Search

Twenty-one different fungal isolates were isolated from samples of infected insects from different areas in Salah El-Din Governorate. A preliminary screening of the isolated fungi was carried out using different stages of green peach insect for the purpose of estimating its pathogenicity. The results showed that the fungal spores suspension and fungal filtrates of isolates (RA-4, RA-5, RA-9, RA-10, RA-12, RA-13, RA-14, RA-16, RA-23, RA-24) significantly superior on other isolates in killing green peach insects, the isolate (RA-5) achieved the highest mortality rate of 95.3% during the 72 hours period. All the selected (highest pathogenic) isolates showed their production of chitinase, the fungal isolates (RA-24, RA-4, RA-12, RA-14) superior on other isolates in the activity of chitinase, reaching 6.62, 3.31, 2.53, and 2.15 units/ml, respectively compared to 1.76 units/ml in the commercial fungicide strain B.bassiana. The isolates (RA-5, RA-24, RA-4, RA-9) were significantly superior to the protease activity, which reached 2.42, 1.88, 1.86, and 1.83 units/ml, respectively, compared to 1.64 units/ml in the commercial fungicide strain B. bassiana. These isolates were phenotypically and molecularly identified to the species level based on the nucleotide sequences of the ITS1 and ITS4 region within the 5.8 S rRNA gene. To study the compatibility of the highest pathogenic fungal isolates with different concentrations of the chemical pesticide Dominant, the results showed that all fungal isolates were able to grow in the presence of this pesticide, the highest compatibility was in present of Dominant at 1%, with P. oxalicum (RA-13), M. anisopliae(RA-24) and T. longibrachiatum (RA-5) in which the fungal growth rate reached 89, 88.57 and 83.44%, respectively. The results also showed that there was a significant superiority of all treatments that included M. anisopliae (RA-24) and T. longibrachiatum (RA-5) with the pesticide Dominant (0.5%) in the mortality rate of green peach insect stages compared with the other treatments, the highest mortality rate reached 100% after 3 days of treatment (M. anisopliae + Dominant 0.5) and (T. longibrachiatum + Dominant 0.5) while the lowest mortality rate was 66.66% in the treatment of M.anisopliae.

This paper illustrates the preliminary results of a series of shaking-table tests on a full-scale flat-bottom manufactured steel silo filled with a granular material. The experimental campaign was developed at the EUCENTRE lab in Pavia (Italy) in February/March 2019 within the European project “SEismic Response of Actual steel SILOS (SERA-SILOS)” (https://sera-ta.eucentre.it/index.php/serata-project-18/). A flat-bottom cylindrical silo was tested in fixed-based and seismically isolated configurations. It is the smallest actual silo manufactured by the AGI-FRAME company (Italy). The height is H = 5.5 m and the radius is R = 1.82 m. The silo wall is realized by 5 stripes of horizontal corrugated sheets (ferrules) with thickness equal to 1 mm. The silo wall is supported by 8 vertical stiffeners characterized by an hat-shaped thin open cross-section which changes in thickness along the height. The stiffeners are connected to the silo wall by M10 7cm-spaced bolts. The silo is filled with soft wheat up to a 3.3 m height, in order to reproduce a “squat” aspect ratio H/2R roughly equal to 1. The weight of the steel silo itself is around 12 kN, the amount of grain is around 285 kN, the 4.8mx4.8mx0.4m r.c. plate is 230 kN weigh. The isolators placed between the table and the r.c. plate are Curved Surface Sliders friction pendulum devices expressly manufactured by the MAURER company (Germany – Switzerland) to obtain a 3 s period of vibration (radius = 2.2364 m, max allowable displacement = 20 cm). Mono-axial shaking-table tests were performed using random signals, low-frequency sinusoidal inputs and earthquake records (both artificial and real). The following sensors were utilized: uniaxial and triaxial accelerometers placed at different heights of the silo, vertical strain gauges on the external surfaces of the stiffeners, four load cells placed at two heights of the silo, LVDTs between the isolated system and the table, and HD video-cameras to monitor the spatial displacements of the main structural elements. The main objectives of the shaking-table tests were: (i) to identify the basic dynamic properties (period of vibration, damping ratio, amplification) of the grain-silo system, (ii) to experimentally assess the static pressure during the filling phase and the dynamic over-pressures during the shaking-table tests, and (iii) to evaluate the benefits obtained introducing an isolation system at the base of the silo.

