Studying the effect of some factors on the high incidence of uterine fibroid in Libyan women

Background: Uterine fibroids (UF), they are also called uterine leiomyoma’s or myomas, are benign growth of smooth muscle of the uterus or womb .The body of uterus consists of 3 layers ;serosa, myometrium and endometrium. The myometrium is composed of bundles of smooth muscle and connective tissue. This study performed to investigate the reasons of high incidence of UF among Libyan women.Methods: The Factors implicated in this case are analyzed using questionnaire on a random patient sample (152 cases) within (2010-2014) from the archive of Aljalaa hospital.Results: Results show that, UF could affect women in young ages and above 40 years as well (P = 0.14). Marital status and the race of the patients significantly affect the rate of UF. The number of UF increased among married and white women comparing with single one and black one (P = 0.00) respectively. UF cases in the women holding O+ blood group were significantly higher than other groups (P=0.00). The educated women exhibit significant decrease in the UF incidence compared with less education status (P=0.00). Both normal delivered mode women and those received contraception pills showed a significant high rate of UF comparing with caesarian cut and with non-treated group (P=0.00), respectively. Menorrhagia was significantly higher than abdominal pain and infertility. Recurrent and family history was invaluable in UF incidence. Its ratio was significantly higher among women with no previous history and who have no family history (P=0.00). Myomectomy was significantly different from other choices; trans-abdominal hysterectomy and others (P=0.00).Conclusions: According to our results, marital status, hormones disturbances, life style including stress factors, race and knowledge about the case are the most implicated causes in the incidence of the case. Further studies on the ultra-structural level (Model) are needed to verify the possible role/s for genes

Propagation of Pi2 pulsations through the braking region in global MHD simulations

We investigate the propagation of Pi2 period pulsations from their origin in the plasma sheet through the braking region, the region where the fast flows are slowed as they approach the inner edge of the plasma sheet. Our approach is to use both the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Lyonâ Fedderâ Mobarry (LFM) global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) computer codes to simulate the Earth’s magnetosphere during a substorm that occurred on 14 September 2004 when Pi2 pulsations were observed. We use two different MHD models in order to test the robustness of our conclusions about Pi2. The simulations are then compared with groundâ based and satellite data. We find that the propagation of the pulsations in the simulations, especially through the braking region, depends strongly on the ionospheric models used at the inner boundary of the MHD models. With respect to typical observed values, the modeled conductances are high in the UCLA model and low in the LFM model. The different conductances affect the flows, producing stronger line tying that slows the flow in the braking region more in the UCLA model than in the LFM model. Therefore, perturbations are able to propagate much more freely into the inner magnetosphere in the LFM results. However, in both models Pi2 period perturbations travel with the dipolarization front (DF) that forms at the earthward edge of the flow channel, but as the DF slows in the braking region, â 8â ¤xâ ¤â 6 RE, the Pi2 period perturbations begin to travel ahead of it into the inner magnetosphere. This indicates that the flow channels generate compressional waves with periods that fall within the Pi2 range and that, as the flows themselves are stopped in the braking region, the compressional wave continues to propagate into the inner magnetosphere.Key PointsPi2 travel with DFs until the DFs slow in the braking region and the Pi2 begin to run ahead of themIonospheric parameters strongly affect how Pi2 are able to propagateBoth the UCLA and LFM models show similar results for Pi2 propagation outside of â ¼â 7 REPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134917/1/jgra52317_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134917/2/jgra52317.pd

Application of Plasticity Theory to Reinforced Concrete Deep Beams

yesThis paper reviews the application of the plasticity theory to reinforced concrete deep beams. Both the truss analogy and mechanism approach were employed to predict the capacity of reinforced concrete deep beams. In addition, most current codes of practice, for example Eurocode 1992 and ACI 318-05, recommend the strut-and-tie model for designing reinforced concrete deep beams. Compared with methods based on empirical or semi-empirical equations, the strut-and-tie model and mechanism analyses are more rational, adequately accurate and sufficiently simple for estimating the load capacity of reinforced concrete deep beams. However, there is a problem of selecting the effectiveness factor of concrete as reflected in the wide range of values reported in the literature for deep beams

