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Background: The understanding of the anatomy of the proximal portion of the fifth metatarsal is essential as it explains the injury process and cures of various kinds of fifth metatarsal fractures that influence the appropriate treatment decision. Work objective: Comparison of clinical and radiographic outcomes among conservation therapy and acute surgical therapy of the fifth-metatarsal fracture base. Methods and patients: Twenty patients have been treated with percutaneous fixation with a 4,0 mm cannula screw and 20 have been conservatively treated with a lower knee cast. The length of the injury to hospital admission varied from 1 to 3 days with an average of 2 days between September 2020 and May 2021. The average follow-up time was six months (range from 5 to 7 months). Findings: Our results revealed that for zone 2 and zone 3 the acute fixation is superior than casting with respect to the union time and the AOFAS score. Conclusion: Early screw fixing is a safe and efficient therapeutic technique for acute fifth metatarsal base fractures, particularly zones 2 and 3. Early operational therapy leads to before clinical union and enables patients to return to regular daily activities rather than to cast therapy, leading to a high delayed union rate.

Study question Is NLRP3 inflammasome expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and peripheral blood monocytes upregulated in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) compared to healthy controls? Summary answer NLRP3 expression was upregulated in subcutaneous adipose tissue but not in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of women with PCOS compared to controls. What is known already Emerging evidence strongly suggests that PCOS is a chronic inflammatory condition. Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes, which act as intracellular regulators of inflammation. It is now well established that NLRP3 inflammasome plays a central role in obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance. Given the close link between obesity and PCOS, it is plausible to hypothesize that the NLRP3 inflammasome may play a role in PCOS-related chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. This hypothesis has never been investigated before. Study design, size, duration This lab-based study involved reproductive age women (age 18–45years; BMI≤40kg/m2) who were diagnosed with PCOS (n = 24) according to the Rotterdam criteria. A healthy control group of non-PCOS women (n = 13) of similar age and BMI was included. Ethics approval was obtained, and all participants signed a written, informed consent. SAT biopsies were obtained during routine gynaecological surgery through the abdominal skin incision. Blood samples were obtained during surgery or during clinic visits. Participants/materials, setting, methods Blood samples were processed to separate plasma and to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). SAT and PBMCs were analysed using qPCR and Western Blot (WB) to measure the relative gene and protein expression levels of NLRP3, CYP17, Caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 in both groups. ELISA was used to measure concentrations of Caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 in the plasma. Main results and the role of chance NLRP3 gene expression in SAT was significantly (p = 0.038) higher in PCOS women (2.08±3.5 (n = 12)) compared to controls (0.77±2.9 (n = 8)). Both groups were matched for age (PCOS, 29.4±3.7 vs controls, 30.3±4.0) and BMI (PCOS, 25.4±3.2 vs controls, 26.9±4.3). CYP17 expression was significantly (p = 0.001) higher in PCOS women (4.8±0.1) versus controls (1.5±1.6). There was a moderate positive correlation (r²=0.576, P NLRP3 gene expression in PBMCs were not significantly (p Using WB in PBMCs, NLRP3 band had a mean molecular weight of 72.59±5.43kDa with no significant difference between groups, with a trend towards higher levels in PCOS. Using ELISA in PBMCs, NLRP3 levels were not significantly (p = 0.3) different between PCOS (1.53±1.32pg/ml (n = 12)) vs controls (1.03±0.583 (n = 5)). Gene expression levels of Caspase-1, IL-1b and IL-18 in PBMCs were not significantly (P > 0.05) different between groups. Plasma IL-1β levels were significantly (p Limitations, reasons for caution One limitation of this study is the lack of data on the protein expression of NLRP3 in the adipose tissue. There was also no data on other inflammasome components in the SAT analysis e.g. Caspase-1. However, all these data were available for the PBMCs. Wider implications of the findings The novel and interesting finding of an increase in NLRP3 in adipose tissue of PCOS women suggests that this inflammasome may play a central role in this common condition. Our study may therefore pave the way to further research to help understand the role of inflammation in PCOS Trial registration number N/A