Objectif Comparer l’echographie preoperatoire et la cytoponction thyroidienne a l’examen histologique definitif. Methodes Etude retrospective portant sur 168 patients, soit 219 nodules operes a l’hopital Mohamed Tahar Maamouri entre 2016 a 2017. Resultats L’âge moyen etait de 47 ans avec une Predominance feminine (89 %). Le nodule thyroidien etait de decouverte fortuite lors d’un examen systematique ou sur l’imagerie dans la majorite des cas. Il s’agissait de nodules multiples dans 71 % des cas. La taille moyenne de nodule etait estimee a 28,8 mm. Tous les nodules ont ete scores selon La classification EU-TIRADS, 42 % etaient suspects (Eu-TIRADS IV et V). La Presomption de malignite sur l’echographie cervicale etait objectivee chez 92 des patients. La cytoponction a ete pratiquee chez 45 patients ; 21 nodules etaient classes « douteux », 7 « suspects » et 2 « malins ». Sur l’examen anatomopathologique 22 % de nodules etaient malins. Le carcinome papillaire etait le type histologique predominant. La combinaison des deux examens a depiste 13 nodules sur 15 soit une sensibilite de 86,7 %. Sur les 27 nodules benins a l’examen histologique, 14 l’etaient sur les deux examens avec une specificite de 51,9 %. Conclusion L’echographie cervicale couplee a la cytoponction thyroidienne constitue un bon outil de depistage des nodules thyroidiens malins permettant une selection Preoperatoire des patients a risque tout en evitant le recours a des interventions inutiles.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency in children. Differentiation of acute appendicitis from conditions that do not require operative management can be challenging in children. This study aimed to identify the optimum risk prediction model to stratify acute appendicitis risk in children. METHODS: We did a rapid review to identify acute appendicitis risk prediction models. A prospective, multicentre cohort study was then done to evaluate performance of these models. Children (aged 5-15 years) presenting with acute right iliac fossa pain in the UK and Ireland were included. For each model, score cutoff thresholds were systematically varied to identify the best achievable specificity while maintaining a failure rate (ie, proportion of patients identified as low risk who had acute appendicitis) less than 5%. The normal appendicectomy rate was the proportion of resected appendixes found to be normal on histopathological examination. FINDINGS:15 risk prediction models were identified that could be assessed. The cohort study enrolled 1827 children from 139 centres, of whom 630 (34·5%) underwent appendicectomy. The normal appendicectomy rate was 15·9% (100 of 630 patients). The Shera score was the best performing model, with an area under the curve of 0·84 (95% CI 0·82-0·86). Applying score cutoffs of 3 points or lower for children aged 5-10 years and girls aged 11-15 years, and 2 points or lower for boys aged 11-15 years, the failure rate was 3·3% (95% CI 2·0-5·2; 18 of 539 patients), specificity was 44·3% (95% CI 41·4-47·2; 521 of 1176), and positive predictive value was 41·4% (38·5-44·4; 463 of 1118). Positive predictive value for the Shera score with a cutoff of 6 points or lower (72·6%, 67·4-77·4) was similar to that of ultrasound scan (75·0%, 65·3-83·1). INTERPRETATION: The Shera score has the potential to identify a large group of children at low risk of acute appendicitis who could be considered for early discharge. Risk scoring does not identify children who should proceed directly to surgery. Medium-risk and high-risk children should undergo routine preoperative ultrasound imaging by operators trained to assess for acute appendicitis, and MRI or low-dose CT if uncertainty remains. FUNDING: None.

Background Primary immune thrombocytopenia (PIT) is an acquired auto-immune disease characterized by decreased platelet count with increased bleeding tendency. The tumor necrosis factor associated induced protein-3 (TNFAIP3) codes for the ubiquitin-modifying enzyme that is indispensable for limiting inflammation. TNFAIP3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) has been implicated in the susceptibility to multiple auto-immune diseases. We aimed to study the distribution of TNFAIP3 (rs5029939 C>G) SNP and the possible association of the studied polymorphism with the susceptibility to chronic PIT and the response to treatment in a sample of the Egyptian pediatric chronic PIT patients. This is a case-control study performed on 40 chronic PIT patients and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. DNA samples from both groups were tested for TNFAIP3 (rs5029939 C>G) SNP using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Results TNFAIP3 (rs5029939 C>G) genotype distribution showed no statistically significant difference between PIT cases and controls [CC 77.5% vs. 82.5%, and CG 22% vs. 18%, respectively; OR (95% CI), 1.323 (0.470–0.723); p, 0.596]. The minor allele frequency (MAF) of rs5029939-G was comparable between the 2 groups (0.11 vs. 0.09) [OR (95% CI), 1.282 (0.484–3.397); p, 0.617]. No statistically significant difference was observed between chronic PIT patients carrying the mutant heterozygous genotype (CG) achieving complete response and those with no response [OR (95% CI), 1.667 (0.165-16.810); p > 0.05]. The MAF of rs5029939-G was comparable between both groups [OR (95% CI), 1.571 (0.175–14.111); p > 0.05]. Conclusion This study showed no liability of patients carrying TNFAIP3 (rs5029939 C>G) polymorphism to develop chronic course of the disease or to achieve complete response to treatment. TNFAIP3 (rs5029939 C < G) SNP plays no role in either susceptibility to chronic PIT in the studied sample of Egyptian pediatric population or their response to treatment.

A new homoisoflavan, identified as (3

Mixotrophy, i.e., the capability of both phototrophy and phagotrophy within a single organism, is a prominent trophic mode in aquatic ecosystems. Mixotrophic strategies can be highly advantageous when feeding or photosynthesis alone does not sustain metabolic needs. In the current review, we discuss the functional types of mixotrophic marine protists (herein mixoplankton) within the context of evolution. Permanent plastids have been established in large due to gene transfer from prey and/or endosymbionts to the host cell. In some kleptoplastidic mixoplankton, prior gene transfers and active transcription of plastid related genes in the host can help maintain and extend retention of the current kleptoplast. In addition to kleptoplasts, the prey nucleus is also sometimes retained and actively transcribed to help maintain and even replicate the kleptoplasts. Endosymbiotic relations vary considerably in the extent to which hosts affect symbionts. For example, some endosymbionts are heavily modified to increase photosynthetic efficiency, or are controlled in their cell division. It can be proposed that many kleptoplasts and endosymbionts are in fact en route to becoming permanent plastids. Conditions such as increased temperature and limiting nutrients seem to favor phagotrophy in mixoplankton. However, responses of mixoplankton to changing environmental conditions like light irradiance, temperature, nutrient, and prey availability are variable and species-specific. Studying mixotrophs with temporary plastids could elucidate past and future evolutionary mechanisms and dynamics of processes such as phagotrophy and the establishment of (secondary) permanent plastids.

