Develop an environmental assessment technique for human comfort requirements in buildings

AbstractEnvironmental assessment methods have emerged to assess the environmental performance of buildings across the world. Accurate results obtained using these methods are considered highly important, especially when taking into account the global trend of being obligatory and the use of their results to compare the environmental performance of buildings creating a fair competition amongst them. They are used for assessing green buildings regarding issues such as energy, water …, etc. The indoor quality is one of these issues and human comfort is evaluated in those methods using a set of items to assess achieving the identified comfortable ranges by evaluating a number of factors influencing them. These items are using quantitative measurements, so the current assessing way is considered complex besides the consumption of time and effort without reaching significantly accurate results. Therefore the research problem appears in the lack of an appropriate mean in the current assessment methods to evaluate items linked with sensation and emotions. The research paper aims to propose a more credible and an accurate assessment approach to assess those items, and also helps evaluating another set of items which are linked to the psychological comfort. The previous type of comfort rarely appears in current assessment methods despite being one of the green architecture principles. The ‘Kano Model’ is the proposed way used for the application of questionnaires that are put through the information network and linked to assessment methods to get more accurate and creditable results when assessing human comfort items

Validity of the survival and transformation of Islamic art in the interior design across time and place

Islamic art is considered as a cultural platform which has many ingredients and values able to make him an artistic , heritage and humanly reference . It is a source at which the artist and designer derives visions of innovative, cope and evolve with the changes across time and place . That is due to his great geographic breadth, arose from his integration into a variety of cultures and different nationalities which had an impact that leaves us , an artistic and delicate heritage of long survival and continuity. One who meditate Islamic art , notes it's reflection on most of the fields of art and design across different eras . Besides , its influence extended on contemporary design  and Western arts trends , which confirms the uniqueness of  Islamic civilization and its creativity across different civilizations.   The field of interior design and furniture considered one of the most important areas that affected by the ideology, philosophy, foundations and Islamic art standards, since ancient times . Some try to emulate it's formality with the use of materials and innovative ways of manufacture. Others trying to short it's  vocabulary and employ them in innovative formats depending on their creative vision to reach contemporary interior design holds an Islamic identity. So, we make sure that the concept of modernity in thought, art and design will only be achieved through the harmonization of the historical sides and recent trends .  Because, if modernity was not relevant to roots , it should not be called modernity . That Modernity and originality gathering together with dialectical coherent relationship. This paper seeks to prove that there is a close relationship between the foundation and the aesthetics of Islamic art and contemporary interior design trends .  It also aims to confirm the potential of Islamic art to be used across different eras  and melting it's cultural origins with contemporary technologies. The two major issues which the paper contains : The first axis : deals with the concept and philosophy of Islamic Art and the most important foundations and design operations upon which Islamic thought and contemporary design thoughts build up in the field of interior design .  As well as , the impact of Islamic Art on the previous historical civilizations. The second axis: includes contemporary design trends in the light of Islamic Art. Also addresses the entrances of the revival of Islamic art in the contemporary interior design. Finally concludes with the application of Islamic Art philosophy on one of the residential spaces with a contemporary vision

Assessment of Triangular Fibro-cartilaginous Complex Injuries of The Wrist Using High Resolution Ultrasound versus Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background: Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) may be assessed using ultrasound (US) because of its wide availability, mobility, low cost, and lack of radiation. When it comes to TFCC imaging, MRI is the gold standard, although US can provide a more detailed picture of the disease. Objective: Comparing and contrasting the use of ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of triangular fibrocartilaginous complex injuries of the wrist. Patients and Methods: The study was conducted at the Radiodiagnosis Department, Zagazig University Hospital, Egypt. Wrist discomfort or reduced wrist mobility was reported by 35 individuals with a mean age of 39 ± 13.18 years old. Both radiologists who performed the ultrasound and the MRI were blinded to each other's results in order to minimize bias. Results: 82.9 % of patients showed normal ulnar variance while 11.4 % of patients showed positive variance and 5.7% with negative variance. The ultrasound detected 18 positive cases with TFCC injury with a percentage of 51.4%. The MRI detected 24 positive cases with TFCC injury with a percentage of 68.6%. The ultrasound detected TFCC cases with a sensitivity of 75%, specificity 100%, PPV 100 and NPV 64.7. Conclusion: It is very suggested that tendons and inflammation of the wrist could be examined by ultrasonography. In recent investigations, it was shown that US had the ability to identify injuries in the TFCC and intrinsic ligament

The influence of green modification of lignin on the electrochemical properties of biocomposites for industrial applications

It’s a report on a novel approach; preparation and electrochemical properties of modified lignin. Wax and starch were used as natural, green adhesives for enhancing the electrical resistivity of lignin in acidic medium, forming eco-friendly high insulator biocomposite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the fabricated biocomposite. The modified lignin was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), while the electrochemical behavior was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The innovative approach described in this work provides a promising eco- friendly method for lignin modification with highly electrical resistivity and stability with time.Â

Synthesis, reactions and biological evaluation of benzyltriazolophthalazine derivatives

A series of triazolophthalazine derivatives (4-22) were synthesized and characterized. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by spectral data. The newly synthesized compounds were also screened for their antimicrobial activity

Added value of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in characterization and staging of rectal cancer