Epigenetic regulation of Gfi1 in endocrine-related cancers: a role regulating tumor growth

Prostate and breast cancer constitute the most common cancers among men and women worldwide. The aging population is one of the main risk factors for prostate and breast cancer development and accumulating studies link aging with epigenetic changes. Growth factor independence-1 (Gfi1) is a transcriptional repressor with an important role in human malignancies, including leukemia, colorectal carcinoma, and lung cancer, but its role in prostate and breast cancer is unknown. We have found that Gfi1 epigenetic silencing is a common event in prostate and breast cancer. Gfi1 re-expression in prostate and breast cancer cell lines displaying Gfi1 epigenetic silencing decreases cell proliferation, reduced colony formation density, and tumor growth in nude mice xenografts. In addition, we found that Gfi1 repress alpha 1-anti-trypsin (AAT) and alpha 1-anti-chymotrypsin (ACT) expression, two genes with important functions in cancer development, suggesting that Gfi1 silencing promotes tumor growth by increasing AAT and ACT expression in our system. Finally, Gfi1 epigenetic silencing could be a promising biomarker for prostate cancer progression because it is associated with shorter disease-free survival. In conclusion, our findings strongly indicate that Gfi1 epigenetic silencing in prostate and breast cancer could be a crucial step in the development of these two-well characterized endocrine related tumors

Continuous Concrete Beams Reinforced With CFRP Bars.

yesThis paper reports the testing of three continuously and two simply supported concrete beams reinforced with carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars. The amount of CFRP reinforcement in beams tested was the main parameter investigated. A continuous concrete beam reinforced with steel bars was also tested for comparison purposes. The ACI 440.1R-06 equations are validated against the beam test results. Test results show that increasing the CFRP reinforcement ratio of the bottom layer of simply and continuously supported concrete beams is a key factor in enhancing the load capacity and controlling deflection. Continuous concrete beams reinforced with CFRP bars exhibited a remarkable wide crack over the middle support that significantly influenced their behaviour. The load capacity and deflection of CFRP simply supported concrete beams are reasonably predicted using the ACI 440.1R-06 equations. However, the potential capabilities of these equations for predicting the load capacity and deflection of continuous CFRP reinforced concrete beams have been adversely affected by the de-bonding of top CFRP bars from concrete

Syzygium aqueum: A polyphenol- rich leaf extract exhibits antioxidant, hepatoprotective, pain-killing and anti-inflammatory activities in animal models

Syzygium aqueum is widely used in folk medicine. A polyphenol-rich extract from its leaves demonstrated a plethora of substantial pharmacological properties. The extract showed solid antioxidant properties in vitro and protected human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) against UVA damage. The extract also reduced the elevated levels of ALT, AST, total bilirubin (TB), total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in rats with acute CCl4 intoxication. In addition to reducing the high MDA level, the extract noticeably restored GSH and SOD to the normal control levels in liver tissue homogenates and counteracted the deleterious histopathologic changes in liver after CCl4 injection. Additionally, the extract exhibited promising anti-inflammatory activities in vitro where it inhibited LOX, COX-1, and COX-2 with a higher COX-2 selectivity than that of indomethacin and diclofenac and reduced the extent of lysis of erythrocytes upon incubation with hypotonic buffer solution. S. aqueum extract also markedly reduced leukocyte numbers with similar activities to diclofenac in rats challenged with carrageenan. Additionally, administration of the extract abolished writhes induced by acetic acid in mice and prolonged the response latency in hot plate test. Meanwhile, the identified polyphenolics from the extract showed a certain affinity for the active pockets of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase- 2 (COX-2) explaining the observed anti-inflammatory activities. Finally, 87 secondary metabolites (mostly phenolics) were tentatively identified in the extract based on LCMS/ MS analyses. Syzygium aqueum displays good protection against oxidative stress, free radicals, and could be a good candidate for treating oxidative stress related diseases