A new homoisoflavan, identified as (3 R)-7-hydroxy-3′,4′-methylenedioxyhomoisoflavan, was isolated from Dracaena cinnabari Balf. f. resin. The structure was elucidated by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy as well as high resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, a diverse group of flavonoids were isolated, representing homoisoflavans, flavans, flavanones, chalcones and dihydrochalcones. The compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase and COX-II inhibition activity. The obtained IC50 values of the tested flavonoids gave an insight about some key structural features to their α-glucosidase and COX-II inhibitory activity. For α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, a flavanone skeleton was favorable over a flavan. For COX-II inhibition, the introduction of a fused heterocyclic ring at the homoisoflavan skeleton enhanced the activity.

The structure-based design of some CDK2 inhibitors with a 3-(benzylidene)indolin-2-one scaffold as potential anticancer agents was realized. Target compounds were obtained as

Aims Azithromycin is widely used broad spectrum antibiotic recently used in treatment protocol of COVID-19 for its antiviral and immunomodulatory effects combined with Hydroxychloroquine or alone. Rat models showed that Azithromycin produces oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis of myocardial tissue. Rosuvastatin, a synthetic statin, can attenuate myocardial ischemia with antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects. This study aims to evaluate the probable protective effect of Rosuvastatin against Azithromycin induced cardiotoxicity. Main method Twenty adult male albino rats were divided randomly into four groups, five rats each control, Azithromycin, Rosuvastatin, and Azithromycin +Rosuvastatin groups. Azithromycin 30 mg/kg/day and Rosuvastatin 2 mg/kg/day were administrated for two weeks by an intragastric tube. Twenty-four hours after the last dose, rats were anesthetized and the following measures were carried out; Electrocardiogram, Blood samples for Biochemical analysis of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine phosphokinase (CPK). The animals sacrificed, hearts excised, apical part processed for H&E, immunohistochemical staining, and examined by light microscope. The remaining parts of the heart were collected for assessment of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Reduced Glutathione (GSH). Key findings The results revealed that Rosuvastatin significantly ameliorates ECG changes, biochemical, and Oxidative stress markers alterations of Azithromycin. Histological evaluation from Azithromycin group showed marked areas of degeneration, myofibers disorganization, inflammatory infiltrate, and hemorrhage. Immunohistochemical evaluation showed significant increase in both Caspase 3 and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) immune stain. Rosuvastatin treated group showed restoration of the cardiac muscle fibers in H&E and Immunohistochemical results. Significance We concluded that Rosuvastatin significantly ameliorates the toxic changes of Azithromycin on the heart.

Background Risk scores were mainly proved to predict undiagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (UT2DM) in a non-invasive manner and to guide earlier clinical treatment. The objective of the present study was to assess the performance of the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) for detecting three outcomes: UT2DM, prediabetes, and the metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods This was a prospective, cross-sectional study during which employees aged between 30 and 64, with no known diabetes and working within the faculties of the Lebanese University (LU) were conveniently recruited. Participants completed the FINDRISC questionnaire and their glucose levels were examined using both fasting blood glucose (FBG) and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). Furthermore, they underwent lipid profile tests with anthropometry. Results Of 713 subjects, 397 subjects (55.2% female; 44.8% male) completed the blood tests and thus were considered as the sample population. 7.6% had UT2DM, 22.9% prediabetes and 35.8% had MS, where men had higher prevalence than women for these 3 outcomes (P = 0.001, P = 0.003 and P = 0.001) respectively. The AUROC value with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) for detecting UT2DM was 0.795 (0.822 in men and 0.725 in women), 0.621(0.648 in men and 0.59 in women) for prediabetes and 0.710 (0.734 in men and 0.705 in women) for MS. The correspondent optimal cut-off point for UT2DM was 11.5 (sensitivity = 83.3% and specificity = 61.3%), 9.5 for prediabetes (sensitivity = 73.6% and specificity = 43.1%) and 10.5 (sensitivity = 69.7%; specificity = 56.5%) for MS. Conclusion The FINDRISC can be considered a simple, quick, inexpensive, and non-invasive instrument to use in a Lebanese community of working people who are unaware of their health status and who usually report being extremely busy because of their daily hectic work for the screening of UT2DM and MS. However, it poorly screens for prediabetes in this context.

Legacy data show that ∼40% of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were cured with limited antimetabolite-based chemotherapy regimens. However, identifying patients with very-low-risk (VLR) ALL remains imprecise. Patients selected based on a combination of presenting features and a minimal residual disease (MRD) level

The major drawback of melanoma therapy with BRAF and MAPK inhibitors is the innate and acquired drug resistance. We therefore explored alternative targets and developed a new compound, SAB298, that is a SRC-family kinase (SFK) inhibitor. The drug is cytotoxic to patient-derived melanoma cells regardless of oncogene expression and inhibits tumor growth in vivo. As expected, it inhibited SRC and PI3K activity, and had the additional property of ERBB2 inhibition, that lead to inactivation of the two ERK phosphatases PP2A and SHP2. In 57% of the melanoma cell lines tested, the consequent increase in ERK activity lead to proteolytic degradation of its substrate, the lineage specific transcription factor MITF, likely contributing to growth arrest. Treatment with a combination of SAB298 and AZD6244 (selumetinib), induced a synergistic growth inhibition, suggesting that the new compound could be used in the clinic as a substitute for, or in combination with MAPK inhibitors.

