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Abstract This study aims to investigate the potential of integrating natural biochar (BC) derived from eggshell waste into flexible polyurethane (FPU) foam to enhance its mechanical and acoustic performance. The study explores the impact of incorporating BC at various weight ratios (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 wt. %) on the properties of the FPU foam. Additionally, the effects of modifying the BC with (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) at different ratios (10, 20, and 30 wt. %) and the influence of diverse particle sizes of BC on the thermal, mechanical, and acoustic characteristics of the FPU composite are investigated. The functional groups, morphology, and elemental composition of the developed FPU composites are analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. Characteristics such as density, gel fraction, and porosity were also assessed. The results reveal that the density of FPU foam increased by 4.32% and 7.83% while the porosity decreased to 50.22% and 47.05% with the addition of 0.1 wt. % of unmodified BC and modified BC with 20 wt. % APTMS, respectively, compared to unfilled FPU. Additionally, the gel fraction of the FPU matrix increases by 1.91% and 3.55% with the inclusion of 0.1 wt. % unmodified BC and modified BC with 20 wt. % APTMS, respectively. Furthermore, TGA analysis revealed that all FPU composites demonstrate improved thermal stability compared to unfilled FPU, reaching a peak value of 312.17°C for the FPU sample incorporating BC modified with 20 wt. % APTMS. Compression strength increased with 0.1 wt. % untreated BC but decreased at higher concentrations. Modifying BC with 20% APTMS resulted in an 8.23% increase in compressive strength compared to unfilled FPU. Acoustic analysis showed that the addition of BC improved absorption, and modified BC enhanced absorption characteristics of FPU, reaching Class D with a 20 mm thickness. BC modified with APTMS further improved acoustic properties compared to the unfilled FPU sample (Class E), with 20% modification showing the best results. These composites present promising materials for sound absorption applications and address environmental issues related to eggshell waste.

Uncontrolled or improperly managed wastewater is considered toxic and dangerous to plants, animals, and people, as well as negatively impacting the ecosystem. In this research, the use of we aimed to prepare polymer nanocomposites (guar gum/polyvinyl alcohol, and nano-montmorillonite clay) for eliminating heavy metals from water-based systems, especially Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions. The synthesis of nanocomposites was done by the green method with different ratios of guar gum to PVA (50/50), (60/40), and (80/20) wt%, in addition to glycerol that acts as a cross-linker. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis of the prepared (guar gum/PVA/MMT) polymeric nano-composites’ structure and morphology revealed the presence of both guar gum and PVA’s functional groups in the polymeric network matrix. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis was also performed, which verified the creation of a nanocomposite. Furthermore, theromgravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated the biocomposites’ excellent thermal properties. For those metal ions, the extreme uptake was found at pH 6.0 in each instance. The Equilibrium uptake capacities of the three prepared nanocomposites were achieved within 240 min. The maximal capacities were found to be 95, 89 and 84 mg/g for Cu2+, and for Cd2+ were found to be 100, 91, 87 mg/g for guar gum (80/20, 60/40 and 50/50), respectively. The pseudo-2nd-order model with R2 > 0.98 was demonstrated to be followed by the adsorption reaction, according to the presented results. In less than 4 hours, the adsorption equilibrium was reached. Furthermore, a 1% EDTA solution could be used to revitalize the metal-ion-loaded nanocomposites for several cycles. The most promising nanocomposite with efficiency above 90% for the removal of Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions from wastewater was found to have a guar (80/20) weight percentage, according to the results obtained.