Femoral neck fractures are intracapsular fractures that occur in the proximal femur in the area beginning distal to articular surface of the femoral head and ending just proximal to the intertrochantric region. to evaluate the functional outcome of bipolar hemiarthroplasty in patients with intra capsular femoral neck fractures . and to determine the factors affecting the outcome and to see whether bipolar hemiarthroplasty meets desired end result or not; patient will be evaluated using Harris hip score and radiographic assessment. The present work was a retrospective study including twenty patients. These patients were be followed up for minimum five years post-operatively and traced to detect their actual hip function and performance. The early complicated patients would be excluded. The mean age of the patients was 73.4 years. The Harris hip score showed satisfactory results at the end of follow up three patients (15%) had hip scores from 100 to 91 (excellent). eight patients (45%) cases had hip scores90 to 81 (good). Two patients (10%) were rated 80 to 70. (fair), and seven patients (35%) were rated below 70(poor) . The mean Harris hip score at the end of follow up was71.0 (range from 25.0– to97.0) with SD 22.4. It was found that the greater motion at the inner bearing correlated with better clinical results. Therefore the amount of motion at the two interfaces appears dependent on a number of variables and still a topic of debate.

The Long Head of Biceps originates at the supraglenoid tubercle and the superior glenoid labrum. It inserts distally, along with the short head of the biceps, onto the radial tuberosity, with an attachment to the fascia of the medial forearm via the bicipital aponeurosis.The site of the LHB origin from the glenoid labrum is variable; in most cases, it arises either mostly posterior or completely posterior [55.4% and 27.7%, respectively]. Type I lesions are treated with conservative debridement of the frayed labrum. Type II lesions are repaired using a single-anchor, double-suture technique. Type III lesions are treated by initial resection of the unstable bucket-handle labral fragment, followed by inspection of the biceps anchor attachment for stability. Type IV lesions are treated as type III lesions unless the biceps tendon split is severe. When more than approximately 30% of the tendon is included with the displaced labral tear one must consider either repairing the tendon , or releasing it and repairing the labrum as with a type II SLAP , or performing a biceps tenodesis . the decision depends on the age and activity level of the patient and the condition of the remainder of the biceps tendon.

Sodium borate glasses containing iron and molybdenum ions with the total concentration of transition ions constant and gradual substitution of sodium oxide (network modifier) by borate oxide (network former) was prepared. Densities, molar volume, DC and AC conductivities are measured. The trends of these properties are attributed to changes in the glass network structure. Their DC and AC conductivity increased with increasing NaO concentration. The increase of AC conductivity of sodium borate glasses is attributed to the chemical composition and the hopping mechanism of conduction. Measurements of the dielectric constant (e) and dielectric loss (tan δ) as a function of frequency (50 Hz–100 kHz) and temperature (RT—600 K) indicate that the increase in dielectric constant and loss (e and tan δ) values with increasing sodium ion content could be attributed to the assumption that Fe and Mo ions tend to assume network-forming position in the glass compositions studied. The variation of the value of frequency exponent s for all glass samples as the function of temperature at a definite frequency indicates that the value of s decreases with increasing the temperature which agrees with the correlated barrier-hopping (CBH) model.

Samples of iron–molybdenum lithium-borate glass were prepared and investigated. Infrared and Mossbauer effect spectroscopy were employed to study the structure of these glasses. Density, molar volume, magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity were also measured. It can be concluded that different structural groups, such as BO3, BO4, MoO4, MoO6, FeO4 and FeO6 were detected in the glass network. The dependence of the ratio [Fe2+/Fe3+] on lithium concentration was clearly observed. The magnetic susceptibility measurements indicated that all these glasses possess paramagnetic character, and the highest magnetic susceptibility value appeared in the sample that contained 20 mol% Li2O. The change of dielectric constant and loss with increasing of lithium ions content could be attributed to the assumption that Fe and Mo ions tend to assume network-forming position in the glass compositions studied. And the change of the ac conductivity is attributed to the hopping mechanism of conduction.

