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Adaptive Optics (AO) has emerged as a revolutionary technology in ophthalmology, offering an unprecedented view into the eye's microstructures with high-resolution imaging capabilities. Originally developed for astronomy, AO technology has been adapted to correct the eye’s optical aberrations, enabling the visualization of individual cellular structures such as photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium cells, and capillaries within the retinal vasculature. This review provides a comprehensive overview of AO, discussing its historical background, technical principles, and incorporation into existing systems. We explore its transformative impact on ophthalmic research and clinical practice, highlighting its role in enhancing our understanding of ocular physiology, disease progression, and response to therapies. The clinical applications of AO, including early disease detection and monitoring, are examined alongside the patient experience and economic considerations. Despite its potential, AO's widespread adoption is currently limited by factors such as high costs, technical complexity, and patient cooperation challenges. We discuss these barriers and the innovative solutions emerging to overcome them, including system simplification, expanded fields of view, and advanced image analysis techniques. The article concludes by reflecting on the promising future of AO, with its evolving role in disease management, surgical planning, and systemic disease monitoring. As AO technology continues to advance, it promises to reshape the landscape of ophthalmic care, offering deeper insights into eye health and more precise patient care.

Abstract Portland cement (PC) is known for its environmental and technical concerns and massive energy consumption during manufacturing. Geopolymer cement is a promising technology to totally replace the use of PC in the oil and gas industry. Although geopolymers are widely used in the construction industry, it is yet to see a full-scale application in the petroleum industry. High-density geopolymer cement development is essential to substitute heavy-weight Portland cement slurries for high pressure well cementing applications. Sedimentation issue is associated with high-density cement slurries which use high specific gravity solids such as weighting materials. This problem causes heterogeneity and density variation along the cemented sections. The main target of this work is to evaluate the use of perlite powder to address the sedimentation issue in the heavy weight geopolymer systems. Hematite-based Class F fly ash (FFA) geopolymer cement slurries with perlite concentrations of 0, 1.5, and 3% by weight of binder (BWOB) were prepared. The sedimentation problem was investigated using three techniques: API method, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and computed tomography (CT) scan. The perlite effects on different geopolymer properties such as unconfined compressive strength (UCS), porosity, elastic and rheological properties were assessed. The results proved that perlite incorporation in high-density hematite-based FFA geopolymer significantly reduced sedimentation issue by increasing yield point and gel strength. NMR and CT scan showed that perlite decreases porosity and density variation across the geopolymer samples. The UCS increased with increasing perlite percentage from 0 to 3%. The measured Young’s moduli (YM) and Poisson’s ratios (PR) showed that the developed perlite based geopolymer systems are considered more flexible than Class G cement systems. It was found that the optimum perlite concentration is 3% BWOB for tackling sedimentation and developing a slurry with acceptable mixability and rheological properties.

Conventional practices in earth construction, such as cement stabilization and the energy-intensive firing of bricks, contribute significantly to carbon emissions due to the processes involved in cement production and kiln operation. Additionally, concerns over the low strength of earth-based materials have limited their broader applications. This research addresses these challenges by implementing ultra-high pressures (200 MPa and 400 MPa) and bio-binders (animal glue and xanthan gum) to enhance earth materials for construction. Unstabilized earth mixture and normal pressure case (20 MPa) are also included in this study for comparison. A custom-designed mold and a specialized production process are developed to fabricate cylindrical earth samples for testing. After undergoing three hours of consolidation and 28 days of curing, unconfined compressive strengths are measured. Scanning electron microscopy is used to investigate the influence of ultra-high pressures and bio-binders on the microstructures of compressed earth blocks. The experimental results demonstrate that animal-glue- and xanthan-gum-stabilized samples under ultra-high pressure achieve compressive strengths comparable to traditional fired bricks, while unstabilized samples exhibit the strength of cement-stabilized rammed earth. This research demonstrates that ultra-compression combined with bio-binder stabilization presents a viable strategy for reducing the carbon footprint of earth construction while significantly enhancing the mechanical properties.

