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A finite-element (FE) investigation into the response of integral abutment bridges (IABs) to seismic loading in the longitudinal direction was conducted. An example multi-span reinforced concrete solid-slab bridge was designed and analysed using an elasto-plastic two-dimensional FE model. The bridge abutment was taken as supported on steel H-piles. The proposed FE model was found to have the capability of simulating both the bridge construction and the backfilling process using a multi-step numerical process. The bridge was examined considering various lengths and different backfill materials, and was subjected to earthquake loading. The analyses showed that the seismic response of IABs is notably affected by the bridge length. Longer bridges may be subject to higher pressures on the abutments and internal forces in the bridge structure. The stiffness and strength parameters of the backfill material may also markedly influence dynamic pressures on the abutments and internal forces in the structure. Backfill materials with greater stiffness and strength parameters may cause significant reductions in the seismic flexural stresses in both the abutments and the deck. Coupling seismic and thermal loads could be suggested for the design of IABs.

This paper presents a finite-element (FE) investigation into the effects of pylon configuration on the general response of cable-stayed bridges (CSBs) in the event of sudden cable loss. An example CSB is proposed and analysed using a three-dimensional FE model for H-shaped pylon (HSP) and A-shaped pylon (ASP) configurations; the effects of p–δ (large stress) and geometric non-linearities are accounted for. The FE study was conducted for two scenarios of cable loss – the simultaneous sudden loss of the longest two adjacent cables in the mid span or the side span. The results showed that the general responses of the main-span deck structural elements due to breakage of the longest two main-span cables were comparable for both HSP and ASP configurations, but the responses due to breakage of the longest two side-span cables differed. From a practical viewpoint, the loss of side-span cables may cause notable rotation of the main-span deck for a CSB with HSPs, but not for a CSB with ASPs. The results of this study may be useful for designing a situation of accidental cable loss.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by insulin resistance, high blood pres-sure/sugar, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Whether MetS and its components affect the development of Behçet's Disease (BD) remains unclear. Aims: The aim was to determine the frequency of MetS among BD patients and to study its relationship with disease characteristics. Methods: The study included 1028 adult BD patients recruited from 18 specialized rheumatology centers. 51 healthy matched control were considered. Behçet Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) and the BD damage index (BDI) were estimated. Adult Treatment Panel-III criteria were used to define MetS. Results: The mean age of patients was 36.8 ± 10.1 years, M:F 2.7:1 and disease duration 7.01 ± 5.2 years. Their mean BDCAF was 5.1 ± 4.6 and BDI 5.5 ± 2.8. MetS was present in 22.8% of patients and in 5.9% of control (3.9 fold higher-risk). Patients with MetS had a significantly increased age at onset (31.8 ± 9.2 vs. 29 ± 8.5 years) and higher frequency of genital ulcers (96.2% vs. 79.7%), skin involvement (73.1% vs. 50.4%), arthritis (48.3% vs. 29.1%) (p Conclusion: BD patients with MetS are predisposed to mucocutaneous, musculoskeletal, neuropsychiatric and ocular manifestations with consequently increased damage. The involvement of the deeper structures of the eye should alarm rheumatologists to keep in mind that all patients should have an eye examination, especially those with MetS.

Introduction Spinal infection (SI) is uncommon and patients present with varied clinical features. In this review, the presentation, investigation, treatment and outcome of patients with SI in the north-east of Scotland were assessed. Methods Electronic medical records of adult patients with SI hospitalised at a health board in the north-east of Scotland between 2014 and 2018 were analysed retrospectively. Collected variables included demographics, presenting clinical features, risk factors, comorbidities, admission blood results, microbiological investigations, imaging, treatment and outcomes. Results Seventy-two patients were included. Mean age (±sd) was 63.3 years (±14.5). The lumbar spine was the most commonly involved region (51.4%). Back pain (84.7%), altered mobility (33.3%) and fever (29.2%) were the most frequent presenting features. Thoracic spine involvement (p = 0.041), urinary symptoms (p = 0.033), cauda equina syndrome (CES) (p = 0.027) and limb weakness (p = 0.026) were associated with poorer outcome. A better outcome was associated with back pain at presentation (p = 0.03) and underlying malignancy (p = 0.045). Diabetes (15.3%), recent falls (15.3%) and immunosuppression (12.5%) were common. A likely causative organism was found in 54 patients (75.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 41.7% of patients. Penicillins were used in 56.3% of patients and 20.8% underwent surgery. Outcomes were full recovery (38.2%), residual symptoms or neurological deficits (50.0%), paraplegia (4.4%) and death (7.4%). Conclusions Poorer outcomes occurred in patients with thoracic disease, limb weakness, urinary symptoms or CES, whereas better outcomes were associated with the presence of back pain on presentation and malignancy. This analysis highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of SI, alerting clinicians to key factors associated with prognosis.

