Performance Optimization of Self-Excited Induction Generator Using Particle Swarm Technique

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Phylogenetic analyses of peanut resistance gene candidates and screening of different genotypes for polymorphic markers

AbstractThe nucleotide-binding-site-leucine-rich-repeat (NBS–LRR)-encoding gene family has attracted much research interest because approximately 75% of the plant disease resistance genes that have been cloned to date are from this gene family. Here, we describe a collection of peanut NBS–LRR resistance gene candidates (RGCs) isolated from peanut (Arachis) species by mining Gene Bank data base. NBS–LRR sequences assembled into TIR-NBS-LRR (75.4%) and non-TIR-NBS-LRR (24.6%) subfamilies. Total of 20 distinct clades were identified and showed a high level of sequence divergence within TIR-NBS and non-TIR-NBS subfamilies. Thirty-four primer pairs were designed from these RGC sequences and used for screening different genotypes belonging to wild and cultivated peanuts. Therefore, peanut RGC identified in this study will provide useful tools for developing DNA markers and cloning the genes for resistance to different pathogens in peanut

Evaluation of different biochemical markers in prediction of metabolic syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome patients

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the commonest cause of chronic hyperandrogenic anovulation. Insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia are keys of the pathogenesis of PCOS. It is also considered as a metabolic disorder. Since the components of metabolic syndrome (MBS) namely obesity, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension are the common features of this syndrome. The association between MBS and PCOS can be explained by different theories as insulin resistance, obesity, and related adipose tissue factors (adipocytokines) independent of insulin resistance are the main pathogenic contributors to both disorders.Methods: A total of 143 women with PCOS were recruited as study subjects. All participants were subjected to anthropometric measurements, clinical assessment, and biochemical tests [fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)]. Hormonal profile particularly leptin and homocysteine levels were also evaluated.Results: 25 patients (17.4%) out of 143 women with PCOS met the criteria for MBS. Patients with MBS had significantly higher body mass index, blood pressure, HOMA-IR, leptin, and homocysteine levels compared to PCOS only patients. When HOMA-IR cut off was ≥4.3 sensitivity and specificity were 90%, 88.6%, but when leptin level was ≥34.5 the corresponding statistics were 79.6%, 75.5%.Conclusions: Serum leptin, homocysteine, HOMA-IR as well as other biochemical markers are significantly higher in women with PCOS and MBS compared to PCOS only women. PCOS is associated with various factors like insulin resistance, obesity, and dyslipidemia. Consequently, adipocytokines and HOMA-IR play important role in the prediction of MBS in patients with PCOS

Antifungal Activity of Syzygium aromaticum (Dianthus) against toxigenic Rhizopus stolonifera and its immunomodulatory effects in aflatoxin-fed mice

Purpose: To evaluate the antifungal potency of Syzygium aromaticum (Dianthus) seed extract against the growth and aflatoxin production of Rhizopus stolonifer, and its immunomodulatory effect.Methods: Disc diffusion method was used for assay of antifungal effect of aqueous extract of Dianthus. Lymphoid cell counts, total and differential peritoneal exudate cell counts (PEC), phagocytic activity of PEC, and plaque-forming activities were determined. In addition, E-rosette-forming cells (RFC), T-cell mitogenesis cells and liver functions were measured.Results: The aqueous extract of Dianthus (50 %) exhibited high inhibition zone against most isolates of R. stolonifera. It produced significant increases in the number of splenocytes, as well as in the absolute number and relative proportion of macrophages (p < 0.05). The extract also produced a gradual increase in the scavenging activity of PEC, and significant reduction in serum ALT, relative to control.Conclusion: These results suggest that Dianthus modifies biological responses by enhancement of the immune system, activation of phagocytosis, boosting of immune response, and prevention of liver damage.Keywords: Aflatoxin, Syzygium aromaticum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Lymphocytes, T-cells, B-cells, Macrophage

The role of hepatic progenitor cells in predicting response to therapy in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 4