The optical properties of layered single crystals of TlGaSe 2 have been studied. The spectral and optical parameters have been determined using spectrophotometric measurements of transmittance and reflectance in the wavelength range 200–2500 nm. The dispersion curve of the refractive index shows an anomalous dispersion in the absorption region and a normal one in the transmitted region. The determined direct and indirect band gaps are 2.08 and 1.93 eV, respectively. The measured DC electrical conduction of this sample decreases with decreasing temperature. The values of conductivity activation energy are calculated as 301 meV for high temperature region and 48 meV for low temperature region. Results are discussed in terms of electron hopping between localized states. The AC electrical conduction as a function of frequency shows a power law with an index slightly less than one. Also, it shows a slight variation with temperature in agreement with CBH model. There is a significant increase with temperature at low frequencies in both the real dielectric constant and the dielectric loss tangent.

The ternary composition InSbSe3 was synthesized by direct fusion of the stoichiometric quantities of two binary components Sb2Se3 and In2Se3 in an evacuated silica tube. The structural properties of InSbSe3 in its powder and thin film forms were investigated by X-ray. Analysis of X-ray diffractograms showed that the fine powder of InSbSe3 as well as thin films annealed at 423 and 473 K for 1 h are all of polycrystalline triclinic structure with unit cell parameters: a=6.032 A, b=7.040 A, c=12.186 A, α=95.783°, β=51.808°, γ=95.852° and unit cell volume of 402.496 A3. The refractive index, n, and the extinction coefficient, k, of the as-deposited thin films before and after annealing were determined for samples of different thicknesses (114–267 nm) in the spectral range 500–2500 nm. The spectral behaviour of n showed anomalous dispersion in the region of the fundamental absorption edge. The value of the high-frequency dielectric constant (e∞) was obtained as 8.8 for the as-deposited thin films can be explained on the basis of the single oscillator model. The optical constants and the dielectric constant of the thin films were all affected by annealing temperature. The existing allowed optical transitions in the as-deposited thin films as well as annealed thin films were found to be indirect. The indirect energy gap was decreased from 1.46 eV for as-deposited thin films to 1.29 and 1.16 eV as the films were annealed at 423 and 473 K for 1 h, respectively.

Thin films of Ag2S are prepared on glass and quartz substrates by a thermal evaporation method. The structural studies show that the films are well crystallized with an acanthite structure. The optical properties of the films are investigated using spectrophotometric measurements of transmittance and reflectance at normal incidence in the wavelength range 500–2200 nm. The refractive index, n, and the absorption index, k, of Ag2S are determined from the absolute values of the measured transmittance and reflectance. The dispersion of refractive index in Ag2S is analyzed using the concept of the single oscillator. Within this concept the oscillator energy, E0, and the dispersion energy, Ed, can be determined as 5 and 32.5 eV, respectively. It is interesting to note that Ag2S appears to fall into the ionic class. The values of the lattice dielectric constant and the ratio of the carrier concentration to the effective mass are also determined as 7.77 and 1.7×1047 kg−1 m−3, respectively. The analysis of the spectral behavior of the absorption coefficient in the intrinsic absorption region reveals an indirect allowed transition with a band gap of 0.96 eV and associated phonons of 0.05 eV. Measurements of the dark electrical resistivity is studied as a function of film thickness and temperature. The dark electrical resistivity decreases with increasing film thickness. Graphical representation of log ρ as a function of reciprocal temperature yields two distinct linear parts indicating the existence of two activation energies ΔE1 and ΔE2 as 0.18 and 0.28 eV respectively. Discussion on the obtained results and their comparison with the previous published data is also given.