Abstract Underground reinforced concrete (RC) structures, such as tunnels and pipelines, are frequently employed in urban areas and are designed to withstand both static and seismic loads, including those that occur during earthquakes. However, the inspection of deteriorated underground structures has yielded valuable findings for the civil engineering community, highlighting the need for further experimental investigation of the various damage mechanisms affecting RC tunnels under different loading conditions. This research presents a comprehensive experimental study aimed at elucidating the damage mechanisms of underground RC structures exposed to various loading conditions. Specifically, the study includes experimental testing of the corrosion of tunnel reinforcement and an investigation into the overall performance of corroded tunnels. The experimental results indicate that existing vertical loads significantly impact the lateral carrying capacity and ductility of RC tunnels.

Abstract Emerald and other beryls represent a family of the most valuable gemstone around the world and particularly in Egypt. Beryllium (Be) contents in beryl-bearing bedrocks in south Sinai (Wadi Ghazala and Wadi Sedri), and in central and south Eastern Desert of Egypt (Igla area, Zabara-Um Addebaa belt, Homret Akarem, and Homret Mukpid) were investigated in this study. The environmental risk levels of Be, associated major ions, and heavy metals in groundwater nearby to beryl-bearing mineralization were also evaluated. Results showed that Be contents ranged from 1 to 374 ppm in beryl-bearing bedrocks, while in nearby groundwater, Be content has a range of 0.0001–0.00044 mg/L with an average of 0.00032 mg/L, which is within the permissible levels and below (0.004) the U.S. EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL). Most levels of heavy metals (e.g., Be, B, Ni, V, Fe, and Al) in the investigated groundwater of central and south Eastern Desert and south Sinai are within the permissible levels and below their corresponding U.S. EPA MCLs. This study also investigated the radiological risk of natural radionuclides distributed in beryl-bearing bedrocks in the study area using gamma spectrometry; Sodium Iodide [NaI(Tl)] scintillation detector. Among the estimated mean 238U, 232Th, and 226Ra activity concentrations of the studied beryl-bearing rocks, Homret Mukpid (79, 87.15, 60.26 Bq kg−1) and Homret Akarem (111.6, 51.17, 85.1 Bq kg−1) contain the highest values. This may be attributed to their highly fractionated granitic rocks that host uranium and thorium reservoir minerals such as zircon, allanite, and monazite. The estimated data of multi-radiological parameters such as absorbed gamma dose, outdoor and indoor annual effective dose, radium equivalent activity, internal and external indices, index of excess cancer, and effective dose to human organs reflecting no significant impacts from the emitted natural gamma radiation.

Abstract Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) has introduced different environmental and technical issues. Researchers tried either adding new materials to cement or developing alternatives for both technical and environmental challenges. Hematite as a weighting agent is used to increase cement slurry density. Heavy particles sedimentation in cement and geopolymer slurries is a serious issue which creates heterogenous properties along the cemented section. This work presents a new class of geopolymers using both hematite and Micromax as weighting materials for high density well cementing applications. The first system used only hematite while the other system used both hematite and Micromax. The main goal behind using Micromax with hematite is to check the possibility of eliminating the sedimentation issue associated with hematite in geopolymers. Moreover, the effects of adding Micromax on different FFA geopolymer properties were also evaluated. Different mixtures of retarder, retarder intensifier and superplasticizer were introduced to increase the thickening times of the developed geopolymer systems. The results showed that adding Micromax to hematite decreased the average density variation from 12.5% to almost 3.9%. Micromax addition reduced plastic viscosity by 44.5% and fluid loss by 10.5%. Both systems had a close performance in terms of strength, elastic properties, and permeability. The thickening time was 390 min for the hematite system and 300 min for the mixed system using the proposed additives mixtures.