Yoghurt is a delectable fermented milk product suitable for all ages. Chromium (Cr), a trace mineral is found in two forms: trivalent and hexavalent. Recent studies have shown that the Cr (III), or chromium picolinate (Cri), is beneficial for carbohydrate metabolism. Thus, Cr supplements are used to treat diabetes and manage blood sugar. However, the effect of the incorporation of Cri on starter growth and the quality of yoghurt still needs to be determined. In this study, we aim to produce Cr (CrPi)-fortified yoghurt to fulfil the proposed recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Cr (35–50 µg/day for adults). Additionally, it might act as a nutraceutical for persons with special medical conditions, such as patients with obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus disease. In this respect, the effect of different concentrations of CrPi, (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 ppm) chromium chloride [Cr (III)] (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ppm), and potassium chromate [Cr (VI)] (1, 2 ppm) on the activity of yoghurt starter culture were investigated in vitro on de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) media. Compared to the control (without Cr), the obtained data revealed significant inhibition of the yoghurt starter culture by Cr (VI) at 2 ppm compared to Cr (III), which did not affect the bacterial growth up to 5 ppm and was comparable with CrPi [Cr (III)]. We also produced yoghurt supplemented with two doses of Cr (0.25 and 0.5 ppm). We did not observe any significant differences in the physicochemical, rheological, microbiological, and sensory properties of the Cr-fortified yoghurt and the control up to 2 weeks in cold storage. These results clearly indicate that CrPi (0.25 and 0.5 ppm) can be used to manufacture yoghurt with the RDA for intact Cr without affecting its quality.

Class II genotype VII Newcastle disease viruses (NDV) are predominant in the Middle East and Asia despite intensive vaccination programs using conventional live and inactivated NDV vaccines. In this study, the protective efficacies of three commercial vaccine regimes involving genotype II NDV, recombinant genotype VII NDV-matched, and an autogenous velogenic NDV genotype VII vaccine were evaluated against challenge with velogenic NDV genotype VII (accession number MG029120). Three vaccination regimes were applied as follows: group-1 received inactivated genotype II, group-2 received inactivated recombinant genotype VII NDV-matched, and group-3 received velogenic inactivated autogenous NDV genotype VII vaccines given on day 7; for the live vaccine doses, each group received the same live genotype II vaccine. The birds in all of the groups were challenged with NDV genotype VII, which was applied on day 28. Protection by the three regimes was evaluated after infection based on mortality rate, clinical signs, gross lesions, virus shedding, seroconversion, and microscopic changes. The results showed that these three vaccination regimes partially protected commercial broilers (73%, 86%, 97%, respectively, vs. 8.6% in non-vaccinated challenged and 0% in non-vaccinated non-challenged birds) against mortality at 10 days post-challenge (dpc). Using inactivated vaccines significantly reduced the virus shedding at the level of the number of shedders and the amount of virus that was shed in all vaccinated groups (G1-3) compared to in the non-vaccinated group (G-4). In conclusion, using closely genotype-matched vaccines (NDV-GVII) provided higher protection than using vaccines that were not closely genotype-matched and non-genotype-matched. The vaccine seeds that were closely related to genotype VII.1.1 provided higher protection against challenge against this genotype since it circulates in the Middle East region. Updating vaccine seeds with recent and closely related isolates provides higher protection.

