Physical Therapy after Triangular Fibrocartilage Injuries and Ulnar Wrist Pain

Background: The ulnar side of the wrist has been referred to as the “black box” of the wrist because of its complex structures and sophisticated anatomy, disorders at this anatomical site have been compared to those of low back pain Purposes: The purpose of this study was to apply the Brief International Classification of Functioning (ICF) Core Set for Hand Conditions to the physical therapy outcome measures, and to evaluate the contribution of these measures to overall health in subjects with ulnar wrist pain. A secondary purpose was to investigate the effect of wrist orthotics and strengthening exercise on subjects with ulnar wrist pain. Methods: Thirty-five subjects with ulnar wrist pain were recruited to receive orthotics and strengthening exercises. Investigators measured pain, function using the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) questionnaire, grip strength using the Jamar dynamometer, at baseline, two and four weeks post randomization. Regression analysis was used to investigate the effect of these variables on overall health represented by the Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire. A mixed Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) modeling was used to investigate the effect of the intervention over time. Results: Fifty-three percent of the variability in SF-36 physical health summary scores was explained by the studied variables with grip strength predicting 31% of the variability. There were statistical significant differences between the two intervention groups and the control group, while there were no statistical significant differences between the two intervention groups over the three measurement occasions. Conclusions: The Brief ICF Core Set for Hand Conditions can be a useful abridged list of categories relevant to functioning and health in subjects with ulnar wrist pain. Also, orthotics intervention is as effective as orthotics plus strengthening exercises in improving pain, function, and grip strength in subjects with ulnar wrist pain. Key words: Ulnar wrist pain, Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex, Brief International Classification of Functioning Core Set, ulnar-based orthotics, Physical Therapy

Remainder Linear Systematic Sampling with Multiple Random Starts

"Systematic sampling, either by itself or in combination with some other method, may be the most widely used method of sampling" (Levy (2008) p.83). This fact is due to the simplicity and the operational convenience of this technique. However, this technique has two main statistical problems. First, if the sampling interval, k=N/n, is not an integer, the actual sample size will not be fixed and the sample mean, y ̅, will not be unbiased estimator for Y ̅, the population mean. Second, regardless of the sampling interval, the sampling variance of the estimator y ̅ cannot be consistently estimated on the basis of a single systematic sample. In this study, we introduce a new generalized systematic sampling design that can handle these two issues simultaneously. The proposed design is a generalization of the remainder linear systematic sampling design of Chang and Huang (2000), which handles only the problem of non-integer sampling intervals. Unbiased estimators for both Y ̅ and the sampling variance are derived under the proposed design. The performance of the proposed design is evaluated in comparison to five sampling procedures under different supperpopulation models. Specifically, simple random sampling, remainder linear systematic sampling, circular systematic sampling, new partially systematic sampling and mixed random systematic sampling. It is found that our proposed design performs well compared to the other designs in most cases.Statistic

Green intellectual capital and sustainability in manufacturing industries in Saudi Arabia

The objective of the present study was to promote Sustainability through green intellectual capital (GIC) and its dimensions. In addition, this study intends to examine the mediating effect of green culture (GC) between GIC dimensions and Sustainability. The research employed quantitative techniques and acquired cross-sectional data from Saudi Arabian employees of large manufacturing companies (LMCs). The study used a technique of convenience sampling to obtain responses from respondents. The final sample size for the investigation was 268 valid cases. Green human capital (GHC), green structural capital (GSC), and green relational capital (GRC) have a positive and statistically significant effect on green capital (GC), economic performance (EP), environmental performance (ENP), and social performance (SP), as determined by structural equation modeling (SEM). Additionally, the study demonstrates that GC has a positive and significant influence on EP and ENP but a negligible impact on SP. Concerning mediating effects, it has been determined that GC is an effective mediator in forming the association between GHC and EP, GSC, and ENP. Conversely, GC does not form a positive association between GRC and SP. The study's findings would aid policymakers and administrators in understanding the contribution of GIC to GC and Sustainability. The study would contribute to the management, environmental science, and sustainability literature based on empirical findings. The study contributes to developing a green environment by promoting green culture, which ultimately improves the Sustainability of businesses.Nadia Abdelhamid Abdelmegeed Abdelwahed (Department of Management, College of Business, King Faisal University), Mohammed A. Al Doghan (Department of Management, College of Business, King Faisal University), Bahadur Ali Soomro (Department of Economics, Abdul Haq Campus, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology)Includes bibliographical references

