through the perspectives of different stakeholders. A resulting evaluative framework is accumulated that underpins the criteria for assessing area conservation in the Arab - Islamic context and that can be used to delineate the causes responsible for the present condition of Historic Cairo.\" -- Book jacket.

Machine learning (ML) was used to develop classification models to predict individual tumor patients’ outcomes. Binary classification defined whether the tumor was malignant or benign. This paper presents a comparative analysis of machine learning algorithms used for breast cancer prediction. This study used a dataset obtained from the National Cancer Institute (NIH), USA, which contains 1.7 million data records. Classical and deep learning methods were included in the accuracy assessment. Classical decision tree (DT), linear discriminant (LD), logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and ensemble techniques (ET) algorithms were used. Probabilistic neural network (PNN), deep neural network (DNN), and recurrent neural network (RNN) methods were used for comparison. Feature selection and its effect on accuracy were also investigated. The results showed that decision trees and ensemble techniques outperformed the other techniques, as they both achieved a 98.7% accuracy.

Herein, the effect of nanocrystal percentage in bulk-ZnO varistors was studied. The structure of ZnO nanocrystals was examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The XRD studies showed that the nanocrystals were indexed with the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO nanostructures. The average crystallite size deduced from XRD analysis ranged between 135 and 273 nm, eight-fold lower than that of the nanoparticles observed in FE-SEM micrographs (1151–2214 nm). The percentage of nanocrystals added into the ZnO varistor was increased from 0 to 100%. Electrical measurements (I–V profiles) showed that the non-linear region, breakdown field, and activation energy were found to decrease with the addition of ZnO fine crystals up to 10% and then increased upon a further increase in fine crystals. However, the electrical conductivity measured at room temperature was improved, and the highest value of 2.11 × 10−5 was observed for 10% fine crystals and then decreased upon a further increase in the fine crystal concentration in bulk ZnO. The breakdown field decreased with the increase in the percentage of ZnO nanostructures in the varistor up to 10% and then increased upon the further addition of ZnO nanostructures. The nonlinear coefficient (α) was decreased from 18.6 for bulk ZnO and remained close to unity for the samples that contained fine crystals. The electrical conductivity was generally improved with the increase in the concentration of the ZnO fine crystals. The activation energy was found to be 128, 374, and 815 meV for the bulk samples and 164, 369, and 811 meV for the samples that contained 100% fine crystals for the three temperature regions of 300–420, 420–580, and 580–620 K, respectively. These results will provide a pathway toward the determination of a correlation between the electrical and microstructural properties of ZnO-based varistors for future device applications.

With the increasing use of machine learning across various fields to address several aims and goals, the complexity of the ML and Deep Learning (DL) approaches used to provide solutions has also increased. In the last few years, Explainable AI (XAI) methods to further justify and interpret deep learning models have been introduced across several domains and fields. While most papers have applied XAI to English and other Latin-based languages, this paper aims to explain attention-based long short-term memory (LSTM) results across Arabic Sentiment Analysis (ASA), which is considered an uncharted area in previous research. With the use of Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanation (LIME), we intend to further justify and demonstrate how the LSTM leads to the prediction of sentiment polarity within ASA in domain-specific Arabic texts regarding medical insights on LASIK surgery across Twitter users. In our research, the LSTM reached an accuracy of 79.1% on the proposed data set. Throughout the representation of sentiments using LIME, it demonstrated accurate results regarding how specific words contributed to the overall sentiment polarity classification. Furthermore, we compared the word count with the probability weights given across the examples, in order to further validate the LIME results in the context of ASA.