Abstract Accurate real-time pore pressure prediction is crucial especially in drilling operations technically and economically. Its prediction will save costs, time and even the right decisions can be taken before problems occur. The available correlations for pore pressure prediction depend on logging data, formation characteristics, and combination of logging and drilling parameters. The objective of this work is to apply artificial neural networks (ANN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to introduce two models to estimate the formation pressure gradient in real-time through the available drilling data. The used parameters include rate of penetration (ROP), mud flow rate (Q), standpipe pressure (SPP), and rotary speed (RS). A data set obtained from some vertical wells was utilized to develop the predictive model. A different set of data was utilized for validating the proposed artificial intelligence (AI) models. Both models forecasted the output with a good correlation coefficient (R) for training and testing. Moreover, the average absolute percentage error (AAPE) did not exceed 2.1%. For validation stage, the developed models estimated the pressure gradient with a good accuracy. This study proves the reliability of the proposed models to estimate the pressure gradient while drilling using drilling data. Moreover, an ANN-based correlation is provided and can be directly used by introducing the optimized weights and biases, whenever the drilling parameters are available, instead of running the ANN model.

This paper aims to evaluate educators' and students’ preferences for either computer-aided design (CAD) or traditional hand drafting in working drawings coursework (assignments, term projects and exams). (1) Background: Working drawings are considered an advanced level of technical drawings for the architecture discipline. (2) Material and Methods: A pilot study with three focus groups was conducted in the architecture department of a governmental male university in Saudi Arabia. According to the notes collected from the previous literature review and pilot study, a questionnaire was designed. This questionnaire was given to 21 educators and 59 students. (3) Results: Educators' and students' results were almost the same, showing a preference for using the CAD method compared to the hand drafting method in achieving the working drawing characteristics of accuracy, neatness, pen assignment adjustments, material presentation, ease of modification, saving the drawing for later review, and overall quality. CAD is also preferred due to saving exam time and its cost efficiency. However, the respondents confirmed the negative impact of CAD copy commands from previous projects on the understanding of working drawings and their preference to use the hand drafting drawing method for drawing notes on site visits. (4) Conclusions: The working drawings coursework should combine the CAD & hand drafting methods to utilize the advantages of both in order to improve the course learning outcome.

Background: The epiphora is the most common manifestation of obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct, which is treated by dacryocystorhinostomy either by external or internal endoscopic endonasal approach. With the advance of the nasal endoscope, the endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy became well established. Aim of the work: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intranasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy [DCR] in the management of patients with acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients with acquired obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct who underwent intra-nasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy [EDCR] at Al-Azhar University Hospitals from September 2012 to October 2015. Forty-five procedures were done where primary endoscopic DCR was done on forty patients and revision endoscopic DCR was done on failed five patients. The outcome is measured by subjective improvement of epiphora. Results: The patients were followed up for three years, improvement of 35 patients with epiphora from 40 patients [the rate of success was 86.7%] and the remaining five failed cases undergoing revision EDCR with the improvement of four from them. The success was confirmed with the subjective improvement of epiphora. The rate of minor complications reported was 28.8% and managed conservative, and only one major complication occurred in one patient. Conclusion: The endoscopic intranasal DCR is an effective and safe procedure in the management of acquired obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct and gives a high success rate.

Aim: This study was designed for the 1st time to describe the normal head structures of one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) using both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) as well as cross-sectional anatomy. Materials and Methods: Five fresh cadaver heads were collected from clinically normal camels and then subjected to T1-weighted MR and CT imaging. Afterward, these examined heads were transversely sliced to obtain seven crossing levels. Results: The obtained structures per each crossing level were matched with their relevant sorted images of T1-weighted MRI and CT, then identified and labeled accordingly. Conclusion: The data shown herein expand our knowledge of the normal head structures of the camel and could be used as a reference for ultimate diagnosis of the surgical affections of head using MRI and/or CT.