In this paper, we introduce the complementary q-Lidstone interpolating polynomial of degree 2 n , which involves interpolating data at the odd-order q-derivatives. For this polynomial, we will provide a q-Peano representation of the error function. Next, we use these results to prove the existence of solutions of the complementary q-Lidstone boundary value problems. Some examples are included.

Introduction Postoperative cognitive disorders are an emerging public health problem because of its related socio-economic impact.: Postoperative cognitive disorders are an emerging public health problem because of its related socio-economic impact. Objectives To determine the incidence and risk factors of cognitive disorders after endoscopic resection in urology. Methods This is an observational, descriptive and analytical study carried out in the urology department of Sahloul University Hospital during a 3 month period, and enrolling patients scheduled for endoscopic resections. Collected data included socio-demographic characteristics and parameters related to the operative management. Cognitive disorders were assessed by the MOCA Test one day before the intervention, then, during the first postoperative day. Patients developing TURP syndrome were excluded. Results During the study period, 104 patients were enrolled with a mean age of 67.76 years. The sex ratio was 33.6. Main interventions were transurethral resection of bladder tumor and transurethral resection of the prostate.The incidence of cognitive disorders was 45.2% after endoscopic resection. Main Risk factors in multivariate analysis were age (p 10 years (p Conclusions The incidence of cognitive disorders after urologic endoscopic surgery is considerable. Patients with risk factors require preventive measures, regular screening and optimal management. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Background: The generalized muscle weakness found in Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) patients on hemodialysis primarily affects the lower limbs and the proximal muscles. Patients also present decreased endurance and decreased respiratory muscle strength.Aim of Work: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of incentive spirometer training on diaphragmatic excursion and Quality of Life (QOL) in Hemodialysis (HD) patients.Subjects and Methods: Sixty HD patients (30 men and 30 women) selected from the National Institute of Urology and Nephrology participated in the study, their ages ranged from 45-55 years from July 2017 to January 2018. They were assigned randomly into two groups equal in number; 30 patients each: Group (A) received incentive spirometer training with hemodialysis for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week. Group (B) maintained on hemodialysis only for 8 weeks 3 sessions per week with pre and post assessment of diaphragmatic excursion by ultrasonography and QOL questionnaire.Results: Incentive spirometer training induced a significant improvement in diaphragmatic excursion and quality of life questionnaire in study group with percent of change 24.62% and 55.67% respectively while a deterioration was observed in control group with percent of change 26.49%, and 38.68% respectively.Conclusions: Incentive spirometer training for 8 weeks in HD men and women results in an improvement of diaphrag-matic excursion and QOL.

The pear disorder described as fire blight has long been disputed in Egypt due to relatively dry climate unfavourable for the disease epidemic. Efforts were carried out in the present work to clarify the cause of confusion and to elucidate some aspects of such discrepancies. Orchards inspections in El- Behera governorate revealed obvious scorching on the foliage of some trees, without noticeable seeping under any circumstances. The syndrome disputed plant pathologists in many institutions, because of the validated absence of such scorching on apple trees raised in the same pear orchard. Samples collected from different pear organs of sporadically affected trees were subject to isolate the pathogen on either high sucrose or Miller- Schroth (MS), media selective for Erwinia amylovora. Macroscopic, microscopic, biochemical and molecular determinations revealed no obvious variation among isolates recovered from different pear tree organs. The obtained results indicated that the isolated bacteria belonged to Erwinia amylovora. Isolates from cankerous branches, however, were more pathogenic compared to those recovered from other plant organs. The rootstocks dominating in Egypt are P.communis, P.betulaefolia and P.calleryana. The effect of such rootstocks on" MKM" grafted pear cultivar was compared. The differences in the blooming date and variation in the occurrence and severity of such a disorder were evaluated. The earlier blooming, as shown influenced by the rootstock effect, the lower the disease expression. P.calleryana and P.betulaefolia showed full blooming in the third week of March, and escaped severe infection. The remarkable late onset of flowering of P.communis grafted trees commencing at the end of March, resulting in greater disease complications, due to the possible discharge of bacteria from holdover cankers, coinciding with more favourable temperature and higher insect activity. The influence of different rootstocks on growth habits of pear grafts and their respective influence on the disorders in concern must be fully investigated. The occurrence of associated microscopic mites must be seriously considered, which may be contributing to the reported discrepancy among scientists and the contradictory remarks on fire blight epidemics in Egypt