Zettawatt-Exawatt Lasers and Their Applications in Ultrastrong-Field Physics: High Energy Front

Since its birth, the laser has been extraordinarily effective in the study and applications of laser-matter interaction at the atomic and molecular level and in the nonlinear optics of the bound electron. In its early life, the laser was associated with the physics of electron volts and of the chemical bond. Over the past fifteen years, however, we have seen a surge in our ability to produce high intensities, five to six orders of magnitude higher than was possible before. At these intensities, particles, electrons and protons, acquire kinetic energy in the mega-electron-volt range through interaction with intense laser fields. This opens a new age for the laser, the age of nonlinear relativistic optics coupling even with nuclear physics. We suggest a path to reach an extremely high-intensity level $10^{26-28}$W/cm$^2$ in the coming decade, much beyond the current and near future intensity regime $10^{23}$W/cm$^2$, taking advantage of the megajoule laser facilities. Such a laser at extreme high intensity could accelerate particles to frontiers of high energy, tera-electron-volt and peta-electron-volt, and would become a tool of fundamental physics encompassing particle physics, gravitational physics, nonlinear field theory, ultrahigh-pressure physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. We focus our attention on high-energy applications in particular and the possibility of merged reinforcement of high-energy physics and ultraintense laser.Comment: 25 pages. 1 figur

Opto-electrical characterisation of In-doped SnS thin films for photovoltaic applications

[EN] Spray pyrolised SnS thin films doped with indium were studied using various optical and electrical techniques.Structural analysis shows that all films crystallise in an orthorhombic structurewith (111) as a preferential direction, without secondary phases. The doping of SnS layers with indium results in better morphology with increased grain size. Absorption measurements indicate a dominant direct transition with energy decreasing from around 1.7 eV to 1.5 eV with increased indium supply. Apart from the direct transition, an indirect one, of energy of around 1.05 eV, independent of indiumdoping, was identified. The photoluminescence study revealed two donors to acceptor transitions between two deep defect levels and one shallower one, with an energy of around 90 meV. The observed transitions did not depend significantly on In concentration. The conductivitymeasurements reveal thermal activation of conductivity with energy decreasing from around 165 meV to 145 meV with increased In content.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (ENE2016-77798-C4-2-R) and Generalitat Valenciana (Prometeus 2014/044).Urbaniak, A.; Pawlowski, M.; Marzantowicz, M.; Sall, T.; Marí, B. (2017). Opto-electrical characterisation of In-doped SnS thin films for photovoltaic applications. Thin Solid Films. 636:158-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2017.06.001S15816363

A Proposed Vision of the Transformation of the Arab Universities into Smart Digital Universities

This research develops a proposed vision to transform Arab universities into smart digital universities. The descriptive research approach is used to achieve the research objectives. The research sample consists of 450 faculty members and 75 educational experts randomly selected by stratified random method. The questionnaire is adopted as a research instrument. The findings indicate that a proposed vision can be developed to transform Arab universities into smart digital universities by addressing several themes; the philosophical premises of the proposed vision, the features of the proposed vision “smart university administration, smart people, smart university environment, and knowledge network”, determining the requirements necessary to implement the proposed vision, setting the appropriate foundations for the proposed implementation and success in Arab universities, and demonstrating the potential challenges and threats that may stand in the way of implementing the proposed vision and methods to overcome them

The Experience of Quality in Higher Education in the United Arab Emirates: In Times of Rapid Change and Complexities

In less than five decades, from offering formal education only in a few schools to a small tribal community to providing a selection of three public and approximately 100 private higher education institutions to the citizens of seven emirates creates a unique context in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is an evolution that corresponds with its remarkable economic growth. Quality assurance of diverse higher educational institutions requires complex schemes to ensure their fitness for purpose, while perhaps development and enhancement aspects need time to mature. The quality of the education is especially important because the UAE yearns for the diversified and knowledge-based economy; one that is led by its own citizens whose contribution to the workforce is currently less than 10%. This chapter highlights contextual complexities in the UAE that might have direct and/or indirect impacts on the quality experiences in the higher education sector, with proposed recommendations