Performance of Hollow Bar Micropiles Under Axial and Lateral Loads in Cohesive Soils

The use of hollow core bars in micropiles has greatly increased over the past ten years. Hollow core construction, also known as “self drilled”, is becoming a popular option because it allows a faster installation processes and ground improvement at the same time. Despite the growing demand for hollow bar micropiles, little work has been devoted to evaluating the nominal bond strength between the micropile grout and the surrounding soil, especially in clayey soils. Moreover, the performance of such micropiles under different kinds of loading is still largely unknown and needs to be investigated. In this study, a research methodology encompassing two primary elements is adopted. The first element is a series of full scale field studies on hollow bar micropiles installed in cohesive soils, while the second is numerical investigations on hollow bar micropiles. To accomplish the study, four hollow core micropiles were installed using an air flushing technique employing large drilling carbide bits. Twenty-two load tests were conducted on the four hollow bar micropiles. The hollow bar micropiles were loaded in four consecutive phases, which included; five axial monotonic, five axial cyclic load tests on single micropiles, four axial monotonic tests on pairs of hollow bar micropiles, two monotonic and six cyclic lateral tests on single micropiles. The results of each set of tests were utilized to validate a numerical model. Parametric studies were conducted on the calibrated model to provide design guide lines for hollow bar micropiles under different loads. An equation is proposed to estimate the axial capacity of hollow bar micropiles in cohesive soils depending on the installation method adopted. In addition, an equation for the stiffness degradation under axial cyclic loading is proposed. It reveals that the group efficiency factor for hollow bar micropiles should be taken equal to 1, despite the spacing to diameter ratio employed. Moreover, a family of interaction factor diagrams is established to estimate the settlement of hollow bar micropiles group. Finally, the study demonstrated that hollow bar micropiles can carry moderate lateral loads with proper reinforcement configurations and pile head fixity condition

Occupational Hazards and Safety Nursing Guidelines for Pediatric Nurses in the Health Care Setting

Safety in the workplace was the major concern in a variety of occupations and workplace settings. In nursing, the main concern of research was concerned on patient safety; there was limited researches focused on nurses' safety in work setting. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of implementing occupational hazards and safety nursing guidelines for pediatric nurses in the health care setting. A quasi-experimental research design using one group (pre-test & post-test measures) was used. A convenience sample of 173 pediatric nurses affiliated to Mansoura University children's Hospital (MUCH), Mansoura University, Egypt; and accepted to participate in the study was included. The study illustrated that, 77.9% of nurses suffered from fatigue, 69.5% of nurses had back pain. In addition, significant number of nurses are exposed to MRSA infection (61.7%) and 67.4% are exposed to needle stick injury. Before implementing the nursing guidelines, approximately half of nurses had low level knowledge (46.8%) compared to 15% after implementation of nursing guidelines & the difference was statistically significant. The study concluded that, the hazards associated with nursing profession were higher and critical. In addition, there was an improvement of nurse's knowledge and practice about safety with the implementation of educational guidelines. Therefore, the researchers' recommended developing standard of health care safety clarifying the role of health care institution in dealing with and overcoming the occupational hazards in the health care setting in order to improve nurses' safety and commitment to the health care environment. Key words: nurses safety, occupational hazard, nursing guidelines & occupational hazards prevention DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/59-1

Thiazole derivatives as corrosion inhibitors for C-steel in sulphuric acid solution

5-phenylazo-2-thioxo-thiazolidin-4-one and four of its derivatives have been investigated as corrosion inhibitors for C-steel in 1 M sulphuric acid solution using weight-loss and galvanostatic polarization techniques. The efficiency of the inhibitors increases with increase in inhibitor concentration but decreases with a rise in temperature. The conjoint effect of the thiazole derivatives and KBr, KSCN and KI has also been studied. The apparent activation energy (Ea*) and other thermodynamic parameters (ΔS*, ΔH* and ΔG*ads) for the corrosion process have also been calculated. The galvanostatic polarization data indicated that, the inhibitors were of mixed-type, but the cathode is more polarized than the anode. The slopes of the cathodic and anodic Tafel lines (ßc and ßa) are approximately constant and independent of the inhibitor concentration. The adsorption of these compounds on C-steel surface has been found to obey the Temkin's adsorption isotherm. The mechanism of inhibition was discussed in the light of the chemical structure of the undertaken inhibitors

The efficacy of enhanced recovery protocol from anesthesia in diabetic patients undergoing radical cystectomy

Background: Prevalence of diabetes in surgical patients is 10–40%. They have higher incidence of complications, and longer stay in hospital compared to non-diabetic. Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion is considered one of the high-risk surgeries associated with morbidity and mortality. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is an evidence-based multimodal surgical care protocol that improves post-operative outcomes and length of stay (LOS) in patients without diabetes. This study evaluates the evidence on whether diabetic patientswould benefit from ERAS pathway.The aim of the study: was to evaluate the efficacy of ERAS protocol from anesthesia in diabetic patients undergoing radical cystectomy.Patients and methods: This study was carried out in Alexandria main University Hospital on fifty-four adult ASA physical status I, II and III participants of either sex. Participants were scheduled for radical cystectomy surgeries under the effect of general anesthesia, following ERAS protocol, divided into two group diabetic and non-diabetic27 participants each. The ICON device was used to measure the stroke volume variation (SVV) to apply goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) for all patients.Measurements: Demographic data, hemodynamic parameters (stoke volume, cardiac index), intra-operative fluid requirement, blood loss, postoperative pain intensity, time of first bowel movement, PH, Bicarbonate level, serum lactate level, heamatocrit and LOS were measured and recorded.Main results: No statistical significant difference was detected between both groups as regard age, sex, weight, vital signs, serum lactate, first bowel movement and VAS. There was statistical significant difference between both groups as regard fluid requirement, and the days of hospital stay.Conclusion: ERAS is a beneficial protocol to improve postoperative outcome in radical cystectomy surgeries, it can be used in diabetic patients to decrease postoperative morbidity and mortality

