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Existence of moment or eccentricity is a common loading situation; thus, it is necessary to be totally aware of the circular footing bearing capacity subjected to eccentric load to design economically. This paper presents a design chart for transforming a circular footing under eccentric load into an equivalent rectangular footing, allowing the use of existing bearing capacity formulas. A new "effective area" is defined, and characterized by a uniform soil pressure distribution. Unlike previous methods, the paper fully describes the calculation process for this area. The results show significant differences in the dimensions of equivalent footings compared to older methods, especially in designs with low eccentricities, leading to higher bearing capacities. Additionally, the dimensions of the "contact area," which fully interacts with the soil, are derived to ensure compliance with building codes. Finally, simple mathematical expressions for eccentricity reduction factors are provided for both drained and undrained conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is not common in immunocompetent patient. This study is a case report of a 60-year-old man with no evidence of immunocompromised history, who died from CMV-associated encephalitis. The patient presented with a 5-month headache whose pattern and severity changed in the past few days, coffee ground vomiting, and three times seizure. The condition caused his level of consciousness to decrease, he didn’t respond to the primary empirical treatment, and the primary paraclinical work up had no specific findings. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed normal pressure hydrocephalus, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis had aseptic pattern, blood culture was negative, and CSF culture was negative too. After that multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done on the CSF, which was positive for CMV. Foscarnet therapy was initiated for the patient, but it was too late, and the patient did not respond to these treatments. Finally, the patient died. It is too important to diagnose these conditions and initiate therapy as soon as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incubation period of COVID‐19 symptoms, along with the proliferation and high transmission rate of the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, is the cause of an uncontrolled epidemic worldwide. Vaccination is the front line of prevention, and antiinflammatory and antiviral drugs are the treatment of this disease. In addition, some herbal therapy approaches can be a good way to deal with this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of propolis syrup with Hyoscyamus niger L. extract in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 with acute disease conditions in a double‐blinded approach. The study was performed on 140 patients with COVID‐19 in a double‐blind, randomized, and multicentral approach. The main inclusion criterion was the presence of a severe type of COVID‐19 disease. The duration of treatment with syrup was 6 days and 30 CC per day in the form of three meals. On Days 0, 2, 4, and 6, arterial blood oxygen levels, C‐reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and white blood cell, as well as the patient's clinical symptoms such as fever and chills, cough and shortness of breath, chest pain, and other symptoms, were recorded and analyzed. Propolis syrup with H. niger L. significantly reduces cough from the second day, relieving shortness of breath on the fourth day, and significantly reduces CRP, weakness, and lethargy, as well as significantly increased arterial blood oxygen pressure on the sixth day compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05). The results in patients are such that in the most severe conditions of the disease 80% < SpO2 (oxygen saturation), the healing process of the syrup on reducing CRP and increasing arterial blood oxygen pressure from the fourth day is significantly different compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05). The use of syrup is associated with a reduction of 3.6 days in the hospitalization period compared with the placebo group. Propolis syrup with H. niger L. has effectiveness in the viral and inflammatory phases on clinical symptoms and blood parameters and arterial blood oxygen levels of patients with COVID‐19. Also, it reduces referrals to the intensive care unit and mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19. So, this syrup promises to be an effective treatment in the great challenge of COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the coupled soil deformation and pore fluid flow in saturated clay around a cylindrical excavation, utilizing finite element analysis and Modified Cam-Clay constitutive law. Validation of the numerical model precedes a parametric study, assessing volume change effects and various parameters on wall and ground deformations, stresses, pore water pressures, and hydraulic gradients. Results underscore the significance of soil parameters, particularly the Kappa value (κ) influencing horizontal displacements and hydraulic properties impacting settlements and basement heave. Retaining wall length minimally affects stresses but crucially influences water flow from the excavation base. Wall thickness significantly reduces horizontal displacements, with added ground settlement benefits, while constructing a bottom deck substantially mitigates settlements and displacements. This thorough analysis advances understanding of soil-structure interactions, offering vital insights for engineering practices concerning cylindrical excavations in soft soil conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating long-term potentiation (LTP) in disease models provides essential mechanistic insight into synaptic dysfunction and relevant behavioral changes in many neuropsychiatric and neurological diseases. Toxoplasma (T) gondii is an intracellular parasite causing bizarre changes in host's mind including losing inherent fear of life-threatening situations. We examined hippocampal-dependent behavior as well as in vivo short- and long-term synaptic plasticity (STP and LTP) in rats with latent toxoplasmosis. Rats were infected by T. gondii cysts. Existence of REP-529 genomic sequence of the parasite in the brain was detected by RT-qPCR. Four and eight weeks after infection, spatial, and inhibitory memories of rats were assessed by Morris water maze and shuttle box tests, respectively. Eight weeks after infection, STP was assessed in dentate gyrus (DG) and CA1 by double pulse stimulation of perforant pathway and Shaffer collaterals, respectively. High frequency stimulation (HFS) was applied to induce LTP in entorhinal cortex-DG (400 Hz), and CA3-CA1 (200 Hz) synapses. T. gondii infection retarded spatial learning and memory performance at eight weeks post-infection period, whereas inhibitory memory was not changed. Unlike uninfected rats that normally showed paired-pulse depression, the infected rats developed paired-pulse facilitation, indicating an inhibitory synaptic network disruption. T. gondii-infected rats displayed strengthened LTP of both CA1-pyramidal and DG-granule cell population spikes. These data indicate that T. gondii disrupts inhibition/excitation balance and causes bizarre changes to the post-synaptic neuronal excitability, which may ultimately contribute to the abnormal behavior of the infected host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]