It is shown that a conical beam 5.2-GHz antenna suitable for HIPERLAN application, but working in horizontal polarization, can be realized as a group of microstrip patch radiators in a ring formation. Layouts with three and four patches are described, and radiation patterns are found to agree well with predictions from a simple array model. The three-patch form is smaller and gives a closer approximation to an azimuth-independent pattern. Patterns are very similar to those achieved in vertical polarization with previously reported disk antenna realizations, giving peak radiation at about 50/spl deg/ elevation. Two methods of impedance matching are found to give satisfactory results. A dual-polarized conical-beam microstrip antenna, with a strictly uniplanar conductor pattern, is also presented and realized as an array of three square patches whose corners meet a central feed point. For the second polarization, the antenna functions as a series fed array. Fairly good conical beam patterns have been obtained, though only moderate polarization purity appears to be obtainable from three-element arrays.

An extensive study of alpha particle track profile has been carried out in PADC plastic detectors. Track profile geometry and its parameters have been studied. Various values of alpha energies were used, and the etch rate ratio (V) was measured as a function of the residual range (RR) along the alpha particle track. A mathematical formula between V and RR was established. Also in this work, alpha particle ranges in plastic foils have been measured at various energies using two methods; namely the track profile technique (TPT) and the over etched track diameter method. A comparison between the measured ranges and calculated ones is presented, and a good agreement has been found.

A novel conical beam patch antenna design, suitable for local area network applications, uses a central cylindrical connection from the disc to ground to achieve a large reduction in resonant size. Results on efficiency, bandwidth, and pattern are reported for several prototypes.

In this paper two approaches have been used for delineating a magnitude scale for local and near earthquakes of Aswan High Dam Lake (Aswan, Egypt), depending on either the total duration of oscillation or the maximum S-wave amplitude. In using the first approach, 19 local and near earthquakes in the period from 1982 to 1987 recorded by the Aswan Seismic Network were collected. A relation between F — P 's (duration) recorded at the GMR station and their magnitudes reported by ISC Bulletin has been established, and it yields the following equation: M=2.17 log (F−P)−1.3+0.00075Δ. In the second approach, the maximum ground S-wave amplitude in millimicrons for the micro-earthquakes from three zones were measured and plotted against the mean magnitude (calculated by the previous relation). Applying the method of linear least-squares fitting, a magnitude equation for each station could be obtained. The standard deviations and standard errors of magnitude have been determined. The resulting errors of the magnitude units are within the permissible error in such magnitude determinations.

Seismicity of the Kalabsha area west of the Aswan Lake was examined using microearthquake data recorded by the Aswan Radio Telemetry Network surrounding the northern part of the lake. The seismicity of the Kalabsha area is divided into six seismic zones and composite focal mechanisms for four zones from these six zones were derived using first motions of P-waves. The mechanisms of these zones are characterized by strike-slip faults. According to the seismicity and focal mechanism solutions new linear features could be added to the structural map of Kalabsha area. Each feature corresponds to an active fault. The P (pressure) and T (tension) axes obtained from the focal mechanisms show that the orientation of the compressional stress and the tensional stress prevailing in the Kalabsha area are ESE-WNW and NNE-SSW, respectively. The direction of the compressional stress agrees with the direction of movement in the area reported by Issawi (1968). The direction of this movement is from SE towards NW. The fold axes mapped in the area generally strike NE-SW. This direction of the fold axes is more or less perpendicular to the compression. It is also consistent with the maximum horizontal compression induced from approximately NW and SE due to the north to northwestward drift of the African plate (Schandelmeier et al., 1987). The direction of the tensional stress is consistent with the presence of E-W faults (e.g. Kalabsha, Seiyal faults). The Wadi Kalabsha may be considered the result of down-faulted blocks with E-W normal faults caused by the NNE-SSW tension.

