The genus Segestria Latreille, 1804 and the species Segestria florentina (Rossi, 1790) are recorded in Libya for the first time, based on a single adult female specimen

The battle against COVID-19 does not always end when recovery is declared. Many individuals confirmed recovered from COVID-19 continue to experience a variety of symptoms. The aim of this study was to shed more light on COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 symptoms in Libya. Two hundred and twenty Libyan individuals (58% female; 42% male), who recovered from COVID‐19, were asked to answer a questionnaire that was performed to inquire about the presence of COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 symptoms. Additionally, comorbidities and demographic data were included. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (20%), diabetes (16%), and lung disease (08%). The main COVID-19 symptoms were headache (56%), anosmia and ageusia (52%), Arthralgia (48%), cough (46%) and fever (41%). While the post-COVID-19 symptoms were fatigue (64%), sleep disorders (52%), insomnia, anxiety, depression (42%), and anosmia and ageusia (32%). Persistent COVID and its related long-term complications may continue to affect patients and their families.

Laser cladding is considered as a strategic technique , since it can yield a surface layers that compared to other hard facing techniques, have superior properties in terms, of pureness , homogeneity , hardness, bonding and microstructure .

A clad layer of bronze (6:6:3) formed on Zl-105 Aluminum alloy surface using a high power CO2 CW laser . Effects of laser scanning rates on the quality of the produced clad layer studied . The microstructure of clad layer examined using optical and scanning electron microscope. The produced phases and chemical composition of clad layer analyzed using XRD and EDS. Microhadness profile indicated a significant improvement in the hardness of the bronze coating on Zl-105 Al

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Using macroinvertebrate-based biotic indices and diversity indices to assess water quality: A case study on the Karasu Stream (Kastamonu, Türkiye)

İbrahim Küçükbasmacı, Abdulhamed M Omar Etriieki

Biomonitoring is an approach that uses indicators or sentinel species to assess the health or pollution of an environment, combining diversity based on specific taxonomic groups with the taxa’s indicator of pollution into a single index or score. Benthic macroinvertebrates are among the most preferred and valuable indicators of the biotic index. Our study aims to evaluate water quality and ecological status using biotic and diversity indices based on benthic macroinvertebrates. The macroinvertebrate samples used in this study were collected seasonally from 16 stations determined in Karasu Stream. These samples consist of 14747 specimens belonging to 9 orders and 40 families of Insecta, Malacostraca, Hirudinea and Oligochaeta. In addition, some physicochemical parameters were measured at the stations. The data obtained were analyzed using the Turkey-Biological Monitoring Working Group (TR-BMWP), Average Score per Taxon (ASPT), Family Biotic Index (FBI), Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) taxon richness index, and Shannon-Wiener (SWDI), Simpson (SDI) and Hill’s diversity indices. Our results showed that the last six stations of Karasu Stream were under pressure due to various anthropogenic effects. According to biotic indexes, the ecological quality status of the water in the stations was determined to be High or Good in the first ten stations and Average, Poor, or Bad in the last six stations. The results of our study showed that TR-BMWP, FBI, and EPT indices are more reliable in determining water quality than the ASPT index and reflect the environmental situation better. Since the TR-BMWP index is adapted to macroinvertebrate taxa distributed in Türkiye, it can be used as a suitable tool for evaluating other rivers’ water quality in Türkiye.

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Using macroinvertebrate‐based biotic indices and diversity indices to assess water quality: A case study on the Karasu Stream (Kastamonu, Türkiye)

Abdulhamed M Omar Etriieki, İbrahim Küçükbasmacı

Ecohydrology, e2627, 2024

Biomonitoring is an approach that uses indicators or sentinel species to assess the health or pollution of an environment, combining diversity based on specific taxonomic groups with the taxa's indicator of pollution into a single index or score. Benthic macroinvertebrates are among the most preferred and valuable indicators of the biotic index. Our study aims to evaluate water quality and ecological status using biotic and diversity indices based on benthic macroinvertebrates. The macroinvertebrate samples used in this study were collected seasonally from 16 stations determined in Karasu Stream. These samples consist of 14,747 specimens belonging to 9 orders and 40 families of Insecta, Malacostraca, Hirudinea and Oligochaeta. In addition, some physicochemical parameters were measured at the stations. The data obtained were analysed using the Turkey‐Biological Monitoring Working Group (TR‐BMWP), Average Score per Taxon (ASPT), Family Biotic Index (FBI), Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) taxon richness index, and Shannon–Wiener, Simpson and Hill's diversity indices. Our results showed that the last six stations of Karasu Stream were under pressure due to various anthropogenic effects. According to biotic indexes, the ecological quality status of the water in the stations was determined to be high or good in the first 10 stations and average, poor or bad in the last 6 stations. The results of our study showed that TR‐BMWP, FBI and EPT indices are more reliable in determining water quality than the ASPT index and reflect the environmental situation better. Since the TR‐BMWP index is adapted to macroinvertebrate taxa distributed in Türkiye, it can be used as a suitable tool for evaluating other rivers' water quality in Türkiye.