Uncontrolled or improperly managed wastewater is considered toxic and dangerous to plants, animals, and people, as well as negatively impacting the ecosystem. In this research, the use of we aimed to prepare polymer nanocomposites (guar gum/polyvinyl alcohol, and nano-montmorillonite clay) for eliminating heavy metals from water-based systems, especially Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions. The synthesis of nanocomposites was done by the green method with different ratios of guar gum to PVA (50/50), (60/40), and (80/20) wt%, in addition to glycerol that acts as a cross-linker. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis of the prepared (guar gum/PVA/MMT) polymeric nanocomposites' structure and morphology revealed the presence of both guar gum and PVA's functional groups in the polymeric network matrix. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis was also performed, which verified the creation of a nanocomposite. Furthermore, theromgravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated the biocomposites' excellent thermal properties. For those metal ions, the extreme uptake was found at pH 6.0 in each instance. The Equilibrium uptake capacities of the three prepared nanocomposites were achieved within 240 min. The maximal capacities were found to be 95, 89 and 84 mg/g for Cu2+, and for Cd2+ were found to be 100, 91, 87 mg/g for guar gum (80/20, 60/40 and 50/50), respectively. The pseudo-2nd-order model with R2 > 0.98 was demonstrated to be followed by the adsorption reaction, according to the presented results. In less than 4 hours, the adsorption equilibrium was reached. Furthermore, a 1% EDTA solution could be used to revitalize the metal-ion-loaded nanocomposites for several cycles. The most promising nanocomposite with efficiency above 90% for the removal of Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions from wastewater was found to have a guar (80/20) weight percentage, according to the results obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the author improved and modified g-C3N4 by doping it with the metals Ag and Cu, which changed the photochemical properties of g-C3N4, narrowed the band gap, and improved the photocatalytic performance regarding quantum efficiency. Organic hydrocarbons such as 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) are very stable prepared materials produced as intermediates to obtain polyvinyl chloride, and the prepared photo-catalyst is an innovative method for extreme decomposition of chlorinated hydrocarbons. However, some significant results were obtained using different analysis techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that the addition of Ag and Cu-NPS partially altered the structure of pure graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4-Pure). Scanning electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that the morphological features of Ag-Cu/g-C3N4 contain quantum dots of Ag and Cu nanoparticles in addition to 2d-g-C3N4. The better separation of the photo-generated charge carriers is attributed to better photoactivity in the case of 0.3 g Ag-Cu/g-C3N4 with a reaction time of less than 30 min. Furthermore, the Ag-Cu/g-C3N4 recycling experiment showed that the catalyst remained stable after three stages of the pyrolysis experimental cycle. Another clear indicator of DCE degradation is the measurement using the titration of the Cl ions released by the decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite corrosion being an inevitable process, researchers strive to control corrosion. In this study, our goal was to prepare two amido Gemini cationic surfactants, LAPG and MAPG, each with different alkyl chains and multiple carbonyl groups as rich electronic rich centers. We aimed to evaluate these surfactants as potential corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel (CS) in 1 M HCl at temperatures of 25–55 ± 0.1 °C. In theoretical investigations, DFT parameters and Mont Carlo simulation were run to predict the adsorption affinity and reactive sites of the LAPG and MAPG molecules. Their efficacy was investigated experimentally considering weight loss and electrochemical techniques. The Tafel polarization revealed that at 0.1 mM of LAPG and MAPG, the corrosion current density (icorr) of CS was reduced to the lowest extent (75.56 and 53.82 μA cm−2) compared to 529.3 μA cm−2 in the absence of the inhibitors. EIS data suggests the enhancement of the thickness of the adsorbed layers of the studied compounds from the decrease of the double-layer capacitance Cdl values. The Langmuir isotherm explained the adoption phenomena of these compounds at 25–55 ± 0.1 °C. Activation and adsorption thermodynamic parameters predicted the chemisorption behavior of these molecules onto the steel surface. AFM and XPS tools confirm the CS surface protection due to these inhibitors' adsorbed layer. A parallel study showed the superiority of these corrosion inhibitors in HCl compared with those reported earlier, making these compounds highly promising corrosion inhibitors, especially in high-temperature acidic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage is widely accepted due to its high success rate, minimal need for re-intervention, and low incidence of pancreatitis. Our objective was to investigate the feasibility, efficacy, and outcomes of primary EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS) compared to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with malignant distal biliary obstruction (MDBO). Methods: In this prospective multicenter study conducted between May 2021 and April 2023, patients with unresectable MDBO were assigned to either EUS-CDS or ERCP. Technical and clinical success were the primary endpoints. Results: A total of 73 patients at three tertiary centers were enrolled, of whom 37 underwent EUS-CDS and 36 underwent ERCP. Pancreatic cancer was present in 62 patients (84.9%). The technical and clinical success rates were comparable (97.3% and 97.2% for EUS-CDS vs. 94.4% and 100% for ERCP, respectively), with nearly the same procedure duration (P = 0.982) and with no significant difference in adverse events between both groups. Pancreatitis occurred in one patient after ERCP. Short-term re-intervention (within 3 months) was only required in two patients in the EUS-CDS group. Conclusion: Primary EUS-CDS—even in developing countries—is feasible, with comparable safety and non-inferior efficacy to ERCP for palliation in MDBO cases if a highly experienced team is present.

