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Understanding the machined material’s behaviour in electro-discharge machining (EDM) using a multi-phase smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) modelling
Get PDFElectro-discharge machining (EDM) has been extensively employed for machining hard alloys, and its simulations have been widely conducted using finite element analysis (FEA). However, the majority of mesh-based models depended on forecasting the crater profile only based on the temperature gradient, without offering detailed data regarding the machined material properties. It is crucial to understand the behaviour of the machined material in order to accurately assess the flushing efficiency, analyse the wear on the electrode, and examine the interaction between the debris generated during machining and the remaining workpiece. This is done to ensure that no recast material is left behind after the EDM process. For the first time, a meshless smoothed particle hydrodynamics multi-phase model was implemented to gain practical insights and comprehensively understand a very intricate phenomenon that occurs within a very short time. Additionally, this approach is utilised to investigate the characteristics of the materials being machined. We utilised our SPH model to simulate both the capacitance- and transistor-based EDM of Ti–6Al–4V and AISI304 steel. Our simulation considered the temperature-dependent thermal properties and latent heats of the materials. The accuracy of our model was confirmed by comparing its results with experimental, analytical, and finite element analysis (FEA) results. The machined material was observed during its removal from the surface, and the dimensions of the resulting crater, as well as its aspect ratio and the rate at which the material was removed, were predicted with an error ranging from 2 to 22%. This error is far lower than that of the typical finite element (FE) prediction. This model lays the groundwork for a more complex model that will more accurately represent EDM and other similar manufacturing processes
The Role of Financial Technology on the Nexus Between Demographic, Socio-economic, and Psychological Factors, and the Financial Literacy Gap
Get PDFThe increased accessibility and adoption of FinTech in emerging economies prompts researchers to investigate its moderating impact on the prevalent determinants of financial literacy. This research investigates the influence of demographic, socio-economic, psychological, and FinTech innovation factors on mitigating the financial literacy gap. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain primary data from the 1,100 Saudi potential participants. The descriptive and inferential statistics were computed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The study findings revealed that FinTech innovation as a moderating variable has a limited impact on closing the financial literacy gap. Besides, marital status, income, spouse’s educational background, as well as psychographic characteristics like “present financial situation,”“meet monthly payments,”“future is hopeless,” and “don’t expect change” have a bearing on the financial literacy gap. Additionally, women lacked confidence when responding to queries on financial literacy. Finally, the study concludes with implications for the policy-making bodies
Exploring the anticancer potential of hydrogen sulfide and BAY‑876 on clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells: Uncovering novel mutations in VHL and KDR genes among ccRCC patients
Get PDFThe aim of the present study was to determine the cytotoxic effect of BAY‑876 and NaSH alone or in combination with sunitinib against the 786‑O cell line (renal adenocarcinoma). The IC50 of sunitinib, BAY‑876 and NaSH were estimated. Cells were cultured in a 96‑well plate and then different concentration of each drug alone was exposed for different incubation time; afterwards, cell cytotoxicity was measured using Cell Counting Kit‑8 kit. The IC50 for each drug was used in next experiment to determine the influence of drug combinations. Furthermore, to observe the effect of mutations of few driver genes in development of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), direct sanger sequencing was used to find single nucleotide polymorphisms in exon 1 and exon 13 of tumor suppressor gene Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) and kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) genes respectively in ccRCC formalin fixed paraffin embedded block samples. The results revealed that the IC50 for sunitinib (after 72 h), BAY‑876 (after 96 h) and NaSH (after 48 h) was 5.26, 53.56 and 692 µM respectively. The cytotoxic effect of sunitinib and BAY‑876, sunitinib and NaSH combinations after 24‑ and 48‑h incubation respectively was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared with the control group as well as to sunitinib group alone. These results proved that each of BAY‑876 and NaSH have anticancer effect; thus, they could be used in future for ccRCC treatment purpose. Furthermore, direct sequencing results demonstrated unrecorded mutations of VHL and KDR genes is 43.7 and 31.5% of cases respectively. These findings confirmed the leading role of VHL gene in development of ccRCC and the crucial role of KDR gene in angiogenesis and drug resistance
