Kuwait Journal of Science最新文献

Overexpression of HER2/neu and estrogen receptors (ER) and/or progesterone receptors (PR) are reported to be inversely associated with breast cancer (BC). The relationship between hormone receptors and HER2/neu is attenuated by age and numerous other clinical factors. Here, we examined the link between hormone receptors and HER-2/neu in terms of an additional variable, such as the histological grades of breast tumors in women. A total of 240 breast cancer samples were obtained from the Department of Histopathology at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital in Lahore, Punjab. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to examine the expression of hormone receptors and HER-2/neu. Using the χ2 and fisher exact test, the association between hormone receptors and HER-2/neu in various age groups and histological grades was investigated. Patients that were included in this study had ages between 30 and 90 years, with a mean age of 51.89 ± 12.01 years, and were mostly having grade 1 tumors. The most prevalent type of breast cancer was invasive ductal carcinoma (95.83%). It was found that the ER, PR, and HER-2/neu were more expressive in older (above 45) and grade 1 tumors as compared to younger (≤45) and higher-grade tumor patients. HER-2 was negatively correlated with hormonal receptors in women aged >45 years old with grade-1 tumors. Hormonal receptor (ER/PR) expression is associated with HER-2/neu expression not only in older age (>45) but also in grade 1 tumors. This correlation between HER2/neu and hormone receptors that improves with age and tumor grade is useful for predicting outcomes and, likely, for guiding therapy choices.

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of shoreline dynamics in the Thanjavur district, focusing on erosion and accretion trends from 1992 to 2022. The coastal region was partitioned based on Taluk boundaries to discern distinct patterns in erosion and accretion. The Peravurani region displayed stability, while the Mettupalayam Coast exhibited modest accretion, influenced by sediment deposition from the Tedakkiar River. Mettupalayam had the highest net shoreline movement (NSM), contrasting with the Mandiripattinam coast's prevalent erosion trend. Areas such as Ammani Chattram and Setubava Chattram coast remained relatively stable, while Ganeshapuram, Sendalapattinam, and Sembalpattinam coasts experienced low accretion linked to the Ambuliar River. The study found that the maximum erosion in the study area is 4.1 m/yr (end point rate (EPR)) and 4.21 m/yr (linear regression rate (LRR)) at the Maravakkadu coastal region, and the maximum accretion is 3.75 m/yr (EPR) and LRR of 4.12 m/yr at the Mettupalayam coast. Employing the Kalman filter, future shoreline projections for 2032 and 2042 revealed heightened erosion and accretion trends, identifying vulnerable areas and distinct accretion patterns. It has been predicted that the eastern part of the coastal stretch erodes towards the land, and the western part is accreting. The dynamic interaction of erosion and accretion in Sendalapattinam underscored historical influences on future projections. However, ongoing erosion on the Maravakkadu coast may entail potential economic consequences. The findings emphasize the need for informed coastal management strategies, integrating historical data and future predictions. This will help maintain the coastal ecosystem and community resilience in the changing shoreline dynamics.

The present study investigates the reactions of polystyrene and epoxy/polystyrene powder composites, exploring different weight percentages (8%, 12%, and 16%) of polystyrene during decomposition under highly elevated temperatures within a nitrogen atmosphere. The findings reveal that polystyrene content significantly influences the thermal behavior of pure epoxy, with a higher polystyrene content correlating with the increased thermal stability of the composites. This study observed a three-stage mass loss process by examining the reaction kinetics of thermal decomposition using the Coats-Redfern approach. Initially, weight reduction occurs due to moisture and volatile elimination, followed by a smooth mass loss phase attributed to weaker polymer chain linkages and, ultimately, char formation. Chemical kinetic parameters, such as activation energy and frequency factor, were successfully determined using the Coats-Redfern approach, with a first-order reaction observed across all data points, demonstrating a high R-square mean value of 99.8%. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravitational analysis (TGA) analyses revealed an increase in glass temperature from 86.95 to 92.85 °C and an elevation in activation energy from 75.38 to 92.85 kJ/mol with increasing polystyrene content (0–16 wt%). Furthermore, the study investigated the influence of thermodynamic parameters. In terms of mechanical properties, increasing polystyrene content reduced impact strength (from 8.5 to 4.23 Kj/m²). In contrast, hardness increased from 77.5 for pure epoxy to 80.4 at 12 wt% polystyrene content in the composite. These findings underscore the importance of thermal stability results in developing a comprehensive understanding of thermal decomposition processes, informing future research endeavors and industrial applications.

According to existing literature, the ordinary least squares (OLS) estimators are not the best in presence of multicollinearity. The inability of OLS estimators against multicollinearity has paved the way for the development of various ridge type estimators for circumventing the problem of multicollinearity. In this paper improved two-parameter ridge (ITPR) estimators are proposed. A simulation study is used to evaluate the performance of proposed estimators based on minimum mean squared error (MSE) criterion. The simulative results reveal that, based on minimum MSE, ITPR2 was the most efficient estimator compared to the considered estimators in the study. Finally, a real-life dataset is analyzed to demonstrate the applications of the proposed estimators and also checked their efficacy for mitigation of multicollinearity.