Although cervical adenocarcinoma constitutes approximately 10-20% of primary malignant tumors of the uterine cervix, its pathogenesis is less well understood than that of the corresponding squamous cancer. CD44 is a cell surface glycoprotein postulated to play a role in many biologic processes including tumor growth and metastasis. We have previously reported from immunohistochemical studies that a particular CD44 variant (CD44v5) is consistently overexpressed in endocervical neoplasia. It thus has potential as a diagnostic marker and even as a target for therapeutic approaches directed against specific epitopes. The aim of this study was to investigate which cytokines and hormones are capable of modulating CD44v5 expression, using a cell culture model. The effects of interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-13, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, estrogen, and progestogen on CD44v5 expression were examined in cultures of three human cervical adenocarcinoma cell lines (HeLa, HeLa229, and HS588T). Expression was assessed using dual fluorescence-labeled flow cytometry and western blotting techniques. It was found that incubation of cultures for 72 h with IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-13, TGF-beta1 (all at 0.1-10 ng/mL), estrogen (5-10 ng/mL), or progestogen (5-20 ng/mL) induced significant upregulation of CD44v5. These factors are likely to exert a similar stimulatory influence in vivo and may contribute to the process of carcinogenesis.

It is shown that a conical beam 5.2 GHz antenna suitable for HIPERLAN application, but working in horizontal polarisation, can be realised as a group of microstrip patch radiators in a ring formation. Layouts with three and four patches are described, and radiation patterns are found to agree well with predictions from a simple array model. The three patch form is smaller and gives a closer approximation to an azimuth independent pattern. Patterns are very similar to those achieved in vertical polarisation with reported disc antenna realisations, giving peak radiation at about 50/spl deg/ elevation. Two methods of impedance matching are found to give satisfactory results.

Compact antennas are required for new generations of high performance wireless LAN's which are expected to operate at about 5.2 GHz. A credit-card sized unit, at most a few millimetres in thickness, and projecting horizontally from a terminal has been envisaged. This would be required to contain RF electronics fully integrated with an inexpensive antenna. It has been argued that an ideal pattern for communication between computers and other terminals, within a room, is a conical beam with a null at zenith and peaking at an intermediate elevation. The beam should presumably be omnidirectional to cope with random user locations; also dominant coupling may occur via ceiling reflections, but zenith radiation is not useful for coupling and would produce a specular ceiling reflection back to the transmitter with possible degradation of its performance. A microstrip disc antenna, excited in a radially symmetric mode, can meet the mechanical requirements and has been shown to produce the required conical beam shape. The published results are for a disc fed by a probe connection near the centre, from behind the ground plane. (7 pages)

A dual-polarised conical-beam microstrip antenna, with a strictly uniplanar conductor pattern, is realised as an array of three square patches whose corners meet a central feed point. For the second polarisation the antenna functions as a series fed array.

The corrosion behaviour of steel in stagnant de-aerated citric and oxalic acid solutions (10−5–10−1M) in the pH range 2–6 was studied. It was found that the corrosion behaviour of steel in both acids was generally the same but it depended on the acid concentration and the pH value. In 10−4–10−1M, the corrosion rate (W) increased with the increase of acid concentration and decreased with the increase of pH value as follows: log W = a+b log C, where b=0.485 and d log W d pH =−0.15−0.25. At high concentration (10−1 and 10−2) and in the pH range 2–5, the steady state potential varied by 64 and 58 mV for a unit change of pH in oxalic and citric, respectively. The corrosion process was found to be cathodically controlled. In dilute solutions (10−5–10−3M) in the pH range of 2–5 and in all acid concentrations at pH 6, the steady state corrosion potential shifted in the negative direction with increase of acid concentration accompanied by an increase in the corrosion rate, indicating that the corrosion process became anodically controlled.

A moderate earthquake occurred in the unpopulated area of Kalabsha in the southeastern part of the Western Desert of Egypt on November 14, 1981. The Kalabsha area lies on a large western embayment of the Aswan Reservoir approximately 60 km south of the Aswan High Dam. The earthquake was the first instrumentally located earthquake in the Aswan region. The earthquake was felt strongly along the Nile River valley. Extensive ground cracking occurred in the desert sands in the epicentral area. Observations of continuing activity with a talemetered network show hypocenters extending to depths of more than 20 km.