This study assessed the spatiotemporal variability and pollution grades of heavy metals in water and sediments of Bahr El-Baqar drain, Eastern Nile Delta, Egypt, by integration of geochemical analysis, metal pollution indices, correlation, and multivariate statistical analyses. Twenty samples of water and sediments were collected during 2018 and analyzed for heavy metal concentrations using ICP-OES. Heavy metal contents in the water samples followed the order: Fe > Zn > Al > Pb > Mn > Cu > Ni. The drain sediments were highly contaminated with heavy metals that followed the order: Fe > Al > Mn > V > Zn > Cu > Cr > Ba > Ni > Pb > As. Spatiotemporally, most metals in the drain sediments showed a decreasing trend from upstream (south) to downstream sites (north). Results of principal component analysis (PCA) supported those from the Pearson correlation between investigated heavy metals. In water, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Fe showed highly significant correlations. In sediments, Ba, Ni, Zn, Fe, Al, Mn, and V showed strong positive correlations indicating that these metals were derived from similar anthropogenic sources. The calculated metal pollution indices: enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), degree of contamination (DC), and index of geo-accumulation (Igeo) indicated high loadings of heavy metals in the drain sediments. EFs revealed low, moderate to significant enrichment, whereas CFs showed low, moderate, and considerable contamination. PLI indicated low, baseline, and progressive contamination, while DC indicated low, moderate, and considerable degree of contamination. Igeo of all investigated metals (except for As; class 1) indicated extremely contaminated sediments (class 7).

Abstract Background Increased lung water and the resultant atelectasis are significant pulmonary complications after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in children undergoing cardiac surgery; these complications are observed after CPB than after anaesthesia alone. Ultrafiltration has been shown to decrease total body water and postoperative blood loss and improve the alveolar to arterial oxygen gradient and pulmonary compliance. This study investigated whether conventional ultrafiltration during CPB in paediatric heart surgeries influences post-bypass extravascular lung water (EVLW) assessed by lung ultrasound (LUS). Methods This randomized controlled study included 60 patients with congenital heart disease (ASA II-III), aged 1 to 48 months, with a body weight > 3 kg. Conventional ultrafiltration targeting a haematocrit (HCT) level of 28% was performed on the ultrafiltration group, while the control group did not receive ultrafiltration. LUS scores were recorded at baseline and at the end of surgery. The PaO2/FiO2 ratio (arterial oxygen tension divided by the fraction of inspired oxygen), urine output, and haemodynamic parameters were also recorded. Results LUS scores were comparable between the two groups both at baseline (p = 0.92) and at the end of surgery (p = 0.95); however, within the same group, the scores at the end of surgery significantly differed from their baseline values in both the ultrafiltration (p = 0.01) and non-ultrafiltration groups (p = 0.02). The baseline PaO2/FiO2 ratio was comparable between both groups. at the end of surgery, The PaO2/FiO2 ratio increased in the ultrafiltration group compared to that in the non-ultrafiltration group, albeit insignificant (p = 0.16). no correlation between the PaO2/FiO2 ratio and LUS score was found at baseline (r = − 0.21, p = 0.31). On the other hand, post-surgical measurements were negatively correlated (r = − 0.41, p = 0.045). Conclusion Conventional ultrafiltration did not alter the EVLW when assessed by LUS and oxygenation state. Similarly, ultrafiltration did not affect the urea and creatinine levels, intensive care unit (ICU) stays, ventilation days, or mortality. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT03146143 registered on 29-April-2017.

Abstract Background To assess the validity of central and pulmonary veno-arterial CO2 gradients to predict fluid responsiveness and to guide fluid management during liver transplantation. Methods In adult recipients (ASA III to IV) scheduled for liver transplantation, intraoperative fluid management was guided by pulse pressure variations (PPV). PPV of ≥15% (Fluid Responding Status-FRS) indicated fluid resuscitation with 250 ml albumin 5% boluses repeated as required to restore PPV to

Diffuse peritonitis is a potential fatal inflammation and considered the important common leading cause of peritonitis-related death in ruminants worldwide. This study was designed to find suitable biomarkers aid in diagnosis and differentiation between different causes of diffuse peritonitis in buffaloes. Clinical and ultrasonographic examinations were applied as well as blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Based on necropsy findings, diffuse peritonitis was found to be of digestive origin (traumatic reticuloperitonitis—TRP or perforated abomasum/intestine), or of non-digestive origin from ruptured uterus. Serum total protein (TP), globulins, Malondialdehyde and plasma fibrinogen were significantly increased in both digestive and non-digestive origins. Meanwhile, serum pepsinogen was significantly elevated in diffuse peritonitis associated with perforated abomasum and intestine. Serum haptoglobin (Hp) showed a highly significant increase in TRP rather than other groups. On the other hand, nitric oxide (NO) and catalase showed non-significant changes in all groups of diffuse peritonitis in buffaloes. In conclusion, our results suggested that Hp and pepsinogen could enable the veterinarians for better diagnosis of the different causes of diffuse peritonitis in buffaloes.Highlights The current study suggested that Hp and pepsinogen could be a diagnostic markers for the differentiation between different causes of diffuse peritonitis in buffaloes, while, NO and CAT were of no value. However estimation of Fb, globulins, Tp and MDA help in the diagnosis of diffuse peritonitis but it cannot help in the differentiation between different causes of diffuse peritonitis in buffaloes.