Role of circular RNAs and gut microbiome in gastrointestinal cancers and therapeutic targets
Get PDFGastrointestinal cancers are a huge worldwide health concern, which includes a wide variety of digestive tract cancers. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a kind of non-coding RNA (ncRNAs), are a family of single-stranded, covalently closed RNAs that have become recognized as crucial gene expression regulators, having an impact on several cellular functions in cancer biology. The gut microbiome, which consists of several different bacteria, actively contributes to the regulation of host immunity, inflammation, and metabolism. CircRNAs and the gut microbiome interact significantly to greatly affect the growth of GI cancer. Several studies focus on the complex functions of circRNAs and the gut microbiota in GI cancers, including esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, hepatocellular cancer, and pancreatic cancer. It also emphasizes how changed circRNA expression profiles and gut microbiota affect pathways connected to malignancy as well as how circRNAs affect hallmarks of gastrointestinal cancers. Furthermore, circRNAs and gut microbiota have been recommended as biological markers for therapeutic targets as well as diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Targeting circRNAs and the gut microbiota for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers is also being continued to study. Despite significant initiatives, the connection between circRNAs and the gut microbiota and the emergence of gastrointestinal cancers remains poorly understood. In this study, we will go over the most recent studies to emphasize the key roles of circRNAs and gut microbiota in gastrointestinal cancer progression and therapeutic options. In order to create effective therapies and plan for the future gastrointestinal therapy, it is important to comprehend the functions and mechanisms of circRNAs and the gut microbiota
An Educational Intervention to Improve Adverse Drug Reactions Reporting Among Healthcare Practitioners in Selected Pediatric Hospitals in Iraq
Get PDFBackground: Pharmacovigilance is getting a lot of attention lately because it plays a crucial role in managing effective medication use in clinical settings. The main goals of pharmacovigilance are to protect and enhance public health and reduce the harm caused by drugs by ensuring their justified use. This study aimed to create a pharmacovigilance education program, record adverse medication reactions, and assess the impact of the program on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of healthcare professionals in several Iraqi pediatric hospitals. In a three-phase study, healthcare professionals were asked to complete a KAP questionnaire before and after the educational program. Results: The educational program significantly improved participants' knowledge about adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and pharmacovigilance (PV). Similar improvements were observed in attitudes and practices. Conclusion: Ongoing education programs are essential to assess their impact on achieving and maintaining the desired outcomes of the ADR reporting system and enhancing inter-professional practices
Journey into the Esophageal Complications: Decoding Systemic Sclerosis with Cutting-Edge Endoscopy, Manometry, and Ambulatory pH-Study
Get PDFPurpose: Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disorder characterized by autoimmunity, fibrosis, and vasculopathy that
affects the skin and internal organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the esophagus. This article highlights the
characteristics and clinical symptoms of esophageal involvement in patients with SSc.
Patients and Methods: This study was conducted between November 2022 to August 2023, including 26 already diagnosed cases of
SSc in the Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation and Kurdistan Center for Gastroenterology and HepatologySulaymaniyah, Iraq. Esophageal involvement was investigated using esophageal manometry, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD),
and 24-hour impedance-pH monitoring.
Results: Females were significantly predominant (P = 0.019) regarding the symptoms; 76.9% of the patients had heart burn, 76.9%
dysphagia, 73.1% water brush, and 69.2% regurgitation. In total, 69.2% of the patients showed erosive gastrointestinal reflux disease
(GERD) on EGD, 76.9% had decreased lower esophageal sphincter pressure (DLESP) and decreased distal esophageal peristaltic
contractions (DDEPC) on esophageal manometry, and 84.6% had reflux on pH monitoring. Raynaud’s phenomenon is the most
common and typically the earliest clinical manifestation of SSc. The presence of erosive GERD was found to significantly increase the
risk of developing dysphagia (B = 4.725, P = 0.014, OR = 3.482) and regurgitation (B = 3.521, P = 0.006, OR = 4.030).