Background: Approximately 15% of all cancers are found in the rectum. Rectal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in patients. According to the National Cancer Institute, it's the third most frequent cancer in males and the second most prevalent cancer in women. About 96 percent of all colon cancers are adenocarcinomas, with lymphoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and carcinoid among the more uncommon malignancies.Aim of the study: to discuss the accuracy of MRI at staging cancer rectum using high-resolution MRI sequences and to give a brief review about more emerging important aspects of rectal cancer staging, such as the circumferential resection margin, extramural vascular invasion, and the staging of low rectal cancers.Patients and Methods: Our study was done in the Radiodiagnosis Department, Zagazig University Hospital, with 24 patients with primary rectal cancer referred from the Surgery Department for preoperative local staging of cancer rectum; the results of MRI were compared to pathologic findings.Results: Patients included in the study were 16 females and eight males; their ages ranged from 45 to 75 years with a mean age of 60 years. Adenocarcinoma comprised about 83.3 % of all of our cases. T3 and N1 tumors were found to be the most common stages in our cases.Conclusion: Preoperative MRI utilizing high-resolution sequences is an accurate modality for preoperative grading of rectal carcinoma, delineation of affection of mesorectal fascia, circumferential resection margin, and extramural vascular invasion

Testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin and dehydroepiandrosterone levels and cervical length of Egyptian women with a history of recurrent miscarriages, polycystic ovary syndrome and without the conditions at three stages of pregnancy

Total testosterone (TT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels, and cervical length (CL) were investigated in pregnant Egyptian women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS,  = 38), history of miscarriages (RM,  = 40) and without the conditions (HC,  = 40). At week 8, the RM had lower levels of TT (  0.000) and free androgen index (FAI) (  = 0.000) and higher SHBG (  = 0.000) and DHEA (  < 0.05) than the PCOS. Compared with the HC, they had elevated SHBG (  < 0.05) and DHEA (  = 0.001) and reduced CL (  = 0.000). TT (  = 0.001) and FAI (  = 0.000) were higher and SHBG (  = 0.000) and CL (  = 0.001) lower in the PCOS than in the HC group. At week 16, TT (  = 0.000) and FAI (  = 0.000) were higher, and SHBG (  = 0.000) and CL (  < 0.05) lower in PCOS than in RM and HC. The PCOS had elevated FAI than the RM (  = 0.000) and HC (  = 0.001) at week 20. The DHEA, SHBG and CL abnormalities in PCOS and RM may compromise pregnancy outcomes.IMPACT STATEMENT Hyperandrogenaemia, low sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), shortened cervical length (CL) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are the most cited risk factors for recurrent miscarriages (RM). However, the published data are inconsistent, perhaps because of the confounding effects of ethnicity and nutritional milieu. The study's findings comprising ethnically and socially homogenous women demonstrate that PCOS and RM are characterised by elevated dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and shortened CL, and PCOS by reduced SHBG. These abnormalities would be expected to have an adverse impact on pregnancy outcomes. Twenty-weeks DHEA and CL values have the potential to predict outcome risk in women with a history of RM and PCOS. Further research on other population groups is required to validate the current study's findings

EFFECT OF BIOCHAR ON K AND P RELEASE FROM K-FELDSPAR & ROCK PHOSPHATE AND ITS IMPACT ON SOME GROWTH PARAMETER OF MAIZE PLANT

Pot experiments were carried out using sand (collected from Ismailia ARS), in the greenhouse to study the effect of biochar application, on K and P release from their natural bearing minerals i.e.,K- feldspar and rock phosphate and\or bentonite on some growth of maize plants parameters, their P and k uptake and the soil available P and K. sixty three pots ever filled with sand(10 kg each biochar was added to all pots expect control at rates 0,1.5 , 3 ton per fed. The studied mineral are K feldspar and rock phosphate as source of K and P respectively. Bentonite was also studied because it is the most common mineral used for reclamation of sandy soil .Each mineral was added at rate of 0,1.5, 3 ton / fed the pots are as follow : biochar alone , biochar + K feldspar and biochar +bentonite and biochar and rock phosphate . maize was planted as the common way in which maize seed 6 grains for each pot inoculated with P and K solubilizing bacteria were planted . the usual N fertilizer (NH4 )2SO4 200kg /fed and irrigated as needed . Maize grow parameter i.e plant height and dry weight of maize plant were measured after 2 months of plantation . K and P as well as their uptake were measure. Results revealed that, the use of biochar at 3 tons fed-1 in combination with 3 tons of any of feldspar, bentonite or rock phosphate enhanced significantly growth parameters of maize plants compared to the control treatments .The highest values plant length and dry matter were were 89.00 cm, 11.4 g pot-1 against 36.6 cm and 2.8 g pot-1 for the control treatments., same treatments increased significantly P and K uptake of maize plants and the soil available p and K compared to the control treatments. The highest significant values in P uptake were 22.5, 18.3 & 16.7 mg plant-1 for the treatments (3 tons fed-1)of biochar with either 3ton rock phosphate ,3ton bentonite or 3 ton K-feldspar .while K uptake were 63.9, 61.8 & 60.1 mg plant -1 for biochar ( 3 tons fed-1 )with bentonite (3 tons fed-1 ), feldspar (3 tons fed-1 ) and bentonite (1.5 tons fed-1 ). Regarding available P the highest obtained values were 49.3 mg Kg -1 for 3 ton biochar + 3ton rock phosphate , 24.1 mg Kg -1 for 3 ton biochar + 1.5 ton bentonite and 24.0 mg/ kg-1 for 3 ton biochar + 1.5 ton K- feldspar. Increase either K- feldspar or bentonite to 3 ton had negative effect on available p