The present investigation employed ABAQUS V6.14 software to examine the stability of a marine causeway when using GTRS. GTRS is a geotechnical reinforcement system consisting of geotextile tubes in the core of a marine causeway. An additional aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the behavior of this system in diverse geotechnical environments. Many configurations of GTRS were investigated. The effect of the filling pressure, size of units, the number of units, and the type of filling material have been investigated. The filling pressure was implemented under three different values of 0 kPa, 20 kPa, and 40 kPa; it is worth mentioning that several preliminary models have been created to simulate the filling process of the geotextile tubes to have its deformed shape, two different diameters are employed; 2.00 m and 3.50 m, number of units was changed from 1 to 3, depending on the capacity of the core area. Three different filling materials were employed in the study, i.e., local soil, dense sand, and concrete. The results showed that filling pumping pressure does not significantly affect the stability of the marine causeway. The previous finding was opposite to the effect of the units' number, which has a high degree of influence on the causeway stability. Also, using larger sizes of geotubes is advised during the designing stage. Moreover, using concrete or even improved soil as a filling material obviously gives better performance for the causeway stability than using the same soil as a filling material.

This paper is mainly concerned with studying the stability of a marine causeway in the case of using two different reinforcement systems. The first system is a geotextile layers reinforcement system (GLRS), and the other system is a geotextile mats reinforcement system (GMRS). Another purpose of this study is to have a more comprehensive view of the behavior of these systems in three different soils. To achieve the purposes mentioned above, a numerical study was conducted utilizing ABAQUS V6.14. The research expanded to include the parametric analysis phase in sequential models to examine various parameters. The results are compared with those obtained from a reference scenario. The parametric study for the (GLRS) shows that geotextile thickness is the most sounding parameter on the stability of the causeway. also, the results confirm that less vertical spacing between layers gives higher stability. Furthermore, the relative length of the geotextile layer does not always need to achieve the maximum value to have an evident effect. Also, it can be concluded from the obtained results that the effect of the same parameters behaves in a similar trend for the other system. Lastly, The results generally show that (GMRS) is the more effective system to enhance the stability of the silty sand marine causeway. While the (GLRS) sounds to be more effective for dense sand and stiff clay soils.

Abstract Folic acid (FA), with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, may offer protection against ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury. This study investigated whether FA safeguards rat kidneys from IR by targeting high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), a key inflammatory mediator. Fifty adult male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups: control, IR, IR + FA pretreatment, and FA alone. Compared to controls, IR significantly impaired renal function and elevated levels of malondialdehyde, HMGB1, NF-κB, and caspase 3. FA pretreatment effectively reversed these detrimental changes, protecting renal function and minimizing tissue damage. The FA-alone group showed no significant differences compared to the control group, indicating no adverse effects of FA treatment. Mechanistically, FA inhibited HMGB1 expression and its downstream activation of NF-κB and caspase 3, thereby quelling inflammation and cell death. FA shields rat kidneys from IR-induced injury by suppressing HMGB1-mediated inflammation and apoptosis, suggesting a potential therapeutic avenue for IR-associated kidney damage.