According to studies, the liver’s ability to perform its physiological functions in the body determines the diet of patients with liver diseases. Malnutrition results from the liver’s inability to metabolize nutrients as a result of chronic liver dysfunctions. Objectives: Reviewing the data about diets and dietary supplements that manage liver dysfunctions nutritionally. Results: Malnutrition is particularly prevalent in cirrhosis patients, according to clinical studies. Because malnutrition has a significant negative impact on morbidity, mortality, and quality of life, it is crucial to evaluate all cirrhosis patients, regardless of etiology or severity. A term of supplemental enteral nutrition may be suggested for patients who do not achieve their nutritional objectives. A detailed nutritional and exercise assessment will enable the development of an individualized treatment plan that includes dietary and exercise plans. The dietary treatment should outline daily calorie targets with a focus on high-quality protein and address any vitamin and micronutrient deficiencies, with a diet high in those nutrients or supplements. Conclusions: While there is evidence to support the use of particular restricted dietary plans and dietary supplements to manage liver diseases, these findings should be regarded as preliminary until they are confirmed in larger randomized controlled clinical trials.

Objectives: Comparing osseodensification vs. ridge splitting techniques in dental implant placement regarding implant stability, insertion torque, bone width and density. Patients and Method: Twenty individuals with a narrow ridge width of 3-6 mm at crestal bone level were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: Group I Osseodensification technique, Group II Ridge splitting technique with bone expanders and sticky bone augmentation. Implant stability, insertion torque, surgical procedure duration, bone width, and density were all evaluated by CBCT. Results: Group (I) had showed higher statistically significant Insertion torque than group (II). While group (II) had showed statistically significant increase in mean ISQ reading after 6 months (p

Objectives: The use of a keyhole plate vs two miniplates in the treatment of mandibular subcondylar fractures. Materials and methods:Twenty patients were randomized into two equal groups. Ten patients with subcondylar fractures were treated with two Yang's keyhole plates in Group I. Ten patients with subcondylar fractures were treated with two conventional miniplates in Group II. Maximum mouth opening (MMO), Protrusive excursive movement, Lateral excursive movement, and Time for reduction and fixation were all used to evaluate patients clinically vertical height of ramus, and antero-posterior condylar angulation are all measured radiographically. Results: There was a statistically non-significant difference between the study and control groups at all intervals regarding MMO, Protrusive excursive movement, Lateral excursive movement, vertical height of the ramus, antero-posterior condylar angulation, but was significant at time for reduction and fixation. Conclusion: reducing a mandibular condylar fracture using a YK-plate, the results were similar and the operating time was quicker than when utilizing a traditional mini plate fixation.

Objectives: to compare of effect amniotic membrane versus collagen membrane on sticky bone with simultaneous implant placement after lateral sinus lifting procedure. Patients and methods: Seven patients with bilateral sever bone resorption undergone immediate implant after lateral sinus lifting and placement of sticky bone. In G (I): Collagen membrane covered sticky bone and implant while in G (II): Amniotic membrane covered sticky bone and implant. Surgical sites were evaluated clinically for any signs of infection, wound dehiscence, or exposure of implant threads. Also, Implant stability and bone density were obtained at 0, 3, 6 and 9 months. Results: Amniotic group revealed statistically significant value in percentage increase of bone density. Conclusion: The application of sticky bone with amniotic membrane was more likely proved to have the ability to assist and accelerate bone healing and osseointegration.

