Characteristics of Socio-Alive Building: the case of Bahrain city center

Socio-Alive Building is Architecture where people enjoy being around to live within its environment and want to come back after leaving. This paper discusses the terminology of Socio-Alive Building and identifies the building characteristics which make a building social and alive. The main aim of this paper is to discuss the concept of alive-socio building as an approach to keep the building alive and have social role through the consideration of characteristics of socio-alive building. The paper begins by introducing the definitions of Socio-Alive Building and then discusses the characteristics of Socio-Alive Building to construct a theoretical background, then reports the outcomes of a survey in Bahrain to find out perceptions of people of Bahrain toward building characteristics, which could produce socio-alive build environments. A people’s survey concluded significance scale factors of building characteristics that achieve the sociality and alive of the building in Bahrain which were used to evaluate Bahrain City Center. The paper offers ten compromised building characteristics that can produce Socio-Alive with certain significance scale of each. The authors argue that these could be considered during design process to produce socio-alive buildings

Harmonic Distortion Reduction of Transformer-Less Grid-Connected Converters by Ellipsoidal-Based Robust Control

A photovoltaic generator connected to a large network and supplying a nonlinear load (source of harmonics) injects distorted current into the grid. This manuscript presents an invariant-ellipsoid set design of a robust controlled active power filter to inject current into the large grid with minimum total harmonic distortion (THD). The nonlinear load current is considered an external disturbance to minimize its effect on the injected grid current. Moreover, the large grid is modeled as a fixed voltage source in a series with a Thevenin impedance whose value changes within an interval. Using the invariant-ellipsoid technique, the problem is cast as a robust disturbance-rejection tracking control. The volume of the ellipsoid is minimized, which results in minimizing the effect of disturbance on system performance and keeping the trajectories as close as possible to the origin. The design is cast into a set of nonlinear matrix inequalities that are linearized by fixing a scalar. The resulting convex optimization is solved iteratively by linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). The simulation and experimental findings show that the proposed design is successful in reducing THD injected into the grid when grid impedance is uncertain and variable loads are applied (balanced and unbalanced cases)

Calli Essential Oils Synergize with Lawsone against Multidrug Resistant Pathogens.

The fast development of multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms increasingly threatens global health and well-being. Plant natural products have been known for centuries as alternative medicines that can possess pharmacological characteristics, including antimicrobial activities. The antimicrobial activities of essential oil (Calli oil) extracted from the Calligonum comosum plant by hydro-steam distillation was tested either alone or when combined with lawsone, a henna plant naphthoquinone, against MDR microbes. Lawsone showed significant antimicrobial activities against MDR pathogens in the range of 200-300 µg/mL. Furthermore, Calli oil showed significant antimicrobial activities against MDR bacteria in the range of 180-200 µg/mL, Candida at 220-240 µg/mL and spore-forming Rhizopus fungus at 250 µg/mL. Calli oil's inhibition effect on Rhizopus, the major cause of the lethal infection mucormycosis, stands for 72 h, followed by an extended irreversible white sporulation effect. The combination of Calli oil with lawsone enhanced the antimicrobial activities of each individual alone by at least three-fold, while incorporation of both natural products in a liposome reduced their toxicity by four- to eight-fold, while maintaining the augmented efficacy of the combination treatment. We map the antimicrobial activity of Calli oil to its major component, a benzaldehyde derivative. The findings from this study demonstrate that formulations containing essential oils have the potential in the future to overcome antimicrobial resistance

Predictor factors of sustained virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with current direct-acting antiviral drugs

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and predictors of treatment response of chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 Egyptian patients with sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, with or without ribavirin.Methods: This prospective study enrolled 200 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 infection who received sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir for 12 weeks, with the addition of ribavirin for treating cirrhotic patients. Immunological parameters such as natural killer (NK) cell percentage, phenotype, and serum C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) were evaluated prior to treatment and at the end of the treatment.Results: Overall, 92.5 % of the patients achieved sustained virological response at 12 weeks (SVR12), where the non-cirrhotic group had 96.29 % SVR12, while the cirrhotic group had 84.61 % SVR12. Nonresponders had lower pretreatment platelet count, higher CXCL10 levels, and lower baseline frequencies of NK cells and NK subgroup CD56- CD16+.Conclusion: Based on these results, the use of sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir with or without ribavirin for 12 weeks, is an effective regimen in the treatment of Egyptian patients infected with genotype 4 HCV. The predictors of non-response are advanced age, liver cirrhosis, lower pretreatment platelet count, higher level of CXCL10, lower baseline NK cells frequency and percentage of the dysfunctional subset CD56- CD16+. Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, Genotype 4, Sofosbuvir, Daclatasvir, Sustained virological respons