Optimisation of sludge management in eThekwini Municipality.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu- Natal.Sewage sludge processing for use or disposal has been a continuing challenge for many municipalities within South Africa. The main challenges encountered are the operation complexity and environmental impact posed by sewage sludge handling and disposal methods, along with high capital and operation cost. The problem is getting more complex by the rising volumes of sewage and more stringent disposal regulations. On the other hand, the rising awareness of the beneficial use of this valuable resource is forcing a closer look at how to process sludge effectively to harvest its benefits yet protect public health. This thesis aims to identify optimum alternatives for the sludge management practices within eThekwini municipality as a case study through a semi-quantitative assessment methodology. The principal sludge treatment and disposal methods described in the literature are reviewed and evaluated to determine their comparative performance in; (1) reducing sludge volume/weight, (2) reducing or removal of pollutants, (3) reducing or removal of pathogens, (4) environmental impact, (5) operation simplicity, (6) produced sludge reuse potential, (7) suitability and practicality as an ultimate disposal method, (8) reliability and robustness, (9) sensitivity to sludge quantity and quality change, (10) CAPEX, (11) and OPEX. The findings are compared to the nine years (2010 – 2018) data collected and processed, covering technology used and characteristics (physical, chemical and microbiological) of sewage sludge produced from 25 wastewater treatment works owned and operated by eThekwini municipality. Accordingly, a semiquantitative score has been given to each treatment and disposal method. The semi-quantitative scores are then converted into a single overall score that aided in identifying the optimum sludge management alternatives. Finally, a recommendation for improving the sustainability of the sludge management practices is presented. Moreover, there is not, and will never be, a one-size-fits-all solution. Further investigation needs to be performed from the local economy and geographical context perspective

Characterization of flame propagation and burning rates of various mixtures of biogas and nitrous oxide

Biogas is a potential alternative energy source with low environmental impact. However, the practical applications of biogas are relatively limited due to the existence of carbon dioxide (CO2) which acts as a diluent that decreases the calorific value and the burning rate of biogas. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is known to be a powerful oxidizing agent for propulsion applications which can enhance the combustion rate of biogas, however, there is a lack of studies that investigate the fundamental characteristics of biogas-N2O combustion. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the fundamental combustion characteristics of biogas-N2O mixtures in terms of laminar burning velocity and flame stability. In the present work, spherically expanding flames following central ignition at constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC) were employed to investigate laminar burning velocity (LBV), hydrodynamic instability, and diffusive-thermal instability of biogas-N2O mixtures at wide equivalence ratio;?, from 0.6 to 1.4, at 303K and atmospheric pressure. Two mechanisms were used in CHEMKIN-PRO 17 software in order to estimate the predicted combustion characteristics of biogas-N2O mixtures. The results indicate that the decline in LBVs was prominent in the fuel-rich mixtures than in the fuel-lean mixtures with CO2 dilution. It is found that the influence of curvature on the flame front is weakened at the fuel lean-to-stoichiometric mixture due to the decrease in the flame thickness. Therefore, flame instability tends to increase at the lean-to-stoichiometric region. The increase in CO2 in biogas by 10%, increases the Lewis number (Le) value by 3.6% to 4.6%. The diffusive-thermal instability was dominant for all biogas-N2O mixtures, as Le was less than unity throughout the entire equivalence ratio range. The thermal reaction of N2O decomposition is the most significant reaction in biogas-N2O combustion at lean mixtures of ? = 0.6 and ? = 0.8. The LBVs of biogas-N2O mixture revealed a considerable enhancement at the lean equivalence ratio of 0.8 compared to the other biogas-air mixtures with H2 addition. The effect of nitrous oxide as an oxidizer on biogas detonation characteristics is studied numerically using Chemical Equilibrium Applications (CEA) and compared with other oxidizers. Mixtures with N2O oxidant revealed 32% and 16% higher detonation pressure and detonation Mach number, respectively, at ? = 0.6, compared to that of mixtures with pure oxygen oxidant. Overall, employing N2O oxidant has enhanced the fundamental combustion characteristics of biogas significantly, which may lead to the use of biogas as a clean fuel in commercial applications that demand high combustion rates, such as power generation and aerospace