Background and aim of the workProtein kinase C activation with subsequent increase in oxidative stress (OXS) and reduction in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are implicated in the pathophysiology of psychotic disorders and in osteoporosis. Accordingly PKC inhibitors such as tamoxifen could be a novel approach to psychotic illness and may reduce progression of osteoporosis. Since current antipsychotics such as risperidone have inconsistent effects on OXS and BDNF, combination with tamoxifen could be beneficial. Accordingly in this work, tamoxifen was used to investigate the impact of changes in OXS and BDNF on behavioral, hippocampus structural changes in a ketamine induced model of psychosis in rats. The impact of tamoxifen on the antipsychotic effects of risperidone and on its bone damaging effects was also determined.Ketamine was chosen, because it is a valid model of psychosis. Hippocampus was chosen, since hippocampal overactivity is known to correlate with the severity of symptoms in psychosis. Hippocampal overactivity contributes to hyperdopaminergic state in ventral tegmental area and increase in DA release in nucleus accumbens, these are responsible for positive symptoms of schizophrenia and hyperlocomotion in rodents. Hyperlocomotion is considered a corelate of positive symptoms of psychotic illness in rodents and is considered primary outcome to assess manic-like behavior.MethodsRats were divided into seven groups (ten rats each (1) non-ketamine control and (2) ketamine treated groups (a ketamine control, b risperidone/ketamine, c tamoxifen/ketamine, d Risp/Tamox/ketamine risperidone, tamoxifen/risperidone) to test if TAM exhibited behavioral changes or potentiated those of risperidone); (e clomiphene/ketamine and f clomiphene/risperidone/ketamine) to verify that estrogen receptor modulators do not exhibit behavioral changes or potentiates those of risperidone. In addition, thus, the effects of tamoxifen are not due to estrogen effects but rather due to protein kinase c inhibition. Drugs were given for 4 weeks and ketamine was given daily in the last week. Effects of drugs on ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion (open field test) and hippocampus and bone biochemical (MDA, GSH, BDNF) and histological changes (Nissel granules, GFAP positive astrocytes in hippocampus were determined).Electron microscopy scanning of the femur bone was done. Histomorphometric parameters measuring the: 1. Trabecular bone thickness and 2. The trabecular bone volume percentage.ResultsTamoxifen reduced hyperlocomotion, and improved hippocampus structure in ketamine-treated rats, by reducing OXS (reduced malondialdehyde and increased glutathione) and increasing BDNF. These effects might be related to (PKC) inhibition, rather than estrogen modulation, since the anti-estrogenic drug clomiphene had no effect on hyperlocomotion. Tamoxifen enhanced the beneficial effects of risperidone on hippocampal OXS and BDNF, augmenting its effectiveness on hyperlocomotion and hippocampal structure. It also reduced risperidone-induced OXS and the associated bone damage.ConclusionsPKC inhibitors, particularly tamoxifen, might be potential adjuncts to antipsychotics, by reducing OXS and increasing BDNF increasing their effectiveness while reducing their bone damaging effects.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder. Autoantibody levels in the serum of RA patients can guide the diagnosis and treatment. Cystatin D is a known inhibitor of cathepsins involved in RA pathogenesis. We aimed to determine the value of cystatin D in RA patients and to explore the relation between cystatin D serum level and disease activity and joint damage. Seventy adult RA patients and 40 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were included in this study. The patients' clinical, demographic, and rheumatologic data were recorded. Disease activity was measured using the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28). Laboratory tests comprising complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein, serum creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, rheumatoid factor, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies, and serum cystatin D were measured. In addition, we used the modified Larsen score to evaluate radiologic joint damage. Cystatin D was elevated in RA patients compared to the controls and was negatively correlated with ESR, DAS28, and Larsen scores. At a cutoff value of 3.64 ng/ml, cystatin D could differentiate RA patients from healthy controls with 81.4% sensitivity and 75% specificity ( < 0.001). At a cutoff value of 5.22 ng/ml, cystatin D showed a significant value ( = 0.007) for differentiating active RA patients from those in remission, with 69.2% sensitivity and 78.9% specificity. Cystatin D may be a valuable marker for RA with good sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, its negative correlation with the DAS28 and the Larsen score suggests that it may be a marker adding to the DAS28 for the follow-up of disease activity and prediction of radiological joint damage. However, further studies with large sample sizes and long follow-up periods are required.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Hepatitis E virus (HEV) are transmitted through the fecal–oral route. HAV outbreaks and one HEV outbreak have been reported in Egypt. However, the impact of HAV–HEV co-infection is not known. In this study, we assessed HEV markers in acute HAV-infected patients (n = 57) enrolled in Assiut University hospitals. We found that 36.8% of HAV-infected patients were also positive for HEV markers (anti-HEV IgM and HEV RNA), while 63.2% of the patients were HAV mono-infected. Demographic and clinical criteria were comparable in both HAV mono-infected patients and HAV–HEV co-infected patients. Although liver enzymes were not significantly different between the two groups, liver transaminases were higher in the co-infected patients. Six patients developed acute liver failure (ALF); five of them were HAV–HEV-co-infected patients. The relative risk of ALF development was 8.5 times higher in HAV–HEV co-infection compared to mono-infection. Three cases of ALF caused by HAV–HEV co-infection were reported in children (below 18 years) and two cases were reported in adults. All patients developed jaundice, coagulopathy, and encephalopathy; all were living in rural communities. In conclusion: HAV–HEV co-infection can be complicated by ALF. The risk of ALF development in HAV-infected patients is higher when coinfection with HEV is present.