Background The idea of mixing different grades of diatomite ores with certain ratios to obtain blends with tailored minerals constitution that can help on improving their thermal insulation applicability is introduced in this study. In this respect, three diatomite samples were collected for investigation from El-Masakheet, Kasr El-Sagha, and Demia deposits, El-Fayoum, Egypt. Complete chemical and phase analyses of these samples were carried out. The analyses showed that El-Masakheet sample was of low-grade diatomite with excess calcite content. In addition, Kasr El-Sagha and Demia samples were of high-grade diatomite with minor calcite contents. By firing the dried Kasr El Sagha and Demia yellow samples specimens at different temperatures for 1 h, they showed complete destruction at 900 °C. Different amounts of El-Masakheet sample was blended with Kasr El-Sagha and Demia yellow samples. The specimens were subjected to firing at different temperatures for 1 h. The physical properties of the fired mixed specimens were followed up. Results Results showed that by blending El-Masakheet sample with 50% mass ratio with Kasr El-Sagha or Demia yellow samples, a pronounced increase in the thermal applicability of the fired blends from 900 to 1100 °C was achieved. In addition, a notable increase in their open porosity was recorded. This improvement was attributed to the change in the minerals constitution ratios in the blends due to the increase in their calcite contents after El Masakheet addition, especially the Ca/Si and Ca/(Al + Si) atom ratios. This change served in forming high melting points minerals like α-wollastonite and akermanite on firing the blends specimens instead of low melting point minerals like cristobalite and alkali aluminosilicate which were formed on firing the high-grade ores alone. Consequently, an increasing in the porosity and the thermal applicability of the new specimens from 900 to 1100 °C was achieved. Conclusions The idea of mixing different grades of diatomite ores with certain ratios to obtain blends with tailored minerals constitution can help on improving their thermal insulation applicability and their open porosity. Besides, this concept gave a good solution to get use of the unexploited low-grade diatomite ores, especially of high calcite content.

Petrographically, the Lower Miocene Rudeis reservoir rock samples in October oil field can be summed up into three reservoir rock types RRTs. The RRT1 samples are mostly calcareous to ferruginated sandstones, sometimes are fossiliferous, whereas the RRT2 and RRT3 samples are carbonate rocks of grainstone and packstone microfacies, respectively. Cementation by sparite and compaction are the most important porosity-reducing diagenetic factors, whereas dissolution and leaching out as well as fracturing are the most dominant porosity-enhancing factors. The petrophysical and reservoir quality studies include measuring density, porosity, permeability measurements as well as reservoir quality index (RQI), flow zone indicator (FZI) and reservoir potential index (RPI) calculations. The permeability-porosity plot is the key-factor for discriminating the petrophysical behaviour into these three rock reservoir types. Petrophysically, the studied sandstone RRT1 samples have the best storage capacity and reservoir quality (the RQI, FZI and the RPI indicate poor to very good reservoir quality), whereas the RRT3 samples have the least prospective properties (the RQI, FZI and the RPI indicates impervious reservoir quality). Based on the FZI values, the studied Rudeis Formation was discriminated into a number of hydraulic flow units (6 HFUs). HFU 5–6 are the best reservoir zones; they are assigned in the central parts of the studied area, whereas the least quality (HFU 1–3) was assigned to the south. In addition, the mercury injection capillary pressure tests (MICP) indicates that, the RRT1 samples are ranked as IV (fair) to VI (impervious) ranks, the RRT2 as V (poor) to VI, whereas the RRT3 samples are impervious samples. Wettability of the studied RRT1 samples is mostly neutral.

The plasma degradation process of Eosin yellow aqueous solution utilizing AC corona discharge generated above liquid with a type of pin to plate by utilizing multiple needles electrodesis investigated the influence of electrodes material and effect of ferrous sulfate on decoloration and the kinetics of process are discussed. The AC corona discharge plasma was generated in the air gap between tip of needles and the water surface. The experimental results indicate that the decoloration rate increases with using stainless steel electrodes and with increasing the concentration of FeSO4. When dye concentration is 10 mg/L with pH of 3, the air gaps were 0.85 cm and the number of pins were 30, the decoloration rate went up to 97% in 60 min.

Intensifications of the rate of diffusion-controlled electrochemical and catalytic reactions taking place at the outer surface of a helical coil imbedded in an inert fixed bed of cylinders acting as turbulence promoters was studied using the electrochemical technique. The technique involved measuring the limiting current of the cathodic reduction of K3Fe(CN)6 in a large excess of NaOH as a supporting electrolyte. The variables studied were solution velocity, packing cylinder diameter, helical coil tube diameter, and physical properties of the solution. The rate of mass transfer at the outer surface of the coil was found to increase with increasing solution velocity and decreasing packing cylinder diameter, helical coil tube diameter was found to have a little effect on the rate of mass transfer. The data were correlated with the dimensionless equation Sh = 7.14*10(-4) *Sc(0.33)*Re(0.52) *(dp/d)(-2.32) Implication of the above equation for the design and operation of the present reactor was pointed out. The potential importance of using the inner surface of the coil as a builtin heat transfer facility for conducting exothermic electrochemical and catalytic reactions requiring rapid cooling was highlighted. The possibility of using multiple imbedded coaxial helical coils of different coil diameter in practical catalytic reactors to increase their rate of production was noted. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

In this research study, a direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) system was used in the concentration of raw brine from a full-scale reverse osmosis desalination plant for further zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) applications. Several operating conditions such as feed inlet temperature (Tf), feed (Qf) and permeate (Qp) flow rate, and feed concentration (Cf) were tested to obtain the optimum permeate flux across the membrane, salt rejection and specific thermal energy consumption (STEC). The highest flux of 16.7 LMH, salt rejection of 99.5% and STEC of 152 kWh/m3 were achieved at Tf, Qf, Qp, and Cf of 85 °C, 75 L/h, 48 L/h and 57,500 ppm, respectively. Furthermore, this study was carried out for a long term operation of 77 h in which the membrane was found to be prone to significant fouling thereby resulting in a flux decline across the membrane of 69%. To mitigate fouling, novel membranes were prepared through the surface coating of commercial membranes with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) at 0.08, 0.16 and 0.2 wt%. Over a 10 h operation, membranes coated with 0.08 and 0.16 wt% GNP reduced membrane fouling by 59 and 78%, respectively.