Conclusion: It is crucial to take gender-specific considerations into account when diagnosing and managing esophageal complications in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Additionally, employing various diagnostic assessments to detect esophageal involvement during SSc is essential. Erosive GERD has been identified as a risk factor that contributes to the development of dysphagia and
regurgitation in individuals with SSc
The Assessment of Self-Directed Learning Readiness Among Generation Z Kurdish EFL Undergraduates
Get PDFThe aim of this study is to determine the level of self-directed learning readiness among undergraduate students belonging to Generation Z in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The study sample was 225 undergraduate students in the English language and literature departments across three universities located in Erbil, Halabja, and Sulaymaniyah. The study used a quantitative approach using a questionnaire. The results showed that there was no significant difference between male and female students in terms of self-control and self-management. However, a slight difference emerged in terms of their desire for learning. A considerable variation was found between first- and fourth-year students in terms of their level of self-control. Furthermore, the results revealed a significant difference between the cities, with students from Erbil demonstrating a higher readiness level for self-directed learning compared to their peers in the other two cities. These findings provide valuable insights into the self-directed learning preparedness of undergraduate students in Kurdistan. They suggest the need for targeted efforts to promote self-directed learning, particularly in areas where readiness level is lower
On the investigating Cycle Properties in the Galilean Plane G^2
Get PDFThe introduction of the Galilean plane within the affine plane parallels the familiar concepts of the Euclidean plane, extending the realm of geometric exploration. The fundamental concepts of lines, triangles, squares, and circles are important in both planes, allowing for a smooth transition between these mathematical environments. The noteworthy aspect is the discovery that cycles in the Galilean plane have properties similar to circles in the Euclidean plane. This paper contributes to the mathematical literature by carefully deriving and establishing features of cycles in the Galilean plane, exhibiting their startling resemblance to Euclidean circles. The use of the inscribed angle as an alternative definition of the circle is particularly insightful, providing a faster and more intuitive explanation of some findings than the usual definition. Such comparative assessments not only broaden our understanding of various geometries but also give us chances to streamline the learning process. The paper argues for the inclusion of Galilean geometry in the high school curriculum by highlighting these parallels. It implies that exposing students to various geometrical systems not only broadens their mathematical perspectives but also fosters a larger and more inclusive vision of the subject, potentially inspiring increased interest and acknowledgment of Galilean geometry among students
Biological Activity and Taxonomy of Persea americana Mill: A Systematic Review
Get PDFMedicinal plants are the main raw materials utilized in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products around the world. Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a high-nutrient tropical fruit of the Lauraceae family. The study provides a concise summary of the most important results from the many studies conducted on P. americana since 2010 that have sought to identify active principles found in the plant that can treat human ailments. To find published articles, searches were conducted through Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, BioMed Central, Science, Scopus, and Springer. In the 113 articles published, it was discovered that the plant extract worked well against cancer, free radicals, bacteria, parasites, inflammation, and diabetes. The chemical compound that was mentioned the most frequently was polyphenol. Clinical studies involving humans are necessary to confirm and improve the effectiveness of avocado seed, peel, and leaf extracts in the treatment of diseases. Although the safety of avocado extract has been shown in animal models, it is imperative to evaluate the dosage and potential adverse effects in humans before deeming it an effective and safe treatment. The extract of P. americana may have a significant impact on the advancement of nutraceuticals
Sustainability of the 4.0 Revolution in University-Level Mathematics Classrooms: Disruptions, Adaptability
Get PDFThis article addresses the sustainability of using digital technologies in mathematics education. The paper emphasizes the need to understand how we can improve mathematics learning processes and the role of technology in these processes. Technology encompasses various fields such as science, manufacturing, services, and transportation, covering a wide range from machines to methods. The use of technology in mathematics education should also be evaluated within this scope. The article examines how digital technologies are used in mathematics classes and how this usage affects students’ mathematics learning processes. Technological advancements, ranging from graphic calculators to web-based applications, have transformed mathematics instruction. However, it is an important question whether technology is used only to access answers more quickly or to improve how mathematics is learned. Especially when there are numerous equations and programming languages in mathematics classes, the limitations of material presentation must be considered. Additionally, this research highlights the importance of using platforms for implementing online learning policies