Clostridioides difficile is an important human pathogen causing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea worldwide. Besides using antibiotics for treatment, the interest in bacteriophages as an alternative therapeutic option has increased. Prophage abundance and genetic diversity are well-documented in clinical strains, but the carriage of prophages in environmental strains of C. difficile has not yet been explored. Thus, the prevalence and genetic diversity of integrated prophages in the genomes of 166 environmental C. difficile isolates were identified. In addition, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas systems were determined in the genomes of prophage regions. Predicted prophages and CRISPR-Cas systems were identified by using the PHASTER web server and CRISPRCasFinder, respectively. Phylogenetic relationships among predicated prophages were also constructed based on phage-related genes, terminase large (TerL) subunits and LysM. Among 372 intact prophages, the predominant prophages were phiCDHM1, phiCDHM19, phiMMP01, phiCD506, phiCD27, phiCD211, phiMMP03, and phiC2, followed by phiMMP02, phiCDKM9, phiCD6356, phiCDKM15, and phiCD505. Two newly discovered siphoviruses, phiSM101- and phivB_CpeS-CP51-like Clostridium phages, were identified in two C. difficile genomes. Most prophages were found in sequence types (STs) ST11, ST3, ST8, ST109, and ST2, followed by ST6, ST17, ST4, ST5, ST44, and ST58. An obvious correlation was found between prophage types and STs/ribotypes. Most predicated prophages carry CRISPR arrays. Some prophages carry several gene products, such as accessory gene regulator (Agr), putative spore protease, and abortive infection (Abi) systems. This study shows that prophage carriage, along with genetic diversity and their CRISPR arrays, may play a role in the biology, lifestyle, and fitness of their host strains.

This review aimed to investigate the effect of pH on morphology, and size of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) biosynthesized using extracts of various plant parts and agricultural waste. By reviewing previous studies, it was found that the formation of AuNPs was more rapid in neutral and basic mediums than in acidic mediums. Furthermore, most of those studies indicated that the smallest sizes of biosynthesized AuNPs, produced by plant extracts, were in neutral and alkaline mediums. Regarding the morphology, it was found that multiple shapes of the AuNPs were obtained in an acidic medium of the reaction, while there was typically a dominant shape of the AuNPs in the basic medium. In conclusion, significant quantities of AuNPs with appropriate sizes and morphology could be obtained by controlling the medium of the reaction when AuNPs are biosynthesized using extracts of plant parts and agricultural waste.

This study delves into the evaluation of daily profits within the network of Sephora cosmetics branches, employing distributed systems, the K-means algorithm, and WEKA visualization techniques. The objective is to analyze the profitability patterns across Sephora branches and uncover underlying clusters to optimize strategic decision-making. The research methods encompassed the utilization of distributed systems to collect and integrate daily profit data from multiple Sephora branches. The K-means clustering algorithm was applied to segment the dataset, discerning distinct clusters based on profit margins and performance metrics. The WEKA visualization tool was instrumental in depicting these clusters in a comprehensive and interpretable manner, offering insights into profit distributions and potential areas for enhancement. This research revealed intricate profitability structures within the Sephora branch network. The application of the K-means algorithm, distinct clusters of branches with varying profitability profiles were identified. WEKA visualization facilitated the graphical representation of these clusters, elucidating the relationships between different branches based on daily profits. Such insights can aid decision-makers in strategizing resource allocation, marketing initiatives, and operational improvements tailored to each cluster's profitability dynamics. The amalgamation of distributed systems, K-means algorithm, and WEKA visualization offered a robust framework for assessing and optimizing the financial performance of  Sephora branches. This research contributes valuable insights into the evaluation of daily profits across  Sephora cosmetics branches, showcasing the potential of distributed systems and advanced analytical tools in understanding profitability patterns. The findings provide a foundation for strategic interventions aimed at enhancing profitability and operational efficiencies within the Sephora branch network.