Lebanese University

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a central outcome in epilepsy care, but existing tools are either lengthy, too brief, or lack sensitivity to epilepsy-specific concerns. This study developed and validated the 15-item Quality of Life in Epilepsy Scale (QOLIE-15) and examined sociodemographic, socioeconomic, clinical, and psychosocial determinants of HRQoL. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult patients with epilepsy recruited from community pharmacies and a primary healthcare center. Participants completed the QOL assessment alongside established measures of medication adherence, adverse events, cognition, anxiety, and stigma. The dataset was randomly split for exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA and CFA). Reliability, convergent, concurrent, and criterion validity were assessed. Measurement invariance was tested across gender, seizure characteristics, and seizure control. Multivariable linear regression identified independent predictors of QOLIE-15 scores. The study included 649 patients. EFA supported a stable 5-factor structure, with sampling adequacy confirmed by KMO = 0.875 and Bartlett’s test (P < 0.001). CFA demonstrated excellent fit (CFI = 0.978, TLI = 0.972, RMSEA = 0.041, SRMR = 0.034). Internal consistency was high (α = 0.906, ω = 0.929). The QOLIE-15 correlated strongly with QOLIE-31 (r = 0.875) and showed excellent criterion validity, with a cut-off of 44.5 yielding sensitivity of 88.8% and specificity of 82.0%. Measurement invariance was established across key subgroups. In multivariable analysis, lower QOL was independently associated with uncontrolled seizures (B = − 1.53), adverse drug effects (B = − 0.10), stigma (B = − 0.38), cognitive complaints (B = − 0.28), anxiety (B = − 0.52), and higher household crowding (B = − 0.77). The QOLIE-15 is a valid, reliable, and practical instrument capturing epilepsy-specific HRQoL. It balances brevity with multidimensionality, and its invariance and robust psychometric properties support application in clinical practice and research. Independent determinants highlight the importance of addressing seizure control, treatment tolerability, stigma, cognition, and anxiety in epilepsy care.

We study the porous medium equation with a fractional integral source. The model is considered in the whole Euclidean space and is supplemented with a nonnegative, bounded and nontrivial initial condition. We show that there exists a critical exponent separating two different behaviors of solutions.When the nonlinearity is below this critical value, the problem admits no global nontrivial solution. This fact allows us to derive an upper bound for the maximal time of existence of solutions. In particular, we prove that solutions exist only on finite time interval and provide an estimate for the lifespan in terms of the size of initial data.

ABSTRACT Driven by growing environmental concerns and increasing regulatory pressures, bio‐based polyurethanes (Bio‐PUs) derived from renewable resources such as vegetable oils and lignocellulosic biomass are attracting significant interest as sustainable alternatives. This review critically examines their mechanical performance, with a particular emphasis on fundamental structure–property relationships. The inherent chemistry of bio‐derived polyols and isocyanates, including hydroxyl functionality, molecular weight, and aromatic or aliphatic nature, is a key determinant of tensile strength, elongation, modulus, and toughness. We highlight effective reinforcement strategies utilizing natural fibers, nanomaterials, and hybrid fillers to enhance stiffness, strength, and thermal stability without compromising sustainability. A comparative analysis with petrochemical PUs reveals that certain bio‐based formulations can achieve comparable elasticity, and toughness, and in some cases improved weathering resistance depending on the specific bio‐derived components and formulation strategies. However, challenges remain in consistently achieving the high rigidity, flame resistance, and long‐term durability typical of some petrochemical PU systems. Broader life‐cycle considerations are also discussed, including feedstock variability, cost competitiveness, and end‐of‐life management. Finally, emerging pathways such as non‐isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs), advanced nanocomposites, and digital manufacturing techniques are highlighted as promising strategies to address current limitations and expand the potential application scope of Bio‐PUs, including in structural and biomedical fields.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare the parameters of the Grummons analysis applied to the cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) constructed posteroanterior (PA) cephalograms and multiplanar reconstructions (MPRs) slices. Material and Methods: Pre-treatment cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 39 orthodontic patients aged between 8 and 13 years old were retrospectively chosen from the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics at the Lebanese University. PA cephalograms were reconstructed from CBCT scans. Skeletal landmarks were identified and analyzed on both imaging techniques using the Viewbox 4 cephalometric software. Results: For all eleven linear measurements (CoR, CoL, JR, JL, Me, CoAgR, CoAgL, CoMeR, CoMeL, AgMeR, AgMeL), two angular measurements (CoAgMeR, CoAgMeL), and six ratios (UFRa, LFRa, MxRa, MdRa, TMdRa, MxMdRa) showed a statistically significant difference between the CBCT constructed PA cephalograms and their respective three-dimensional (3D) volumes ( P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: PA reconstructions and MPR slices were not comparable according to Grummons’ analysis, especially for measurements evaluating the mandibular symmetry and point Juguale. New and reliable 3D analyses are recommended to account for accuracy and 3D reality.

Abstract Accurate fault detection and diagnosis are critical components of any fault-tolerant control system, especially for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) where reliability is paramount. Traditionally, both model-based and data-driven approaches have been applied for fault diagnosis. However, the increasing complexity of high-dimensional UAV systems has shifted focus toward data-driven methods, which leverage advanced classification algorithms to enhance fault identification and isolation. This study builds on this evolution by developing a sophisticated condition-based monitoring (CBM) system specifically designed for multirotor UAVs. In contrast to earlier studies that primarily relied on raw data for classifier training, this work introduces advanced preprocessing techniques and multidomain feature extraction, significantly improving the robustness and accuracy of fault detection. A comparative analysis is performed between feature-selection methods, including recursive feature elimination with cross-validation (RFECV) and variational autoencoder (VAE), to extract critical insights into UAV operational behavior. Through testing and evaluating various classification models on data from a hexarotor UAV under diverse actuator fault conditions, this research identifies optimal approaches for real-time fault detection and diagnosis. Results demonstrate notable improvements across all evaluation metrics, establishing this approach as a substantial advancement in UAV fault tolerance.

Abstract Background Stroke remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Ischemic stroke, caused by arterial occlusion, induces sensorimotor deficits and memory impairments. Excessive activity of the brain angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) is associated with hypertension and cerebral ischemia. Candesartan (CN), an AT1R blocker, improves cerebrovascular blood flow. Pomegranate ( Punica granatum ) is rich in polyphenolic antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, suggesting potential neuroprotective effects in cerebral ischemia. Aim This study compared the neuroprotective effects of CN administered alone or in combination with pomegranate (POM) in a rat model of cerebral ischemia induced by chronic unilateral carotid artery ligation. Methods Cerebral ischemia was induced by ligation of the right common carotid artery (RCCA) in adult rats. Animals were randomly assigned to four groups: sham control, untreated ischemic, ischemic treated with CN, and ischemic treated with CN + POM. Sensorimotor and cognitive functions were assessed 1–15 days post-surgery using beam balance (BB), beam walking (BW), modified sticky-tape (MST), novel object recognition (NOR), and the Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Results RCCA ligation induced marked sensorimotor deficits and memory impairments. Both CN monotherapy and CN + POM treatment equally restored sensorimotor function to sham-control levels, as demonstrated by BB, BW, and MST tests. In contrast, CN + POM treatment showed greater efficacy than CN alone in improving short-term recognition and spatial memory, as demonstrated by NOR and MWM performance. Conclusion CN effectively reverses ischemia-induced sensorimotor deficits, whereas the addition of POM confers specific and enhanced protection against cognitive impairment, indicating distinct mechanisms underlying sensorimotor and memory recovery after cerebral ischemia.