Wet snow accumulation on bridge cables and its shedding due to external phenomena such as rise in temperature, wind, and gravity is a serious threat to the safety of cars and pedestrians crossing the bridge. Commonly the accumulated snow on bridge cables is removed by external means such as mechanical removal or heat treatment which are expensive, time-consuming, and high-risk processes and are conducted based on little or no information available regarding the actual size and shape of the accumulated snow. In addition, cleaning of cables using the mechanical methods can potentially lead to erosion of cable materials when applied over years, resulting in enhanced surface roughness and potentially increased wet snow/ice accumulation during future precipitation events, and sometimes might require replacement of cable stays, which is an extremely costly and complicated task. Optimizing the number of mechanical cleaning procedures such as chain release through predicting the shape and thickness of the accumulated snow on the cable stays reduces the cost, time, and risk associated with the process. In this study, wet snow accumulation on torsionally rigid inclined cylinders of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) has been studied experimentally and numerically. A 2-D numerical model has been developed utilizing weather data to predict the thickness and the shape of the accumulated wet snow on inclined cylindrical surfaces. Outdoor experiments were also conducted to measure the density and thickness of accumulated snow, while monitoring the weather data real time. Overall, snow density was found to be linearly increasing with an increase in wind velocity, during snow precipitation. The maximum thickness and shape of the accumulated snow on cables obtained from the numerical model were found to be in good agreement with the outdoor experimental data. This work aims to provide a mean for prediction of snow accumulation on surfaces for optimizing the efficiency of the costly and high-risk snow removal procedures.

The study investigated normal macromorphological and ultrasonographic features of the eye and lacrimal gland, as well as normal dacryocystorhinography of the donkey (Equus asinus) in Egypt. A total of 36 donkeys of different ages, weights, and sexes were included in the study: 21 live animals for ultrasonography and dacryocystorhinography, and 15 cadaver skulls for morphological anatomy of the lacrimal apparatus. The ultrasound biometric values of the eye were 33.7 ± 1.7 mm for axial globe length (AGL), 39.8 ± 2.1 mm for globe diameter (GD), 10.8 ± 0.7 mm for lens thickness (LT), 3.2 ± 0.7 mm for anterior chamber depth (ACD), and 19.3 ± 1.6 mm for vitreous chamber depth (VCD). The lacrimal gland was recognized as a hypoechogenic structure with an anechoic core, located at the dorsolateral aspect of the orbit, and ovoid in shape. The mean NLD length was 193.0 ± 9.8 mm by radiography and 206.0 ± 20.4 mm by gross assessment. One NL orifice (NLO) was noticed on each side, with a diameter of 3.0 ± 0.1 mm and located 12.1 ± 2.1 mm from the dorsal commissure of the nostril. These results may act as the baseline for proper management of conditions of the eye and lacrimal apparatus in the donkey in the future.