تقنيات الخامات وتأثيرها في المعايير التصميمية للمباني الثقافية Material Techniques and Their Impact on the Design Standards of Cultural Buildings

تطورت المواد الخام على مر العصور المختلفة حسب البيئة التي يعيش فيها الإنسان و نظرا لاستخدام الإنسان للخامات الحجرية كخامات أوليه، وحيث أن الخامات التقليدية منها الطبيعي او الصناعي قد استنفذت خصائصها على مدار قرون من الزمان في التطور التكنولوجي، فقد اتجه العلم إلى البحث عن خامات جديدة يطلق عليها الخامات الذكية يكون لها مميزات أخرى وخصائص مختلفة يمكن توظيفها في التقنيات الوظيفية المختلفة، وهذه الخامات ظهرت وتطورت مع تطور تكنولوجيا النانو ، وهذه الخامات لها القدرة على التأثر بالظروف واتخاذ ردود افعال مختلفة الاتجاهات حسب خصائصها , ونظرا لظهور خصائص مستحدثة لمثل هذه الخامات على الساحة الصناعية فقد أدى ذلك إلى دفع عجلة الابتكار و الاختراع بالإضافة إلى توظيف هذه الخامات في وظائف مستحدثة يطلق عليها الوظائف الذكية. Abstract: Raw materials have developed over different ages according to the environment in which man lives and due to the human use of stone ores as raw materials, and since the traditional raw materials, whether natural or industrial, have exhausted their characteristics over centuries of technological development, science has tended to search for new materials They are called smart materials and have other advantages and different characteristics that can be employed in different functional techniques, and these materials have emerged and developed with the development of nanotechnology, and these materials have the ability to be affected by circumstances and take reactions in different directions according to their characteristics, and due to the emergence of new properties for such raw materials. On the industrial scene, this has led to the advancement of innovation and invention, in addition to employing these materials in new jobs called smart jobs

Functional Roles of Protein Nitration in Acute and Chronic Liver Diseases

Nitric oxide, when combined with superoxide, produces peroxynitrite, which is known to be an important mediator for a number of diseases including various liver diseases. Peroxynitrite can modify tyrosine residue(s) of many proteins resulting in protein nitration, which may alter structure and function of each target protein. Various proteomics and immunological methods including mass spectrometry combined with both high pressure liquid chromatography and 2D PAGE have been employed to identify and characterize nitrated proteins from pathological tissue samples to determine their roles. However, these methods contain a few technical problems such as low efficiencies with the detection of a limited number of nitrated proteins and labor intensiveness. Therefore, a systematic approach to efficiently identify nitrated proteins and characterize their functional roles is likely to shed new insights into understanding of the mechanisms of hepatic disease pathophysiology and subsequent development of new therapeutics. The aims of this review are to briefly describe the mechanisms of hepatic diseases. In addition, we specifically describe a systematic approach to efficiently identify nitrated proteins to study their causal roles or functional consequences in promoting acute and chronic liver diseases including alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. We finally discuss translational research applications by analyzing nitrated proteins in evaluating the efficacies of potentially beneficial agents to prevent or treat various diseases in the liver and other tissues

تقنيات الخامات وتأثيرها في المعايير التصميمية للمباني الثقافية Material Techniques and Their Impact on the Design Standards of Cultural Buildings

تطورت المواد الخام على مر العصور المختلفة حسب البيئة التي يعيش فيها الإنسان و نظرا لاستخدام الإنسان للخامات الحجرية كخامات أوليه، وحيث أن الخامات التقليدية منها الطبيعي او الصناعي قد استنفذت خصائصها على مدار قرون من الزمان في التطور التكنولوجي، فقد اتجه العلم إلى البحث عن خامات جديدة يطلق عليها الخامات الذكية يكون لها مميزات أخرى وخصائص مختلفة يمكن توظيفها في التقنيات الوظيفية المختلفة، وهذه الخامات ظهرت وتطورت مع تطور تكنولوجيا النانو ، وهذه الخامات لها القدرة على التأثر بالظروف واتخاذ ردود افعال مختلفة الاتجاهات حسب خصائصها , ونظرا لظهور خصائص مستحدثة لمثل هذه الخامات على الساحة الصناعية فقد أدى ذلك إلى دفع عجلة الابتكار و الاختراع بالإضافة إلى توظيف هذه الخامات في وظائف مستحدثة يطلق عليها الوظائف الذكية. Abstract: Raw materials have developed over different ages according to the environment in which man lives and due to the human use of stone ores as raw materials, and since the traditional raw materials, whether natural or industrial, have exhausted their characteristics over centuries of technological development, science has tended to search for new materials They are called smart materials and have other advantages and different characteristics that can be employed in different functional techniques, and these materials have emerged and developed with the development of nanotechnology, and these materials have the ability to be affected by circumstances and take reactions in different directions according to their characteristics, and due to the emergence of new properties for such raw materials. On the industrial scene, this has led to the advancement of innovation and invention, in addition to employing these materials in new jobs called smart jobs