Coral photosynthetic endosymbionts (Symbiodinium) are phylogenetically very diverse, yet the extent of inter- and intraspecific functional variation within clades remains largely underexplored. Understanding this variability will be critical for future research on climate change mediated responses. A properly functioning thylakoid membrane is essential for optimal photosynthetic performance both in free living and in hospite conditions. Here, we analyse the thylakoid membrane melting points of 13 Symbiodinium strains from species in Clades B and A, grown at both control (26 °C) and high temperature (31 °C). We observed a broad range of responses to thermal stress regardless of taxonomic rank. Our results support and augment a growing body of the literature demonstrating that functional differences among Symbiodinium spp. are as distinct at lower taxonomic levels (i.e. interspecific) as they are among major clades. These findings highlight the importance of assessing the variability of plastid traits across the Symbiodinium tree.

The present work was conducted at clean combustion research center, CCRC, King Abdullah University for Science and Technology, KAUST, in cooperation with Cairo and Helwan Universities, Cairo, Egypt.

In this paper, we show formally how can we generate continued fractions starting from three-term contiguous relations. Then as examples, starting from certain contiguous relations for $${}_2F_1$$ and $${}_2\phi _1$$ , we derive orthogonal polynomials, continued fractions and in case of $${}_2F_1$$ , the measure of orthogonality. Also, a generalization of q-Kummer’s identity is introduced.

A new burner was developed in order to achieve very stable lean flames at lower equivalence ratio and higher level of turbulence intensity. The air-fuel mixing process of the current burner was controlled either by using different levels of partially premixed or by changing the turbulence generator disk slit diameter, ds. Initially, the distributions of turbulent intensity and air volume fraction inside the burner were numerically investigated using three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modelling. Then the lean flame stability limits corresponding to the lean natural gas (NG)/air mixture at an equivalence ratio of φ = 0.6, under five degrees of partially premixed and two turbulent generators disk slit diameters were delineated. Based on the stability limits map, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique was employed for further quantitative measurements of the mixture fraction or the equivalence ratio distributions of NG/air mixture. The results indicated that the maximum burner stability for smaller ds was achieved at mixing length to diameter ratio (L/D) of 1:1, whilst for larger ds the maximum stability was achieved at L/D ratio of 2:1. Furthermore, the largest disk slit diameter yielded a homogeneous mixture fraction distribution and lower rms fluctuation, compared to that of lower disk slit diameter. Consequently, this improved the conduction effectiveness in preheating the unburned gases layers resulting in higher flame propagation speed.

In most practical combustion devices, the actual combustion process occurs within different mixture inhomogeneity levels. Investigating the mixture fraction field upstream of the reaction zones of these flames is an essential step toward understanding their structure, stability, and emission formation. In this study, the mixture fraction fields were measured for turbulent non-reacting inhomogeneous mixtures immediately downstream from the slot burner exit, using Rayleigh scattering imaging. The slot burner had two concentric slots. The inner air slot can be recessed at distances upstream from the exit of the outer fuel slot, allowing various degrees of mixture inhomogeneity. Mixture fraction field statistics and the two-dimensional gradient were utilized to characterize the impact of the air-to-fuel velocity ratio, global equivalence ratio, fuel composition, Reynolds number, and the premixing length on the mixture mixing field, and thus flame stability. These impacts were evaluated by tracking the normalized mean mixture fraction and mixture fraction fluctuation transition across the regime diagram for partially premixed flames. The results showed that the air-to-fuel velocity ratio was the critical parameter affecting the mixture fraction field for the short premixing length. Stability results showed that the level of mixture inhomogeneity mainly influenced the flame stability. High flame stability is achieved if a large portion of the inhomogeneous mixture fraction is within the fuel flammability limits.

Combustion of turbulent inhomogeneous mixtures of air and fuel is common in many practical systems providing improved stability for both gaseous and liquid fuels. Understanding the structure and stability of turbulent flames in this mode has been the aim of many research groups who employed special burner designs to control the fuel and air mixing process. In this work, a modified design inspired by the Wolfhard-Parker slot burner was developed for planar turbulent flames with inlet conditions that are overall lean yet either compositionally inhomogeneous or partially premixed. The new burner is referred as the Concentric Flow Slot Burner (CFSB). The stability characteristics and flame structure are investigated for methane and natural gas fuels using planar laser induced fluorescence of C2Hx and high speed PLIF-OH. The effects of the jet equivalence ratio, the level of inhomogeneity, and the Reynolds number are investigated in this work. The data show that the flames with inhomogeneous mixture are more stable than fully premixed flames. Lean flames are stabilized in the CFSB burner. Stability is significantly improved by the use of a hollow truncated rectangular pyramid nozzle at the burner exit. The reaction zone structure varies significantly in the current burner from thin structures in rich flames to distributed with thick preheat zones in lean flames. The effect of the level of inhomogeneity on the reaction zone structure is presented and discussed. The new CFSB burner is able to generate a wide range of turbulent planar flames spanning the entire range from non-premixed to fully premixed flames. In addition, the high stability level of the burner allows for the study of highly turbulent flames of practical interest.