In Egypt, limited studies were performed to investigate Jhon’s disease (JD) caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). This study was concerned with diagnosis of MAP in cattle dairy farms using indirect-ELISA technique and amplification of IS900 using PCR technique for confirmation of infection and investigated adequate diagnostic markers for MAP through determining hemato-biochemical profile in cattle dairy farms. Screening of MAP was done by indirect ELISA between the periods from January 2017 to June 2018. A total of 200 cows suffered from persistent diarrhea (n=17) and apparently healthy cows in contact with them (n=183) were used in this study. Positive JD was reported in 62 cases (31%) and negative JD was reported in 138 cases (69%). Out of the positive JD, 17 cases were clinically affected by persistent diarrhea and weight loss (clinical JD), where 45 cases were apparently healthy (sub-clinical JD). Typical colonies of MAP were isolated from the fecal samples of clinically affected cows with positive staining of MAP bacilli. Amplification of IS900 using PCR technique confirmed the presence of MAP infection. Phylogenetic analysis revealed identical similarities with MAP strains in India and Egypt. Hemato-biochemical investigations revealed significant decrease in RBCs, PCV, total protein, globulin and glucose with non-significant change in oxidative stress markers in clinically affected cows. This study is considered one of the limited researches that highlight the role of MAP infection in dairy farms in Egypt. Key words: dairy cattle; ELISA; IS900; Johne’s disease; MAP

SARS-CoV-2 currently lacks effective first-line drug treatment. We present promising data from in silico docking studies of new Methisazone compounds (modified with calcium, Ca; iron, Fe; magnesium, Mg; manganese, Mn; or zinc, Zn) designed to bind more strongly to key proteins involved in replication of SARS-CoV-2. In this in silico molecular docking study, we investigated the inhibiting role of Methisazone and the modified drugs against SARS-CoV-2 proteins: ribonucleic acid (RNA)-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), spike protein, papain-like protease (PlPr), and main protease (MPro). We found that the highest binding interactions were found with the spike protein (6VYB), with the highest overall binding being observed with Mn-bound Methisazone at −8.3 kcal/mol, followed by Zn and Ca at −8.0 kcal/mol, and Fe and Mg at −7.9 kcal/mol. We also found that the metal-modified Methisazone had higher affinity for PlPr and MPro. In addition, we identified multiple binding pockets that could be singly or multiply occupied on all proteins tested. The best binding energy was with Mn–Methisazone versus spike protein, and the largest cumulative increases in binding energies were found with PlPr. We suggest that further studies are warranted to identify whether these compounds may be effective for treatment and/or prophylaxis.

The current case report represents a warning against serious hyperkalaemia and acidosis induced by ACE-I during surgical stress while normal renal function could deceive the attending anaesthetist. Arterial gas analysis for follow-up of haemoglobin loss accidentally discovered hyperkalaemia and acidosis. Glucose-insulin and furosemide successfully corrected hyperkalaemia after 25 minutes and acidosis after 3 hours. These complications could be explained by a deficient steroid stress response to surgery secondary to suppression by ACE-I. Event analysis and database search found that ACE-I induced aldosterone deficiency aggravated by surgical stress response with an inadequate increase in aldosterone secretion due to angiotensin II deficiency as a sequel of ACE-I leading to defective secretion of H+ and K+. Furosemide is recommended to secrete H+ and K+ compensating for aldosterone deficiency in addition to other antihyperkalaemia measures. Anaesthetising an ACE-I treated patient requires considering ACE-I as a potential cause of hyperkalaemia and acidosis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of giving general anesthesia without the use of any opioids either systemic or intraperitoneal in bariatric surgery. Methods: Prospective randomized controlled trial. Obese patients (body mass index >50 Kg/m 2 ) undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies were recruited and provided an informed signed consent. Patients were randomized using a computer generated randomization table to receive either opioid or non-opioid based anesthesia. The patient and the investigator scoring patient outcome after surgery were blinded to the anesthetic protocol. Primary outcomes were hemodynamics in the form of "heart rate, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure" on induction and ½ hourly thereafter. Pain monitoring through visual analog scale (VAS) 30 min after recovery, hourly for 2 h and every 4 h for 24 h was also recorded. Pain monitoring through VAS and post-operative nausea and vomiting 30 min after recovery were also recorded and finally patient satisfaction and acute pain nurse satisfaction. Results: There was no difference in background characteristics in both groups. There were no statistically significant differences in different outcomes as heart rate, mean blood pressure, O 2 saturation in different timings between groups at any of the determined eight time points but pain score and nurse satisfaction showed a trend to better performance with non-opioid treatment. Conclusion: Nonopioid based general anesthesia for Bariatric surgery is as effective as opioid one. There is no need to use opioids for such surgery especially that there was a trend to less pain in non-opioid anesthesia.