Yoghurt is a delectable fermented milk product suitable for all ages. Chromium (Cr), a trace mineral is found in two forms: trivalent and hexavalent. Recent studies have shown that the Cr (III), or chromium picolinate (Cri), is beneficial for carbohydrate metabolism. Thus, Cr supplements are used to treat diabetes and manage blood sugar. However, the effect of the incorporation of Cri on starter growth and the quality of yoghurt still needs to be determined. In this study, we aim to produce Cr (CrPi)-fortified yoghurt to fulfil the proposed recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Cr (35–50 µg/day for adults). Additionally, it might act as a nutraceutical for persons with special medical conditions, such as patients with obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus disease. In this respect, the effect of different concentrations of CrPi, (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 ppm) chromium chloride [Cr (III)] (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ppm), and potassium chromate [Cr (VI)] (1, 2 ppm) on the activity of yoghurt starter culture were investigated in vitro on de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) media. Compared to the control (without Cr), the obtained data revealed significant inhibition of the yoghurt starter culture by Cr (VI) at 2 ppm compared to Cr (III), which did not affect the bacterial growth up to 5 ppm and was comparable with CrPi [Cr (III)]. We also produced yoghurt supplemented with two doses of Cr (0.25 and 0.5 ppm). We did not observe any significant differences in the physicochemical, rheological, microbiological, and sensory properties of the Cr-fortified yoghurt and the control up to 2 weeks in cold storage. These results clearly indicate that CrPi (0.25 and 0.5 ppm) can be used to manufacture yoghurt with the RDA for intact Cr without affecting its quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: The multifactorial nature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which manifests differently in individuals creates a need for a better understanding of the behaviour and pattern of the disease due to environmental factors. The current study aimed to study the changes in IBD behaviour, presentation, and characteristics in patients over the past two decades with a goal of improving patients’ diagnosis, management and outcomes. Methods: During a 6-month period (1/02/2022–30/07/2022), the information of patients with IBD who attended IBD outpatient clinics of 11 referral centre's in six countries was collected, and based on the first time of diagnosis with IBD, they were allocated as group A (those who were diagnosed more than 15 years ago), group B (those who were diagnosed with IBD between 5 and 15 years ago) and group C (IBD cases who diagnosed in recent 5 years). Then the most prevalent subtypes and characters of the disease are evaluated and compared to make clear if the presenting pattern and behaviour of the disease has changed in the last 2 decades. Findings: Overall 1430 patients with IBD including 1207 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (84.5%) and 205 patients with Crohn's disease (CD; 14.3%) included. Mean age of participants at the first time of diagnosis with IBD was 30 years. The extra-intestinal involvement of IBD in groups A and B was more prevalent in comparison with group C. Most of those in groups A & B had academic education but in group C, the most prevalent educational status was high school or diploma (P = 0.012). In contrast to groups A and B, the relative prevalence of medium socioeconomic level in group C had decreased (65%). Relative prevalence of UC subtypes was similar among groups A and B (extensive colitis as most prevalent) but in group C, the most prevalent subtype is left side colitis (38.17%). The most prevalent subtype of CD in groups A and B was ileocolic involvement while in group C, upper GI involvement is significantly increased. The rate of food sensitivity among groups A and B was more than group C (P = 0.00001). The relative prevalence of patients with no flare has increased with a steady slope (P

The main aim of this research is to study the comparison between the aeroponic and substrate systems for potato production to reduce production costs and increasing the potato yield. To achieve that study, the effect of different soilless systems (aeroponic and substrate) on plant length, root length, number of leaves, stem diameter, leaf area, leaf length and potato yield. The obtained results refer to the highest value of plant height was 114.33 cm for aeroponic system and the highest value of number of leaves was 15.50 at aeroponic system. The highest values of stem diameter, number of internode and number of branches were found T2 system. The highest value of leaf area and leaf length (491.26 cm2 and 32.57 cm) was found with aeroponic system (T2). The highest value of total fresh yield 2039.12 g plant-1 was observed with aeroponic system (T2), while the lowest value of total fresh yield (658.37 g plant-1) was found with substrate system (T3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this research is to study the effect of different soilless systems (aeroponic and substrate) on nutrients and water apply rate of potato plant to achieve that study, the effect of different soilless systems (aeroponic and substrate) on nutrients and water apply rate during experimental period. Also fresh and dry weight of shoot, roots and tubers were studied at the end of experimental period. The obtained results indicate that the total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium apply rates were 42.24, 43.53 and 39.24, 18.34, 19.88 and 10.18, 31.69, 32.99 and 33.98, 27.63, 29.35 and 29.35, 24.1, 25.53 and 7.35 mg plant-1 for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. The water apply were 74.49, 79.48 and 61.90 L plant-1 for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. The fresh and dry weight of shoot and roots were increased in aeroponic system better than those of substrate system. The fresh and dry weights of tubers were 294.46, 44.56, 255.15, 42.15 and 227.3, 40.3 g plant-1 for T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The average water use efficiency were 22.95, 25.65 and 10.63 Kg m-3 for T1, T2and T3, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the hydrodynamic flushing modeling of the new extension marina at Al-Wakrah Port, Qatar. The planning of the extension must be carefully designed to guarantee the adequate circulation of clean water. So, water flushing problem concerns must be assessed. A 2D numerical model was utilized to simulate water circulation in the port under the natural forces of tide and wind. The model should assure that the extension plan of the port would not result in the development of stagnant water areas, besides ensuring efficient water exchange throughout the entire water system. Based on a flexible mesh model of the study area, the hydrodynamic and advection/dispersion modules of MIKE 21 have both been used to the investigation. The constructed model was applicable for the analysis of free-surface flows, hydrodynamic forces, and dispersion in the proposed marina layout. The hydrodynamic module used tidal and wind data to generate tidal currents in the marina basin. The results were used as input to run the advection/dispersion module that simulated the spread and movement of conservative tracer material. After 30 hours, the tracer concentration approaches 10% of its initial concentration. This indicates excellent flushing due to the higher exchange with the Arabian Gulf.

Oil and gas platforms are exposed to ship accidents, which is an unavoidable event. Ships have been developed recently, where it becomes larger and more equipped. Design standards established guidelines that take into consideration collision energy into design calculations. Researchers have been calling for an update since 2004, as these criteria have remained unchanged for a long time. In 2019, the Det Norske Veritas (DNV) standard revised the standard vessel mass to be 6500–10,000 tons displacement, and the updates are continuing to the other relevant standards. Another standard calculated the collision energy using a standard vessel with a displacement of 5,000 tons moving with speed 2 m/s. This paper investigates and analyzes a jack-up platform that is impacted by a standard vessel using the ductility design principle. The collision is numerically modeled using ABAQUS software. Three different scenarios are considered. The results of displacement, impact force, and energy have been assessed and explained to each member. The members suffered considerable damage after being impacted by a vessel of 5,000 tons. This study can help in the development of standards for offshore structures that consider higher collision energies.

Abstract Background Accurate rectal tumor staging guides the choice of treatment options. EUS and MRI are the main modalities for staging. Aim of the work To compare the performance of EUS and MRI for loco-regional staging of anorectal cancer after neo-adjuvant therapy. Methods Seventy-three (37 male, 36 female) patients with rectal cancer after neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy were enrolled. Histopathological staging after surgery were used as reference for comparing the yield of loco-regional staging for EUS and MRI. EUS and MRI were done 1 month after completion of neo-adjuvant therapy. Results Regarding post-surgical T staging, eight patients had early tumor (T2 = 16 and T1 = 9) and thirty six were locally advanced (T3 = 36), while N staging, forty patients with negative nodes and 33 were positive (N1 = 22 and N2 = 11). Comparing EUS to MRI, it showed a higher sensitivity (95.7% vs. 78.7%), specificity (84.6% vs. 68.0%) and accuracy (91.8% vs. 75.3%) for staging early and locally advanced tumor. Also, it had a higher sensitivity (78.8% vs. 69.7%), specificity (75.0% vs. 65.0%) and accuracy (76.7% vs. 67.1%) for detection of lymph nodes. Conclusion EUS appears to be more accurate than MRI in loco-regional staging of rectal carcinoma after neo-adjuvant therapy.