Digenetic trematodes from siganid fish Amphacanthus sigan at Macady Bay, Southern Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt

AbstractForty fish samples of Amphacanthus sigan were collected from Sharm El-Naga southern Hurghada to study the parasitic infection included and present a new individual to Helicometra species using light microscope and re-describe another digenean trematode species using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Two trematode species were identified and described; Helicometra siganus n. sp. Nov belonging to Helicometra Odhner, 1902 (family Opecoelidae Ozaki, 1925) which is different from all the listed species in many features as having an elongated body, tapering anteriorly and larger sucker ratio; the vitellaria extended from the intestinal bifurcation to the posterior extremity of the hind-body and finally the cirrus sac and cirrus longer than the other species and extended to the midpoint of esophagus level. So, these criteria are specific and sufficient to consider it as a new species. The other species, Gyliauchen volubilis Nagaty, 1956 (Gyliauchenidae Fuki, 1929 and Ozaki, 1933) which was described before but some other constituent are not evident and appeared using the electron microscope. However, the present sample illustrated transverse striations on the body surface, the acetabulum evaginates outward, ovoid shaped and surrounded by lip-like structures and finally, the excretory pore is situated at some distance from the acetabulum at the posterior end extremity

Osteopontin for Early Detection of Microvascular and Macrovascular Type 1 Diabetic Complication

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between osteopontin and diabetes complication in type 1 diabetic patient. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy types 1 diabetic and 60 healthy volunteers were studied. Full history, examination, laboratory tests of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), serum lipids {cholesterol, triglyceride (Tg), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein – cholesterol (LDL-c)}, oxidised low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), Osteopontin and urinary microalbuminuria (albumin/creatinine ratio) were done. Image study in the form of a carotid intimal medial thickness (cIMT) and aortic intimal medial thickness (aIMT), renal doppler for resistivity index was also done for all participant included in the study. RESULTS: Urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, lipid profile, osteopontin, cIMT and aIMT were higher in people with diabetes. Osteopontin was higher in people with diabetes with positive microalbuminuria and cIMT. Systolic blood pressure, microalbuminuria and cIMT had a positive correlation with osteopontin in people with diabetes. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that osteopontin had a significant correlation with cIMT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the cut off value of Osteopontin for detection of cIMT was > 60 with a specificity of 100% and sensitivity 80.5%, while that of albumin/creatinine ratio was > 64 with a specificity of 66.7 and sensitivity of 92.3. CONCLUSION: Osteopontin is higher in type 1 diabetics and is useful for early detection of diabetic microvascular and macrovascular complication

Impact of constraint therapy versus hand–arm bimanual intensive training on postural control during reaching and reaching quality: Randomized trial

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of Constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) versus Hand–arm bimanual intensive training (HABIT) on postural control during reaching with the affected arm and reaching quality in sitting children with hemiplegia. Methods: Forty-Two children; twenty normal children and twenty –two with spastic hemiplegia were recruited for participation in the study, hemiplegic children were randomized to the CIMT or HABIT group. Two hemiplegic children were excluded. Their age ranged from four to eight years old. The primary outcome: postural control that was evaluated using Qualysis motion AB system. Secondary outcome: reaching quality that was assessed using Peabody developmental motor scales (version-2) before and after four weeks of interventions that were provided 6days/week for 3 hours/day. Results: The results of this study revealed that there was significant improvement (p < .05) in all measured dependent variables in the post-treatment condition compared with the pre-treatment in both study groups with preference for group (B). Conclusions: Both techniques have a positive influence on postural control and quality of reaching and it would be better to combine both of them in treatment programs

Impact Of Breast Feeding Versus Formula Feeding On Surgical Wound Healing In Infants During The First Three Months Of Age

Breast milk has antimicrobial and healing properties that actually can help the wound healing. Surgical infants are at a much higher risk for malnutrition as a result of increased metabolic demands from surgery, nutrient losses, and sepsis. Many methods of feeding are used postoperatively for infants; oral feeding (breast or formula milk), enteral, or parenteral feeding. Aim of this work was to assess the effect of breast-feeding versus formula feeding on surgical wound healing in infant during the first three months. Methods and materials: Comparative descriptive research design was used to carry out this study. It comprised 100 infants aged less than 3 months, they were divided into two equal groups as the following: Group 1: received breast milk feeding, Group 2: received formula milk feeding. Tools were developed by the researcher, after that the researcher fulfill assessment sheet and took anthropometric measurements for each infant then the photographs were taken by the researcher on the 7th postoperative day and reassessed for second time on the 14th day. Results: Out of the included breast-fed infants, 78 % were boys, while 22% were girls