The scope of this study was twofold: to define the most suitable Egypt's biodiesel source, and to assess the impact of this biodiesel source with the addition of carbon nano additives on diesel engine performance and emissions. Environmental Key Performance Indicators were used as metrics to identify the appropriate biodiesel source with respect to several criteria including environmental, economic, ecological, and demographic situation. The most suitable Egypt's biodiesel source was identified from different sources including algae, Jatropha, coffee waste, rice straw, sugarcane, and switchgrass. Then, the production process of biodiesel from this renewable source by transesterification was carried out using chemical catalyst or biocatalyst. Following this, this source's impact with carbon nano additives on the performance and emissions of a 0.825-L single-cylinder diesel engine was further examined at engine loads varying between 0 and 4 kW and 1500 rpm constant engine speed. The carbon nano additives were added at a different mass fractions of 25, 50 and 100 ppm to Jatropha biodiesel and diesel blend (20 % jatropha biodiesel+ 80 % diesel) by volume. The results showed Jatropha as the most efficient biodiesel source among all the tested fuels to be produced in Egypt. Furthermore, the experimental engine test results revealed that Jatropha biodiesel without and with carbon nano additives consistently has a higher brake thermal efficiency and lower brake specific fuel consumption in comparison to that of diesel fuel. Likewise, Jatropha biodiesel without and with carbon nano additives enhanced the engine performance and consequently reduced the exhaust emissions including CO, CO2, HC, NOx, and smoke in comparison to that of diesel fuel.

Duloxetine, Etoricoxib and opioid are of the commonly administered drugs in Lumbar laminectomy. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of perioperative use of Duloxetine in combination with Etoricoxib on postoperative pain and opioid requirements. One hundred twenty patients with ASA physical status were enrolled with age between 18 and 70 years. Patients were divided randomly into four groups of 30 patients: group P received placebo, group E received etoricoxib 120 mg, group D received duloxetine 60 mg and group D/E received duloxetine 60 mg capsules and etoricoxib 120 mg; 1 h before surgery and 24 h after. Neither Duloxetine nor etoricoxib individually had effect on pain with movement, while their combination revealed a significant reduction in pain scores over the entire postoperative period at rest and on movement. Etoricoxib showed a significant decrease in pain at all times at rest when compared with group P, while it showed significant pain decrease only at 0, 2 and 4 h when compared with group D. On the other hand duloxetine alone showed significant decrease in pain at rest at 24 h and 48 h when compared with group P. ConcerningMorphine requirement after 24 h.; it wassignificantly lower in the D/E group in comparison with groups P, E and D. It should be noted also that there was a significant decrease morphine requirement in both groups E and D. The perioperative administration of the combination of etoricoxib and duloxetine improved analgesia and reduced opioid consumption without significant side effects. ISRCTN48329522 . 17 June 2017

Laminar burning velocities of fuels for advanced combustion engines (FACE-C) gasoline and a surrogate comprising toluene primary reference fuels (TPRFs) were investigated under the effects of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) dilution and ethanol blending. Measurements were conducted in a spherical constant volume combustion chamber for a range of equivalence ratios from 0.8 to 1.6 at initial temperatures and pressures up to 383 K and 0.6 MPa, respectively. These measurements highlighted the effects of real combustion residuals (using combustion products directly) at mole fractions up to 0.3 and various volumetric percentages of ethanol blending. For both studied fuels, significant reductions in stretched and unstretched flame speeds were observed for mixtures laden with real combustion residuals. Blends with less than 50% ethanol showed barely a minimal enhancement in the flame speed. By combining both EGR and ethanol blending, the flame speed reduction by EGR can be compensated for with ethanol addition. ...

STUDY DESIGN Radiologic analysis. OBJECTIVE The objective was to compare C2 pedicle diameter and screw feasibility on reconstructed axial computed tomography (CT) cuts created "Inline" (IL) with the intended pedicle screw tract versus unaltered "Standard" (STD) axial cuts. BACKGROUND DATA Axial CT cuts through the C2 pedicle are commonly evaluated when planning pedicle screw fixation as medial aberrancies of the vertebral artery can significantly narrow pedicle diameter. STD axial CT cuts provided by radiology departments are typically formatted orthogonal to the long axis of the neck or the vertical plumb, which is often not IL with the axis of the intended C2 pedicle screw tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 89 cervical spine CT scans obtained by a single radiology department over 2 years (35 male, 54 female; mean age 64.9 y) were reviewed. STD axial cuts were not manipulated but were assessed as provided. IL axial cuts were created along the intended C2 pedicle screw tract using free, open-source DICOM viewer software. Inner and outer pedicle diameters were measured on axial cuts most closely approximating the isthmus of the intended tract. RESULTS On STD cuts, the mean outer and inner pedicle diameters were 5.05±1.45 and 2.01±1.31 mm, respectively. By contrast, IL measurements yielded significantly larger outer and inner diameters: 5.85±1.78 and 2.68±1.47 mm (P