Introduction: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided pancreatic cysto-gastrostomy/duodenostomy is the current accepted practice for management of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts with insertion of two or more double-pigtail (DP) stents. There is no much work on the efficacy of using a single wide-caliber DP stent, aiming to decrease the time, complications, and accessories used in the procedure. Aim of the Work: The aim of this study was to assess technical and clinical outcomes of using a single wide-caliber DP stent in EUSguided pancreatic pseudocyst drainage. Methodology: This multicenter prospective study included 57 patients, from which the 35 patients with symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts enrolled. Patients with cysts with multiple septations (7 cases) or cyst with >30% necrosis (8 cases) of the cyst content and patients with generalized ascites (4 cases) or patients with major comorbidities (3 cases) were excluded. Patients were followed up within 1 month and 6 months after stent placement to assess complete resolution or a decrease in the sizes of cysts with clinical symptomatic improvement. Results: From 57 patients, 35 patients (19 females/16 males, median age 40 years) with a symptomatic pancreatic pseudocyst were referred for EUS-guided drainage. All used stents were 10 Fr DP plastic stents. The median duration of the whole procedure was 16 min. Technical success was achieved in all cases. Clinical success was encountered in 32 patients (91.4%) without re-accumulation on follow-up. Minor adverse events were encountered in 3 patients (8.6%) including post-procedure abdominal pain (1 case) and fever (2 cases). Conclusion: We suggest that using a wide-caliber single-pigtail stent for EUS-guided cystogastrostomy is safe and effective with short procedure time, with reduced risks from the insertion of another stent(s).

Abstract Background The unbalanced gut microbiota, poorly ingested enriched fiber foods, leaky gut is connected to the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The leaky gut translocates uremic toxins to the systemic circulation, promote systemic inflammation, worsen CKD. Decreasing the uremic toxins influx from the gut may decrease the progression of CKD. So, we aimed to evaluate the effect of probiotic and symbiotic supplementation on the leaky gut and their role to prevent CKD progression. Methods 48 white albino rats were randomly allocated into 6 groups: sham group; CKD rats; probiotic treated and symbiotic treated rats. Treatment started either immediately or 2 weeks after the operation for each treated group. Blood pressure, body weight changes, serum level of urea, creatinine, indoxyl sulphate and CRP were determined. Histological studies of kidney remnants and intestine and renal fibrosis index were calculated. SPSS program was used for statistics. Results Serum urea, creatinine, indoxyl sulphate, CRP, fibrosis index and blood pressure significantly increased in CKD rats. Probiotic treatment decreased serum level of urea, creatinine and CRP and fibrosis index. Symbiotic treatment decreased the serum level of urea, creatinine, indoxyl sulphate and CRP compared to CKD rats. Blood pressure and fibrosis index were decreased significantly upon symbiotic treatment. Conclusions A strong correlation between the gut microbial ecosystem and CKD has been proved. The use of probiotics and symbiotic to modulate an unhealthy gut microbiome is a promising intervention to delay CKD progression specially in early stages. Symbiotic results were better than probiotic alone.

This investigation was carried out in the experimental farm and the grain quality laboratory of the Rice Research and Training Center, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt to determine the grain quality characteristics as well as the nutritional value after milling of three Egyptian rice genotypes (Oryza sativa) under foliar treatment with different stimulating compounds. A tow-year field experiment was laid out in split-plot design with four replications in the 2017 and 2018 rice growing seasons. Rice genotypes were allocated in the main plot and stimulating compounds in the subplot. After harvesting, 150-gram from each plot was taken to study the following characteristics: hulling, milling, head rice, gelatinous temperature, kernel elongation, amylose content, protein content, carbohydrate content, lipids content, ash, phosphorus, potassium and energy composition. There were significant differences for most of the studied characteristics caused by genotype, stimulating compound and the interaction between the two factors. The results revealed that the grain quality characteristics and the nutritional value of Egyptian rice genotypes can be enhanced by the application of some stimulating compounds such as amino acids and NPK compound fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The target of this study is the synthesis of a new diester derivative and radiolabeling with one of the most effective diagnostic radioisotopes to be investigated as a novel targeting radiotracer for tumor imaging. 