Assessment of the challenges influencing the adoption of smart building technologies

Introduction: Over the past few decades, there has been an increasing focus on Smart Building Projects (SBP) and the technologies associated with them. Numerous studies have been conducted globally to define smart building technologies (SBT), identify challenges, and explore areas for improvement. This study aims to examine the concept and terminology of SBT and the expertise and experience of participants in SBP in the Arab Gulf countries, specifically Saudi Arabia. The study also investigates the challenges faced by SBT throughout its life cycle.Methods: To identify and assess the challenges affecting the adoption of smart building technologies. This approach included a literature review, pilot-testing, and a questionnaire survey. The survey targeted a sample of 90 architects/engineers, managers, and contractors.Results: A total of 55 challenges were identified and categorized into four groups, corresponding to the key phases of the project life cycle. These phases include the programming and feasibility analysis phase, design phase, installation and commissioning phase, and operation and maintenance phase. The findings of this research expand the body of knowledge by providing architects/engineers, managers, and contractors in the architecture, engineering, construction, and facility management (AEC/FM) industry with insights into the influential challenges related to the adoption of SBT. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the concept and terminology of smart building technologies and explores the challenges faced by SBT during its life cycle. By identifying and categorizing these challenges, the study provides valuable information to AEC/FM practitioners, enabling them to overcome obstacles and improve the adoption of SBT

Alterations in aortic elasticity in noncompaction cardiomyopathy

Background: Noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) is a recently recognized disorder frequently associated with systolic and diastolic heart failures. This study was designed to examine aortic stiffness in NCCM patients and to compare these results to age- and gender-matched controls. Methods: A total of 20 patients with typical echocardiographic features of NCCM (age 38 ± 16 years, eight males) were investigated. Their results were compared to 20 age- and gender-matched controls. All subjects underwent a complete two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic examination. Systolic (SD) and diastolic (DD) ascending aortic diameters were recorded in M-mode at a level of 3 cm above the aortic valve from a parasternal long-axis view. Aortic stiffness index (β) was calculated as a characteristic of aortic elasticity, as ln(SBP/DBP)/[(SD - DD)/DD], where SBP and DBP are the systolic and diastolic blood pressures, respectively, and ln is the natural logarithm. Results: The number of noncompacted segments in the NCCM patients was 4.6 ± 2.0. NCCM patients had significantly increased left ventricular dimensions and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Compared to controls, aortic stiffness index (β) was significantly increased in NCCM patients (8.3 ± 5.2 vs. 3.5 ± 1.1, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Increased aortic stiffness can be observed in patients with NCCM with moderate to severe heart failure. These alterations may be due to neurohormonal changes in heart failure

Alterations in aortic elasticity in noncompaction cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) is a recently recognized disorder frequently associated with systolic and diastolic heart failures. This study was designed to examine aortic stiffness in NCCM patients and to compare these results to age- and gender-matched controls. METHODS: A total of 20 patients with typical echocardiographic features of NCCM (age 38 +/- 16 years, eight males) were investigated. Their results were compared to 20 age- and gender-matched controls. All subjects underwent a complete two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic examination. Systolic (SD) and diastolic (DD) ascending aortic diameters were recorded in M-mode at a level of 3 cm above the aortic valve from a parasternal long-axis view. Aortic stiffness index (beta) was calculated as a characteristic of aortic elasticity, as ln(SBP/DBP)/[(SD - DD)/DD], where SBP and DBP are the systolic and diastolic blood pressures, respectively, and ln is the natural logarithm. RESULTS: The number of noncompacted segments in the NCCM patients was 4.6 +/- 2.0. NCCM patients had significantly increased left ventricular dimensions and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Compared to controls, aortic stiffness index (beta) was significantly increased in NCCM patients (8.3 +/- 5.2 vs. 3.5 +/- 1.1, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Increased aortic stiffness can be observed in patients with NCCM with moderate to severe heart failure. These alterations may be due to neurohormonal changes in heart failure