Background: Interferon therapy is used as a line of treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in several areas of the world including Egypt.Objective: Our aim was to investigate the value of hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) in predicting response of patients with chronic HCV, genotype 4 to pegylated interferon (PEGIFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy.Methods: Pre-treatment liver biopsies obtained from 110 patients with chronic HCV, genotype 4 were examined immunohisto- chemically for HPCs using cytokeratin19. The mean number of HPCs as ductular reaction (DR) and as isolated progenitor cells (IPCs) was counted in each case. The patients were classified into: those with sustained virological response (SVR) and those who did not achieve SVR. The results were compared between the two groups. Also, the relationships between HPCs and other clinico-pathologic variables were estimated using multivariate analysis.Results: The mean number of HPCs was the only independent predictor of therapeutic response, being significantly higher in non-responders (P = 0 for DR and P = 0.03 for IPCs). On the other hand, fibrosis stage and steatosis were the only independent factors which showed a significant direct association with the mean number of HPCs in the form of DR and IPCs (P = 0 for each).Conclusion: The number of HPCs provides prognostic information in chronic HCV since it is significantly associated with stage of fibrosis. More importantly, it can be used as a marker to predict response of patients with chronic HCV to PEGIFN plus RBV therapy.Keywords: Chronic hepatitis C, genotype 4, response to therapy, hepatic progenitor cells

Biliary duodenostomy: a safe and easier biliary drainage procedure after choledochal cyst excision

Background/purpose: The treatment of choice for choledochal cyst (CC) is complete excision followed by biliary–enteric anastomosis. Roux-en-Y biliary jejunostomy has been favored by most surgeons for decades, with satisfying results. The use of biliary duodenostomy (BD) is another simple alternative for biliary drainage after CC excision. Our intermediate-term outcomes of both biliary drainage procedures after CC excision are presented.Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of the outcome of CC management in children operated at the Pediatric Surgery Department of Ain-Shams University over 5 years, from January 2010.Results: A total of 23 cases (16 females) were included in this study. The mean age at operation was 4.02 ± 2.52 years. Twenty-one cases had type I and two cases had type III CC. Complete excision of the CC was performed in 22 cases, and partial excision with mucosectomy was performed in one case. Biliary–enteric anastomosis was performed with the duodenum in 18 patients (group I, BD) and with the jejunum in five cases (group II, Roux-en-Y biliary jejunostomy). The mean follow-up period was 53± 4.48 months. A patient from group II suffered from ascending cholangitis 6 months postoperatively.Conclusion: BD is a simple technique for biliary drainage after CC excision with no major complications at intermediate-term follow-up.Keywords: biliary obstruction, choledochal cyst, hepaticoduodenostomy, jaundic

Preparation and Analysis of Cement Bricks Based on Rice Straw

In Egypt, rice straw is burnt as an easy and the cheap method to get rid of it leads to making a giant black cloud covers Cairo and southern delta governorates. Main purpose of this research is to produce green brick of cement and in-expensive agriculture waste (rice straw) with law price and good characteristics of thermal insulation and acoustic resistance. Different samples of cement brick based on rice straw of many percentages were prepared. First, select best mixture of concrete brick before adding rice straw after preparing and leave for curing time. Then, rice straw is added with various percentage based on total mass of dry mixture to selected concert brick mixture. The selection of best mixture of green bricks criteria is first depending on achieving minimum compression strength according to Egyptian specification then maximizing the percentage of rice straw added. The two mixtures of cement bricks that have maximum compression strength are 1:2:2 and 1:4:5 of 6.2 and 3.1 MPa. The highest percentage of rice straw can be added to later cement mixture is 3% additional quantities based on total mass of mixture dry base of 2.9 MPa. The impact of 3% addition of rice straw on cement bricks enhances thermal by 21.05% by comparing with cement brick of ratio 1:2:2. It decreases sound pressure level inside room from 62 dB to 45 dB. Although, cement bricks reduce sound pressure level to 55 dB. Thousands of cement bricks with 3% rice straw cost are less 8.3% the cost of thousands of cement brick with market ratio 1:4:5. Cement brick of ratio 1:4:5 that used by OPAKI company in Egypt for cement brick manufacturing is used with adding 3% of rice straw. Whatever, it gives very low resistance against compression lower than Egyptian specifications. This mixture of 3% rice straw base is enhanced by nano-silicon addition percentage of sand portion of 2.1 MPa compression test, although cost of thousand bricks is almost equal to the cost of thousands of commercial market bricks. Eventually, life cycle assessment of rice straw is better than normal cement brick mixture materials that helps in reducing greenhouse emissions and energy consumed