10‐[2‐(9‐Carboxynonanoyloxy)propoxy]‐10‐oxodecanoic acid was synthesized in excellent yield and characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, mass, 1H‐NMR, and 13C‐NMR spectra. The diester was technetium‐99m (99mTc) radiolabeled by direct technique using sodium dithionite as a reducing agent. The labeling parameters such as diester amount, reducing agent amount, pH of the medium, and reaction time were optimized. High radiochemical yield of 95.10 ± 0.41% and in vitro stability in serum up to 12 h have been obtained on complexation of the synthesized diester with Tc‐99m. Evaluation of the diester anticancer activity against breast cancer cell line (MCF‐7) showed high percent of inhibition about 61.5% at 100 μg/ml. The rhenium complex of the diester was synthesized and characterized by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (ESI) and elemental analysis depending on the strong chemical resemblance between Tc and Re. Biodistribution studies of 99mTc‐diester complex showed high target to nontarget ratio (T/NT) equals 6.24 ± 0.09 in tumor‐bearing mice at 30‐min postinjection, suggesting this complex could be used as hopeful solid tumor‐imaging agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro effect of the aqueous extract concentrations of the methanol crude extract of Lantana camara flowers and Solanum nigrum fruits were evaluated on the reproduction, feeding response and adult emergence of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella. Aqueous extracts of the two tested plants hindered the oviposition of gravid females and hatchability. Moreover, the extracts prevented feeding by newly hatched larvae. The extracts caused a decrease in adult emergence from the treated potato tubers as compared to the control. In addition, bioassay results indicate that the extract of S. nigrum fruits was more effective than the extract of L. camara flowers on the potato tuber moth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies numerically a tied-back sheet pile quay wall failure in Egypt, which started to collapse after the completion of the superstructure. The quay wall comprises a 20 m length sheet pile wall tied back to a 6 m length sheet pile wall. The failure of the tied-back sheet pile wall occurred in the tie rods, resulting in about 15 cm displacement. The explanation of failure required underwater dive inspection to investigate the cause. Investigations have revealed the absence of waler beams installation at the level of tie rods which led to their loss. And thus, the failure was attributed to the design errors and the tie rod bolts' poor material quality. This research aims to provide common rehabilitation strategies that are little disruptive. An inverted U-slab approach has been suggested to restrict the sheet pile wall's lateral displacement. The U-slab approach consists of a 40 cm thick slab connected to a beam from the seaside and a deadman from the landside which provides a tie-back mechanism and strengthens the defective sheet pile wall. The study also investigates the behavior of the sheet pile wall before and after the tie-rods numerically by PLAXIS 2D. Based on the analysis, the U-slab technique results in 2 cm lateral displacement of the defective sheet pile wall in the operational phase. This means that the technique controls the lateral movement of the displaced sheet pile wall. Eventually, the approach satisfies the factor of safety and increases the friction between the slab and soil.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-α)-based therapy is associated with several hematological adverse events in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients with advanced fibrosis. We performed this study to evaluate the association between Fibrosis-4 (Fib-4) index and hematological adverse events in patients with chronic HCV infection, undergoing IFN-α-based triple therapy. We included 120 HCV-infected patients, receiving triple therapy: weekly PegIFN-α, daily ribavirin (1,000–1,200 mg), and daily sofosbuvir (400 mg) for 12 weeks. We compared Fib-4 scores for patients who developed hematological adverse events at weeks 4 (w4) and w12 of treatment and w12 post-treatment versus those who did not. Treatment with the aforementioned triple regimen was associated with a sustained virological response (SVR)-12 rate of 93.9%. We found no significant associations (P > 0.05) between SVR12 rate and the degree of fibrosis or the risk of hematological adverse events. The Fib-4 score could predict patients who developed hematological adverse events (anemia, leukopenia, and neutropenia) in the first month of treatment, but not in later stages. A Fib-4 cutoff value of 3.59 had high specificity for anemia, leukopenia, and neutropenia (85.1%, 87.2%, and 88.2%, respectively), but had low sensitivity for detecting the 3 events. In conclusion, the Fib-4 score may predict early hematological adverse effects in HCV-infected patients on IFN-based triple therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]