تمثل هدف البحث في معرفة دور تمكين العاملين بأبعاده (المعنى، الكفاءة، تقرير المصير والتأثير) في مستوى الالتزام التنظيمي بأبعاده لديهم بالاعتماد على تسلسل أبعاده من الالتزام العاطفي والالتزام المعياري والالتزام المستمر (الاستمراري)، وتماشياً مع أهداف البحث وبالتناغم مع مشكلة البحث الرئيسية (ما هو دور تمكين العاملين في التزامهم التنظيمي)، فقد اختيرت المديرية العامة للتربية في محافظة صلاح الدين ميداناً للبحث، وتمثل مجتمع البحث بالعاملين العاملين في الأقسام في مقر ديوان المديرية بوصفهم المحور الرئيسي في تسيير عمل المديرية بكافة اقسامها الرئيسية والفرعية والبالغ عددهم (175)، وقد كانت عدد الافراد الذين اجابوا على الاستبانة (99) فردا، استعملت الاستبانة بوصفها الأداة الرئيسية للبحث لجمع البيانات وباستخدام المنهج الوصفي والتحليلي، توصل البحث إلى نتيجة أساسية هي ان زيادة مستويات تمكين العاملين سوف ينعكس بصورة إيجابية في شعور وتعزيز التزامهم التنظيمي تجاه المنظمة العاملين فيها اعتماداً على بعد التأثير، في حين لم يظهر تأثر للأبعاد الثلاثة الأخرى، وبالتالي قدم الباحث عدد من التوصيات كان من أبرزها عمل المنظمة على زرع روح التمكين لدى العاملين من خلال اظهار الاهتمام بجوانب المهارة والكفاءة التي تمتع بها العاملين وتمكنهم بصورة أكثر وضوحاً بما يتعلق بمهامهم الوظيفية.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) essential oil has vast potential as an antimicrobial but is limited by its volatility and rapid degradation. To decrease its volatility and prolong the efficacy of the biocide, cinnamon essential oil was encapsulated into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). The characterization of MSNs and cinnamon oil encapsulated with silica nanoparticles (CESNs) was estimated. Additionally, their insecticidal activity against the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) larvae was evaluated. The MSN surface area decreased from 893.6 to 720 m2 g−1 and the pore volume also decreased from 0.824 to 0.7275 cc/g after loading with cinnamon oil. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and N2 sorption by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) confirmed the successful formation and evolution of the synthesized MSNs and CESN structures. The surface characteristics of MSNs and CESNs were analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Compared with the sub-lethal activity values, the order of toxicity after 6 days of exposure was MSNs ˃ CESN ˃ cinnamon oil ˃ silica gel ˃ peppermint oil. The efficacy of CESNs gradually increases its toxicity more than MSN after the 9th day of exposure.

A new, fast, sensitive, simple, and green dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME)-based spectrophotometric method for the determination of valacyclovirHCl (VAL) in pure form and pharmaceutical formulations has been developed and validated. The developed method is based on the formation of a coloured product through the reaction of VAL and 1,2-naphthoquine-4-sulfonate (NQS) at pH = 9. The important experimental parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were investigated and optimized. The tiny organic droplets had a wavelength of l = 505 nm. At the optimum conditions, linearity ranged from 0.06 to 2.0 μg/mL, with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.9995. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.02, and 0.06 μg/mL, respectively. The enhancement factor was 36.87. Good recovery as accuracy (99.50%) and relative standard deviation (RSD) as precision were 1.20%, respectively. The developed DLLME method was successfully applied to the determination of VAL in pharmaceutical formulations, and the validity was assessed by applying the standard addition technique. The results obtained by the proposed method for the pure VAL and commercial tablets agreed well with those obtained by the official method. KEY WORDS: ValacyclovirHCl, Spectrophotometry, 1-2-Naphthoquine-4-sulfonate, Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, Pharmaceutical formulations Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2023, 37(3), 579-592. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v37i3.4

This first special issue of 2023 began with a call for papers that highlighted a key facet of the population often overlooked by outsiders to the Arctic—despite its relatively sparse overall numbers and low population density, the region is full of human diversity. This diversity exists within the inhabitants, both Indigenous and (im)migrant (whether temporary or permanent), rural and urban, and by sexual orientation, gender roles, class, and ethnicity, on multiple parameters. For this issue, we go beyond the borders of Siberia to examine some of those key factors and their impacts on the lives of neighboring circumpolar peoples in North America, Greenland, and Scandinavia as well, in order to better understand commonalities as well as divergences in the experiences of those living in northern regions.

Evaluate the impact of adding mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCmean) measurements to the Ovarian-Adnexal Imaging Reporting and Data System MRI (O-RADS MRI) scoring for adnexal lesion characterization using a combined O-RADS MRI/ADCmean reading approach.This prospective study included 90 women who underwent pelvic MRI for adnexal lesions diagnosis and characterization. Two readers scored the adnexal lesions using the O-RADS MRI scoring independently and in consensus. A third reader calculated ADCmean measurements. The final diagnoses were determined by histo-pathology (n = 77) or follow-up imaging (n = 13). Areas under the curves (AUCs) and diagnostic performance metrics were calculated for the O-RADS MRI scoring, ADCmean, and combined O-RADS MRI/ADCmean thresholds. P-value0.05 was significant.116 adnexal lesions (71 benign, 45 malignant) were analyzed. The optimal thresholds to predict malignant adnexal lesions were O-RADS MRI score3 and ADCmean value ≤1.08 × 10The diagnostic performance of O-RADS MRI scoring to characterize adnexal lesions could be improved by adding the ADCmean values through reducing false positives, increasing specificity, and maintaining good sensitivity.

