Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with polymorphic expression. B cells have an essential contribution in immune system activation via the production of different cytokines and functioning as potent antigen-presenting cells. Therefore, a drug that particularly targets B cells may represent an ideal therapeutic approach for SLE. Rituximab (RTX), an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody causing transient B-cell depletion, has been used to manage SLE. This study aims to assess Rituximab effects on lupus nephritis (LN) patients when added to conventional immunosuppressants. Twenty four patients, 15-32 years old, with class III/IV/V LN were involved in this study. All were on steroids before lupus nephritis occurrence. They were given rituximab induction therapy and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) maintenance therapy. RTX was indicated for refractory and relapsing SLE. Several investigations done before and after RTX treatment and in the last follow up (done one year after starting Rituximab). Those included protein in urine, serum creatinine, double stranded DNA, C3, C4, and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR). Proteinuria decreased significantly after RTX treatment and in the last measurement (P=0.01 and P=0.001, respectively). Serum creatinine significantly decreased only in the last measurement (P=0.02). Double stranded DNA decreased remarkably after treatment (P=0.01) with a further decrease in the last measurement (P=0.006). C3 and C4 increased after treatment but the increase was significant only for C3 (P=0.002) and this increase continues till the last measurement (P=0.0006). Active urine sediments found in fifteen patients and disappeared after RTX treatment. Rituximab can be promising in treating lupus nephritis when used along with traditional immunosuppressants. It can reduce disease activity and improve renal function in such patients.
Cyber-attacks keep growing. Because of that, we need stronger ways to protect pictures. This paper talks about DGEN, a Dynamic Generative Encryption Network. It mixes Generative Adversarial Networks with a key system that can change with context. The method may potentially mean it can adjust itself when new threats appear, instead of a fixed lock like AES. It tries to block brute‑force, statistical tricks, or quantum attacks. The design adds randomness, uses learning, and makes keys that depend on each image. That should give very good security, some flexibility, and keep compute cost low. Tests still ran on several public image sets. Results show DGEN beats AES, chaos tricks, and other GAN ideas. Entropy reached 7.99 bits per pix
... Show MoreThis study employs wavelet transforms to address the issue of boundary effects. Additionally, it utilizes probit transform techniques, which are based on probit functions, to estimate the copula density function. This estimation is dependent on the empirical distribution function of the variables. The density is estimated within a transformed domain. Recent research indicates that the early implementations of this strategy may have been more efficient. Nevertheless, in this work, we implemented two novel methodologies utilizing probit transform and wavelet transform. We then proceeded to evaluate and contrast these methodologies using three specific criteria: root mean square error (RMSE), Akaike information criterion (AIC), and log
... Show MoreABSTRACT: Polypyrrole and polypyrrole / silver nanocomposites were fabricated by in-situ polymerization employing Ammonium Persulphate as an oxidizing agent. Nanocomposites were synthesized by combining polypyrrole and silver nanoparticles in various weight percentages (0.1%, 0.5%, 3%, 5% and 7% wt.). Crystallographic data were collected using X-ray diffraction. PPy particles were found to have an orthorhombic symmetry. In contrast, PPy/Ag nanocomposites were reported to have monoclinic structure. The crystallite size was determined by XRD using Scherrer equation and considered to be within 49 nm range. DC conductivity of pelletized samples was evaluated in the temperature range of 323.15k to 453.15k. The conductivity displayed an
... Show MoreThe study explored applications of artificial intelligence and its dialectical relationship with international human rights law of individuals, which requires assessing the effects of this technology on human rights and freedoms. The problem of privacy of humanity, as AI technologies can control human rights and freedoms, while monitoring potential violations in this context. The study use of documentary research and qualitative lens to analyze the data. In conclusion, unawareness of the use of AI may impose significant hurdles on future generations and may infringe on human rights across all sectors of society. The government should mandate obligations for artificial intelligence businesses concerning education, health, human right
... Show MoreThe development of a reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography fluorescence method for the determination of the mycotoxins fumonisin B1 and fumonisin B2 by using silica-based monolithic column is described. The samples were first extracted using acetonitrile:water (50:50, v/v) and purified by using a C18 solid phase extraction-based clean-up column. Then, pre-column derivatization for the analyte using ortho-phthaldialdehyde in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol was carried out. The developed method involved optimization of mobile phase composition using methanol and phosphate buffer, injection volume, temperature and flow rate. The liquid chromatographic separation was performed using a reversed phase Chromolith® RP-18e column
... Show More<span lang="EN-US">In the last years, the self-balancing platform has become one of the most common candidates to use in many applications such as flight, biomedical fields, and industry. In this paper, the physical prototype of a proposed self-balancing platform that described the self-balancing attitude in the (X-axis, Y-axis, or biaxial) under the influence of road disturbance has been introduced. In the physical prototype, the inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor will sense the disturbance in (X-axis, Y-axis, and biaxial). With the determined error, the corresponding electronic circuit, DC servo motors, and the Arduino software, the platform overcame the tilt angle(disturbance). Optimization of the proportional-integral-
... Show MoreWe consider the outflow of water from the peak of a triangular ridge into a channel of finite depth. Solutions are computed for different flow rates and bottom angles. A numerical method is used to compute the flow from the source for small values of flow rate and it is found that there is a maximum flow rate beyond which steady solutions do not seem to exist. Limiting flows are computed for each geometrical configuration. One application of this work is as a model of saline water being returned to the ocean after desalination. References Craya, A. ''Theoretical research on the flow of nonhomogeneous fluids''. La Houille Blanche, (1):22–55, 1949. doi:10.1051/lhb/1949017 Dun, C. R. and Hocking, G. C. ''Withdrawal of fluid through
... Show MoreEstimation of mechanical and physical rock properties is an essential issue in applications related to reservoir geomechanics. Carbonate rocks have complex depositional environments and digenetic processes which alter the rock mechanical properties to varying degrees even at a small distance. This study has been conducted on seventeen core plug samples that have been taken from different formations of carbonate reservoirs in the Fauqi oil field (Jeribe, Khasib, and Mishrif formations). While the rock mechanical and petrophysical properties have been measured in the laboratory including the unconfined compressive strength, Young's modulus, bulk density, porosity, compressional and shear -waves, well logs have been used to do a compar
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