Impurity models describe localized impurities interacting with the spins of electrons. Strong correlations lead to non-trivial behaviours of the model. In this work we present 3 different impurity models: (1) the single-impurity Kondo model; (2) the two-impurity Kondo model; (3) the two-channel Kondo model. For each model we present a spin chain emulation and utilize the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG). We study the magnetization and zero-temperature susceptibility of the impurity when a local magnetic field is applied. We get the expected relations theoretically.

This study investigates the synthesis and optimization of zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films through the cost-effective spray pyrolysis technique, utilizing varying molar concentrations of zinc acetate precursor. The unique hierarchical morphology of the ZnO thin film with a zinc concentration of 0.2 M, comprising nanoflakes connected by nanowires, is explored for its superior properties, including a hexagonal wurzite structure, enhanced transparency, and a blue shift in absorbance spectra. Structural, optical, and morphological analyses reveal the promising characteristics of the 0.2 M specimen, making it a potential candidate for applications in optoelectronics, microelectronics, and solar cells. Furthermore, the optimized ZnO thin film is employed as an antireflective layer and heterojunction partner in a CZTS/ZnO thin film heterojunction device. The diode behavior observed in the current-voltage characteristics emphasizes the rectifying properties of the CZTS/ZnO heterojunction, opening avenues for further optimization and enhanced device performance in electronic and optoelectronic applications. This research contributes to the ongoing efforts in transitioning towards sustainable energy sources by providing insights into the fabrication of efficient and cost-effective thin film heterojunction devices.

We introduce various sum formulae involving products of two Fibonomial/Lucanomial coefficients or quotients of two such coefficients over a third one. In order to prove the claims we will convert them into their $q$-forms and then use known terminating well-poised $q$-series identities.

The graphoidal graph $G$ of graph $H$ is the graph obtained by taking graphoidal cover $\Psi$ of $H$ as vertices and two vertices are adjacent if and only if the corresponding paths have a non-empty intersection. If $G$ is isomorphic to one of its graphoidal graphs, then $G$ is said to be a self-graphoidal graph. $G$ is called self-complementary graphoidal graph if it is isomorphic to one of its complementary graphoidal graphs. In this article, we characterize self-graphoidal graphs and give a construction of self-graphoidal graphs from cycle and wheel graphs. Also, we give a characterization of self-complementary graphoidal graphs.

SARS-CoV-2 continues to mutate and circulate at alarming levels around the world and is exemplified by the emergence of the new variant JN.1. The emergence of novel SARS-CoV variants underscores the urgency for the development of new drugs. Phytochemicals, known for their safety and efficacy, have been widely used to address various ailments. This study aims at identifying the anti-SARS-CoV potential of emodin, a bioactive anthraquinone, and its derivatives. Key proteins, including hemagglutinin-esterase (HE), papain-like protease (PL^pro), major protease (3CL^pro), non-structural protein (nsp3) and spike protein(S) of SARS-CoV, were used as protein targets for the virtual screening of 110 emodin derivatives (ED) and remdesivir a proven antiviral drug. Among the 110 derivatives, ED21, ED25, ED5 inhibited HE, 3CL^pro and S protein, respectively. ED29 inhibited both PL^pro and nsp3 with high binding affinity. Similar receptor binding sites were occupied by remdesivir and emodin derivatives. These emodin derivatives are bound to similar amino acids in receptors as compared to remdesivir. Further dynamic simulations studies with ED21-HE, ED25-3CL^pro, ED5-S, ED29-PL^pro and ED29-nsp3 complexes showed all of them are stable with minimum root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), solvent-accessible surface area (SASA) and radius of gyration (Rg) and are comparable to APO protein. All the ligands accepted Lipinski's rule of five. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analysis revealed only ED21 and ED5 as promising druglike candidates that can have high therapeutic value and no side effects. These in-silico findings contribute to the development of potent SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors, potentially advancing the quest for effective antiviral drugs.

In emerging economies like Kuwait, tourism funds national development and sustains local livelihoods. The rapid rise of tourism in several nations may have serious environmental effects due to increased energy usage that increases carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and worsening global warming. Due to climate change's growing effects on the environment, several efforts have been made by numerous countries worldwide to achieve carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability. Moreover, effective energy production prediction is crucial to establish an equilibrium between traditional and clean energy sources. However, there is a research gap investigating the environmental impacts of tourism within the framework of energy-economy-environment nexus in Kuwait's context that propelled the development of this pioneering investigation. The present study's objective is to determine how economic growth, energy consumption, and tourism affect carbon emissions in Kuwait. This study analyzes Kuwait's time series data from 1995 to 2019 by using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method that analyzed the components' relationships, allowing for long-term and short-term dynamics. The results show that increasing economic growth, energy consumption, and tourist arrivals increase CO₂ emissions in Kuwait. This article proposes policies to achieve carbon neutrality in Kuwait by expanding renewable energy use and promoting sustainable tourism to boost the economy.