A field experiment with three replications was conducted on sprinkler irrigated sandy soil during two successive summer and winter seasons (summer 2021 and winter 2021/2022), which cultivated with corn (Zea mays) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) at Agricultural Research Station farm in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt. Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) was cultivated as an indicator crop to evaluate the residual effect of different rates of zinc nutrient in nanoparticles form versus mineral zinc sulphate fertilizer and studying their effects on growth and crop yield and some soil chemical properties. The zinc nutrient forms were applied by fertigation through sprinkler irrigation system. The obtained results revealed that the corn and bean parts dry matter, yield and some soil chemical properties including available soil nutrients content, EC, pH and SOM were greatly improved in general with additions of these nutrients forms. During zinc nanoparticles treatments, the most effective treatment was with the rate of half dose from minerals at recommended dose (ZnNPs at 50% MNRD). Mineral forms in normal recommended dose (MNRD) gave nearly equal effect with ZnNPs at 50 % MNRD.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in adolescents is relatively a rare condition among those cases presented with low back pain. Trauma and genetics are the most common predisposing factors. Furthermore, the clinical presentations differ from those of the adults. Back pain is not all marked in adolescent patients. AIM: This study was subjected to discuss the etiology, diagnosis and treatment modalities, and the variable outcomes for both medical and surgical treatment of LDH in adolescents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted on 20 patients (12 males, eight females) age range 10–19 years presenting with LDH, managed and treated conservatively and/or surgically in Neurosurgery Department at Kasr Al Ainy School of medicine, Cairo University in the period from October 2015 to September 2016 with 12-month follow-up period. RESULTS: In our study, 12 patients (60%) gave a positive family history, also nine cases (45%) had a history of back trauma before affection with LDH. All the cases (100%) were presented with sciatic pain while only half of them had low back pain, also two cases with motor deficit. After performing magnetic resonance imaging of lumbosacral spine, L5-S1 disc level was the most common level affected. All the patients were subjected to medical treatment which was effective in 40% of the cases and surgical treatment was the only curative method in 12 cases (60%). In this study, the outcome was excellent in 90% of cases where significant to complete relief of pain and significant improvement in the neurological deficits was achieved. CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment is less effective for adolescent LDH patients as compared with adults, even though it remains the fi rst-line treatment for adolescent LDH.

A novel ion selective sensor for detecting MBV in pharmaceutical formulations has been fabricated supported by computational molecular modeling methods.

Mohammed Mubarak Aljeldah,1 Mohamed Taha Yassin,2 Ashraf Abdel-Fattah Mostafa,2 Mourad AM Aboul-Soud3 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hafr Al Batin, Hafr Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia; 2Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Chair of Medical and Molecular Genetics Research, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Mohammed Mubarak Aljeldah, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hafr Al Batin, Email mmaljeldah@uhb.edu.sa Mourad AM Aboul-Soud, Chair of Medical and Molecular Genetics Research, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Email Maboulsoud@ksu.edu.saIntroduction: A considerable number of morbidities and fatalities occur worldwide as a result of the multidrug resistant microorganisms that cause a high prevalence of nosocomial bacterial infections. Hence, the current investigation was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial potency of green fabricated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against four different nosocomial pathogens.Methods: The flower extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa mediated green fabrication of AgNPs and their physicochemical features were scrutinized using different techniques. Antimicrobial activity of the biogenic AgNPs and their synergistic patterns with fosfomycin antibiotic were evaluated using disk diffusion assay.Results and Discussion: UV spectral analysis affirmed the successful formation of AgNPs through the detection of broad absorption band at 395 and 524 nm, indicating the surface plasmon resonance of the biofabricated AgNPs. In this setting, the biofabricated AgNPs demonstrated average particle size of 58.682 nm according to transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrographs. The detected hydrodynamic diameter was higher than that noticed by TEM analysis, recording 72.30 nm in diameter and this could be attributed to the action of capping agents, which was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) analysis. Disk diffusion assay indicated the antibacterial potency of biogenic AgNPs (50 μg/disk) against Enterobacter cloacae, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli strains with relative inhibition zone diameters of 12.82 ± 0.36 mm, 14.54 ± 0.15 mm, 18.35 ± 0.24 mm and 21.69 ± 0.12 mm, respectively. In addition, E. coli was found to be the most susceptible strain to the biogenic AgNPs. However, the highest synergistic pattern of AgNPs-fosfomycin combination was detected against K. pneumonia strain recording relative synergistic percentage of 64.22%. In conclusion, the detected synergistic efficiency of AgNPs and the antibiotic fosfomycin highlight the potential for utilizing this combination in the biofabrication of effective antibacterial agents against nosocomial pathogens.Keywords: green synthesis, Hibiscus sabdariffa, silver nanoparticles, resistance, synergism, fosfomycin