Delineating groundwater and subsurface structures by using 2D resistivity, gravity and 3D magnetic data interpretation around Cairo–Belbies Desert road, Egypt

AbstractGeophysical tools such as magnetic, gravity and electric resistivity have been used to delineate subsurface structures, groundwater aquifer around Cairo–Belbies Desert road. A dipole–dipole section was measured at the central part of the study area with 2100m length and electrode spacing 50m for greater penetration depth. The results of the inverse resistivity data indicate that the study area includes two groundwater aquifers at different depths. The shallow aquifer water is near the surface and the deep aquifer lies at depth of about 115m and exhibits low resistivity values ranging from 20 to 100ohmm.One hundred and fifty-two gravity stations were measured using Autograv gravimeter (CG3), different gravity corrections (drift, elevation and latitude corrections) were applied. The corrected data represented by Bouguer anomaly map were filtered into regional and residual gravity anomaly maps. The residual gravity map indicates that the area is dissected by many faults with NW-SE, N-S, E-W and NE-SW trends.One hundred and fifty-three ground magnetic measurements are collected using two Proton magnetometers (Envimag). The corrected magnetic data are represented by total magnetic intensity map that was reduced to the magnetic pole. 3D magnetic modeling was applied to detect the depth of basaltic sheet and basement complex. The results indicated that the elevation of upper surface of basalt is ranging from 148 to −153m and the elevation of lower surface of basalt is ranging from 148 to 269m

Case report: Neonatal autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome with a novel pathogenic homozygous FAS variant effectively treated with sirolimus

BackgroundAutoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare disease characterized by defective FAS signaling, which results in chronic, nonmalignant lymphoproliferation and autoimmunity accompanied by increased numbers of “double-negative” T-cells (DNTs) (T-cell receptor αβ+ CD4−CD8−) and an increased risk of developing malignancies later in life.Case presentationWe herein report a case of a newborn boy with a novel germline homozygous variant identified in the FAS gene, exon 9, c.775del, which was considered pathogenic. The consequence of this sequence change was the creation of a premature translational stop signal p.(lle259*), associated with a severe clinical phenotype of ALPS-FAS. The elder brother of the proband was also affected by ALPS and has been found to have the same FAS homozygous variant associated with a severe clinical phenotype of ALPS-FAS, whereas the unaffected parents are heterozygous carriers of this variant. This new variant has not previously been described in population databases (gnomAD and ExAC) or in patients with FAS-related conditions. Treatment with sirolimus effectively improved the patient clinical manifestations with obvious reduction in the percentage of DNTs.ConclusionWe described a new ALPS-FAS clinical phenotype-associated germline FAS homozygous pathogenic variant, exon 9, c.775del, that produces a premature translational stop signal p.(lle259*). Sirolimus significantly reduced DNTs and substantially relieved the patient's clinical symptoms

Value of assessment of tricuspid annulus: real-time three-dimensional echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging

Aim: To detect the accuracy of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) and two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) for tricuspid annulus (TA) assessment compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: Thirty patients (mean age 34 ± 13 years, 60% males) in sinus rhythm were examined by MRI, RT3DE, and 2DE for TA assessment. End-diastolic and end-systolic TA diameter (TAD) and TA fractional shortening (TAFS) were measured by RT3DE, 2DE, and MRI. End-diastolic and end-systolic TA area (TAA) and TA fractional area changes (TAFAC) were measured by RT3DE and MRI. End-diastolic and end-systolic right ventricular (RV) volumes and ejection fraction (RV-EF) were measured by MRI. Results: The TA was clearly delineated in all patients and visualized as an oval-shaped by RT3DE and MRI. There was a good correlation between TADMRIand TAD3D(r = 0.75, P = 0.001), while TAD2Dwas fairly correlated with TAD3Dand TADMRI(r = 0.5, P = 0.01 for both). There were no significant differences between RT3DE and MRI in TAD, TAA, TAFS, and TAFAC measurements, while TAD2Dand TAFS2Dwere significantly underestimated (P < 0.001). TAFS2Dwas not correlated with RV-EF, while TAFS3Dand TAFAC3Dwere fairly correlated with RV-EF (r = 0.49, P = 0.01, and r = 0.47, P = 0.02 respectively). Conclusion: RT3DE helps in accurate assessment of TA comparable to MRI and may have an important implication in the TV surgical decision-making processes. RT3DE analysis of TA function could be used as a marker of RV function