The Arab-Islamic city has been always a glamorous urban dream in human cultural memory. This is manifested in Cairo, the world's largest medieval urban system where traditional lifestyles are still implemented. Nevertheless, despite the extensive efforts to preserve Historic Cairo, it is sadly vulnerable.

In this study, epoxy–cement composites with different concentrations of cement nanofiller and ~67.5 nm in size (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) were synthesized using the solution casting method. The epoxy–cement composites’ structural, mechanical, wettability, roughness, and thermal insulation were investigated. The synthesized epoxy resin is amorphous, whereas epoxy–cement composites are crystalline, and its crystallinity depends on the filler ratio. The incorporated cement hindered the spread of cracks and voids in the composite with few illuminated regions, and the epoxy/cement interface was identified. The Shore D hardness, impact strength, and flexural strength gradually increased to 92.3, 6.1 kJ/m2, and 40.6 MPa, respectively, with an increase in the cement ratio up to 20 wt%. In contrast, the incorporation of a cement ratio of up to 20 wt% reduced thermal conductivity from 0.22 to 0.16 W/m·K. These findings indicated that resin and cement nanoparticle fillers affected the chemical composition of epoxy, which resulted in high molecular compaction and thus strong mechanical resistance and enhanced thermal insulation. The roughness and water contact angle (WCA) of epoxy increased by increasing the cement nanofiller. In contrast, the surface energy (γ) of a solid surface decreased, indicating an inverse relation compared to the behavior of roughness and WCA. The reduction in γ and the creation of a rough surface with higher WCA can produce a suitable hydrophobic surface of lower wettability on the epoxy surface. Accordingly, the developed epoxy–cement composites benefit building construction requirements, among other engineering applications.

Background Different enhancement procedures have been suggested for reduction of residual refractive errors after SMILE. The aim of this study is to evaluate an improved cap-preserving technique for enhancement after SMILE (Re-SMILE). Methods A retrospective case series was conducted at Eye subspecialty center, Cairo, Egypt on 9 eyes with myopia or myopic astigmatism (spherical equivalent – 8.0 and − 12.0D). undergoing SMILE procedure and needed second interference. This was either because the more myopic meridian was more than − 10.0 D and therefore planned to have two-steps procedure (six eyes) or because of under correction needing enhancement (three eyes). Assessment after the primary SMILE procedure was conducted at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. Assessment after Re-SMILE was conducted at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. The assessments included full ophthalmic examination, objective and subjective refraction, and rotating Scheimpflug camera imaging. Results Preoperatively, the mean refractive spherical equivalent (MRSE) values were: − 9.36 ± 0. 89. After primary SMILE it was − 2.18 ± 0.71. After Re-SMILE it was − 0.13 ± 0.68. MRSE was significantly improved after both procedures ( P  < 0.01). The safety index of primary SMILE cases was 1.65 ± 0.62 and for Re-SMILE 1.13 ± 0.34 and the efficacy index was 1.14 ± 0.24 after primary SMILE and 1.11 ± 0.26 after Re-SMILE. Conclusion Centered cap-preserving Re-SMILE is an effective procedure in reducing residual refractive errors after primary SMILE in high myopes.