The corrosion behaviour of tin in oxalic, citric and tartaric acids in the pH range 2–6 and at concentrations 10−1–10−5 M was investigated. The results indicate that increasing the concentration of the organic acid and the pH of the medium up to 4 shifts the corrosion potential to a more negative value and increases the rate of corrosion. At pH values 5 and 6, a shift in the corrosion potential in a noble direction is accompanied by a decrease in the corrosion rate. A linear relationship is observed between the steady state potential (E) and the logarithmic concentration of the organic acid (log C) for the three acids studied: E = a − b log C . It was concluded here that the corrosion mechanism in the pH range 2–4 is anodically controlled by the complexing of Sn2+ ions with organic acid anions and that the order of decreasing aggressiveness is oxalic > citric > tartaric acids. Corrosion was inhibited at pH values 5 and 6 and this was attributed to film formation on the surface of tin which may result from the hydrolysis of tin complex species.

From the middle of January to the middle of March, 1981 a microearthquake survey was conducted jointly by Polish and Egyptian seismologists in the Abu-Simbel area, about 230 km upstream from the Aswan High Dam. A small seismic array composed of six stations and a magnetic-tape digital recording system was operated during the survey. Altogether 63 microearthquakes at epicentral distances of up to 50 km and 12 local earthquakes at distances of up to 200 km were recorded, but only 16 microearthquakes could be properly located. All of them originated either directly under the High Dam Reservoir or close to its shores, thus implying their association with its water level fluctuations. It was deduced that under the Abu-Simbel array a deep fracture zone or deep fault extending in the NNE—SSW direction, 1–3 km wide and several kilometers deep, must be present to explain the observed effects of heavy attenuation and scattering of seismic waves under the array. This fracture zone might be a deep expression of the western edge of the Nile Valley in the Abu-Simbel area.

A very rare association between situs inversus totalis and embryonal cell carcinoma of the ovary is presented in a 20-year-old Saudi female. Recurrence of the tumor in the form of metastases to the left lobe of the liver was successfully treated using a combination of bleomycin, vinblastine++ and cis-platinum. Second-look laparotomy has confirmed the complete remission.

Commercial rigid and soft poly(vinyl chloride) was γ-irradiated in the range of 10–30 Mrad under atmospheric conditions. The soft form was prepared by compounding the polymer with 40 parts per hundred ratio of three different plasticizers, namely, dibutyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate and tricresyl phosphate. The stabilizer, tribasic lead phosphate, was compounded in some experiments. Conductivity measurements were carried out in the temperature range between 40°C and 70°C. The samples were in the form of strips 1 cm in length, 0.50 cm in width and a thickness that ranged between 0.03 cm and 0.05 cm. The activation energy for rigid polymer was 0.34 eV, whereas it ranged between 0.35 eV and 0.58 eV for the soft form and between 0.29 eV and 0.54 eV for soft and stabilized polymer. Utilization of the conductivity changes of rigid and soft poly(vinyl chloride) having such compositions has been examined as a means of γ-ray dosimetry.

The Mediterranean and North African regions are characterized by strong seismicity and active, complex tectonics, which are often poorly monitored and understood owing to a lack of high-quality seismic recordings. To increase the instrumental coverage in the Mediterranean region, the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica began in 1987 the deployment in this area of a network of 12 Very-Broad-Band seismic stations, termed M ed N et . Motivated both by research interests and by considerations on seismic hazard monitoring, M ed N et has been designed following the highest technical standards. Its geometry will provide a homogeneous coverage of the Mediterranean and North African area, with installations in most countries and an average spacing between stations of 800–1000 km; the network should be completed by 1992. Three stations are now installed in North African countries (Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt) and one is in preparation in Algeria. Great care is being taken in choosing isolated, underground sites for the installations, to ensure optimal signal-to-noise ratios at all frequencies. The noise level at these stations overlaps, and at low frequencies is sometimes better than, the current Low Noise Model. Data are recorded locally and forwarded to the M ed N et Data Centre in Rome for collection and distribution