PPAR/RXR Regulation of Fatty Acid Metabolism and Fatty Acid ω-Hydroxylase (CYP4) Isozymes: Implications for Prevention of Lipotoxicity in Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease is a common lipid metabolism disorder influenced by the combination of individual genetic makeup, drug exposure, and life-style choices that are frequently associated with metabolic syndrome, which encompasses obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and insulin resistant diabetes. Common to obesity related dyslipidemia is the excessive storage of hepatic fatty acids (steatosis), due to a decrease in mitochondria β-oxidation with an increase in both peroxisomal β-oxidation, and microsomal ω-oxidation of fatty acids through peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs). How steatosis increases PPARα activated gene expression of fatty acid transport proteins, peroxisomal and mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation and ω-oxidation of fatty acids genes regardless of whether dietary fatty acids are polyunsaturated (PUFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), or saturated (SFA) may be determined by the interplay of PPARs and HNF4α with the fatty acid transport proteins L-FABP and ACBP. In hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis, the ω-oxidation cytochrome P450 CYP4A gene expression is increased even with reduced hepatic levels of PPARα. Although numerous studies have suggested the role ethanol-inducible CYP2E1 in contributing to increased oxidative stress, Cyp2e1-null mice still develop steatohepatitis with a dramatic increase in CYP4A gene expression. This strongly implies that CYP4A fatty acid ω-hydroxylase P450s may play an important role in the development of steatohepatitis. In this review and tutorial, we briefly describe how fatty acids are partitioned by fatty acid transport proteins to either anabolic or catabolic pathways regulated by PPARs, and we explore how medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) CYP4A and long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) CYP4Fω-hydroxylase genes are regulated in fatty liver. We finally propose a hypothesis that increased CYP4A expression with a decrease in CYP4F genes may promote the progression of steatosis to steatohepatitis

DETECTION OF MICROORGANISMS (BACTERIA, FUNGI AND YEASTS) IN ROYAL JELLY

The aim of the present study to detect the population and frequency (%) of microorganism (bacteria, fungi and yeasts) in royal jelly samples. The data indicated that, there are no significant differences were remarked in the population of microorganisms between all the samples for bacteria, fungi and yeasts, where the mean number of population was 5.923, 1.38 and 7.85 colonies/sample for bacteria, fungi and yeasts respectively, in produced royal jelly from honeybee colonies, local royal jelly collected from Egyptian market and samples of imported royal jelly collected from Egyptian market, respectively. According to the isolation and identification procedures for detected royal jelly samples, four bacteria types (Clostridium botulinum, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus wakoensis and Micrococcus luteus), two fungi types (Aspergillusniger and Penicillium sp.) and one yeast type (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were determined. The data also summarized that Clostridium botulinum was the most frequency compared with the other bacterial types, where the percentage of frequency was 1.8 – 2.5, 0.9 – 1.4, 0.4 – 0.6 and 1.5 – 2.0% for C. botulinum, B. cereus, B. wakoensis and Micrococcus luteus, respectively. Meanwhile, Penicillium sp. the most frequency compared with A. niger, where the percentage of frequency was 0.5 - 2.9 and 0.7 – 1.0 %, respectively, in produced royal jelly from honeybee colonies, local royal jelly samples collected from Egyptian market and imported royal jelly samples collected from Egyptian market respectively. Regarding the yeasts, the data also summarized that, S. cerevisiae was the most frequency in royal jelly that produced from  honeybee colonies (2.9%) followed by which local royal jelly samples collected from Egyptian market (2.1%) and imported royal jelly samples collected from Egyptian market (1.8%)