Objectives. To compare dexmedetomidine versus magnesium during laparoscopic colectomy. Patients and Methods. 51 patients were randomly allocated into 3 groups: group C (control) received saline infusion, group D dexmedetomidine 1 g/kg and then 0.4 g/kg/hr, and group M MgSO4 2 g and then 15 g/kg/min. Intraoperative hemodynamics were measured before and 1 min after intubation (T1 and T2), before and 5 min after peritoneal insufflation (T3 and T4), before and 5 min after 30° Trendelenburg position (T5 and T6), 5 min after resuming flat position (T7), 5 min after peritoneal deflations (T8), after extubation (T9), and at time of admission to PACU (T10). Recovery time and degree of sedation were assessed. Results. HR and MAP were significantly higher in T2, T4, and T6 compared to T1, T3, and T5, respectively, in all groups with lower measurements in groups D and M compared to group C. Mean of collective measurements was significantly higher in group C. Recovery time and sedation score were significantly higher in groups D and M. Time to Aldrete score of ≥9 was significantly longer in groups D and M. Conclusion. Both drugs ameliorate the pressor responses during LC with a nonsignificant difference. This study is registered with PACTR201602001481308.

Introduction: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is considered the cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation. PV isolation (PVI) by means of cryotherapy has emerged as a promising technique due to both a low thrombogenicity and reduced risk of PV stenosis. The evaluation (need/efficiency/safety) of hybrid therapy (defined as the use of cryotherapy followed by that of radiofrequency energy in a given patient) is the aim of the present study. Methods: Thirty-four consecutive patients (26 men, mean age: 56.7 ± 9.3 years) with symptomatic drug-refractory paroxysmal AF underwent PVI using a balloon-cryotherapy (BCT). A maximum of four cryotherapy applications was applied per PV and disconnection assessed thereafter using a circular LASSO® catheter. When necessary, PV disconnection was then performed using a 4 mm irrigated-tip catheter. All patients underwent CT-scan evaluation before discharge to detect acute PV stenosis. Results: PVI could be achieved in all patients. Mean procedure duration was 230 ± 42 min and mean fluoroscopy time was 52 ± 13 min. Hybrid therapy was needed to achieve PVI in 26 of 34 (76%). With cryoablation solely, PVI was achieved in 90 of 136 (66%) targeted veins, efficacy being higher in superior as compared to inferior PVs (87% vs. 46%, p

BACKGROUND: Mesoporous‐nanostructured silica‐Prussian blue composite is a highly potential material for silver ions removal and recovery from wastewater. Intense interest has been shown in the use of Prussian blue (PB), one of the important coordinated materials and its analogues in removal of toxic and valuable ions. METHODS: The micro‐emulsion template method enables the synthesis of Prussian blue (PB) within silica pores, yielding a nanostructured mesoporous silica‐PB composite. This rapid synthesis technique allows for the direct fabrication of the composite from mixed precursor solutions within minutes. The resulting material is effective for selectively extracting silver ions from wastewater at a specific pH level. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In summary, the synthesized SiO2‐Prussian blue composite was extensively analyzed using various techniques including XPS, HR‐TEM, SEM, STEM‐EDX elemental maps, TGA/TDA, and N2 adsorption/desorption measurements. The composite exhibited a BET surface area of 203 m2 g−1 and a total pore volume of approximately 0.283 cm3 g−1with mesopores centered around 20 nm. This mesoporous SiO2‐Prussian blue demonstrated significant effectiveness in removing silver ions, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 107.5 mg g−1. The Langmuir and Sips isotherms showed the best fit among various adsorption isotherm types, with R2 values exceeding 0.984. Additionally, kinetic analyses revealed that the pseudo‐second‐order model accurately described the adsorption of silver ions onto the synthesized adsorbent. The nano‐particles exhibit remarkable long‐term stability, maintaining good reproducibility even after five regeneration cycles. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]