Four Middle–Upper Jurassic sections from central Saudi Arabia have been investigated to evaluate microfacies types and macro-invertebrate paleocommunities and to interpret their paleoecology and paleoenvironments. The studied Jurassic successions are part of the Middle–Upper Callovian Tuwaiq Mountain Limestone and the Middle–Upper Oxfordian Hanifa Formation. Three main facies were recorded, including mud-supported microfacies, grain-supported microfacies and boundstones. A data matrix comprising 48 macrobenthic species in 35 samples collected from four sections were grouped into fifteen assemblages and one poorly fossiliferous interval by means of a Q-mode cluster analysis. The recorded macrofaunal assemblages have been subdivided into low-stress and high-stress on the basis of hydrodynamic conditions, substrate type, nutrient supply and hypoxia. The low-stress assemblages occur in (a) high-energy paleoenvironments with firm substrates; (b) high-energy shoals with unstable substrates of low cohesion and in (c) low-energy open marine environments with soft-substrates. The moderate- to high-stress assemblages occur in (a) oligotrophic environments with reduced terrigenous input in shelf lagoonal or in restricted inner ramp settings; (b) low-energy, soft substrate environments with hypoxia below the sediment–water interface; and, in (c) high-energy shoals and shelf lagoonal environments. The temporal distribution patterns of epifaunal and infaunal bivalve taxa are controlled by variations in water energy, substrate characteristics and productivity level. The reported litho- and biofacies confirmed that the Callovian Tuwaiq Mountain Limestone and the Oxfordian Hanifa Formation were deposited across wide spectrum of depositional environments, ranging from restricted lagoon to moderately deeper open marine basin, and providing the perfect conditions for macrofossils.

Purpose In-hospital mortality of patients with cardiogenic shock complicating ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI-CS) ranges from 30% to 50%. The impact of nosocomial infection(NI) is not well addressed in these patients. Methods We queried the 2005-2014 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to identify patients with STEMI-CS. Incidence of hospital-mortality, acute kidney injury (AKI), length of stay (LOS), cost of hospitalization and NI such as bloodstream infections due to central venous catheters (BI), bacteremia, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and clostridium difficile (CDI) infection among patients with and without mechanical circulatory support (MCS) use (intra-aortic balloon pump [IABP], Impella/TandemHeart [PVAD], and extra corporeal membrane oxygenation [ECMO]) were analyzed. Results We identified 172486 cases of STEMI-CS, of which 53% required MCS. Among STEMI-CS cases 6104 (3.5%) developed NI and 3977 cases required MCS. The rates of NI were increased among patients with MCS (p Conclusion NI are more frequent among patients with STEMI-CS requiring MCS and are associated with increased rates of AKI, LOS, and costs, but do not affect in-hospital mortality.

Background Inspite of the claimed cardio-protective effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC), it is invasive and so using remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) may offer an alternative. Meanwhile, RIPC cardioprotective role is controversial, with an equivocal underlying mechanism. The hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1-alpha) which is increased following ischemic insults is claimed as a humoral mediator for RIPC. Objective To investigate the effect of remote ischemic pre-conditioning on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats, and to elucidate the possible role of hypoxia inducible factor in this protection. Materials and Methods The present study was performed on 28 adult female albino rats in the same estrus cycle evaluated by vaginal smear, and they were allocated into 3 groups: Group I: control rats subjected to ischemic/reperfusion injury (I/R) only, group II: early RIPC rats (RIPC 2 hours prior to I/R), group III: acriflavine-treated early RIPC rats. Acriflavine is a drug that binds directly to HIF-1 alpha and HIF-2 alpha subunits, thus inhibiting its dimerization and transcriptional activity, and it was injected IP 10 days prior to RIPC. On sacrifice day, ECG was recorded and isolated heart studies were performed. Later, cardiac chambers weight, serum HIF-1-alpha, myocardial perfusate lactate dehydrogenase, and cardiac oxidative markers: Malonaldehyde and glutathione perioxidase were measured. Results Compared to the control group, the early RIPC group showed significant increase in the heart rate (HR), QTc interval in the ECG recording, glutathione peroxidase and the HIF 1α levels together with reduction in the percent of decrease in PT and PT/LV, in the percent of prolongation in time to peak tension (TPT), perfusate lactate dehydrogenase and MDA levels, while no significant changes were recorded in the heart chronotropic activity, in the percent of half relaxation time (HRT) prolongation, or in the percent of decrease of MFR. Following acriflavine treatment, the effects of RIPC were abolished highlighting the role of HIF-1-alpha in mediating RIPC protective effects. Conclusion The non-invasive and non-pharmological remote ischemic preconditioning technique can ameliorate the cardiac ischemic reperfusion injury with an obvious role of HIF-1α in mediating these protective effects.

Background Lower limb orthopedic surguries are one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the pediatric population. Using optimal analgesic regimen provide safe and effective analgesia, reduce postoperative stress response and accelerate recovery from surgery. Regional anesthetic techniques are commonly used to facilitate pain control in pediatric surgical procedures. The most commonly used techniques in pediatrics is caudal block. Aim of the Work This study is conducted to evaluate the analgesic effect of dexamethasone when given systemically versus caudally as an adjuvant to caudal block for children undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgeries. Patients and Methods The study was conducted on 50 randomly chosen patients in Ain Shams University Hospitals after approval of the medical ethical committee. Patients were divided randomly into two groups, each group consisted of 25 patients. Results The results of the study revealed that dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg, when used as an adjuvant to caudal anesthesia, can significantly prolong the duration of postoperative analgesia. It is better than IV dexamethasone at similar doses in controlling postoperative pain. Conclusion From our study, we can conclude that dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg, when used as an adjuvant to caudal anesthesia, can significantly prolong the duration of postoperative analgesia. It is better than IV dexamethasone at similar doses in controlling postoperative pain.