Nanoparticles Decorated on Resin Particles and Their Flame Retardancy Behavior for Polymer Composites

New nanocomposites have been developed by doping of amberlite IR120 resin with spherical TiO2 nanoparticles in the presence of maleate diphosphate. Polystyrene composites of resin, maleate diphosphate, and resin-maleate diphosphate were prepared individually. This is in addition to preparation of polymer nanocomposites of polystyrene-resin doped TiO2 nanoparticles-maleate diphosphate. The flame retardancy and thermal stability properties of these developed polymer composites were evaluated. The inclusion of resin and resin doped nanoparticles improved the fire retardant behavior of polystyrene composites and enhanced their thermal stability. Synergistic behavior between flame retardant, resin, and nanoparticles was detected. The rate of burning of the polymer nanocomposites was recorded as 10.7 mm/min achieving 77% reduction compared to pure polystyrene (46.5 mm/min). The peak heat release rate (PHRR) of the new polymer composites has reduced achieving 46% reduction compared to blank polymer. The morphology and dispersion of nanoparticles on resin and in polymer nanocomposites were characterized using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The flame retardancy and thermal properties were evaluated using UL94 flame chamber, cone tests, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively

COMPATABILITY BETWEEN ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICEIN EGYPT

The impact of education on countries urbanism is clear as much as culture, economy, and politics are. In Egypt, although urban education is usually appended by architectural education; the current educational methods, and content in architecture schools do not grant the needed convergence between educational institutions and the needs of professional practice regulations. This paper focuses on curricula of architectural education for under graduate engineering programs in Egypt. It analyzes various programs of architecture in higher education referring to the practice regulations. As well as investigating if they are reflected clearly on the architecture education or not. Case studies will include four main Egyptian undergraduate architectural engineering programs. The study uses the qualitative approach in which descriptive analysis of different disciplines ratios, and study hours taught to students during undergraduate phase is done. As the qualitative approach in the exposure to the rules and regulations presenting Egyptian professional practice. Two comparisons are held during the discussion, one between different educational programs systems in Egypt, and another one about fulfilling the role of architect authorized by law, and regulations. Finally, the research ends with a number of conclusions concerning the analytical study, and recommendations on connecting three main pillars, including the architecture education, the laws and regulations, and the professional practice requirements

Canine prostatic cancer cell line (LuMa) with osteoblastic bone metastasis

Background Osteoblastic bone metastasis represents the most common complication in men with prostate cancer (PCa). During progression and bone metastasis, PCa cells acquire properties similar to bone cells in a phenomenon called osteomimicry, which promotes their ability to metastasize, proliferate, and survive in the bone microenvironment. The mechanism of osteomimicry resulting in osteoblastic bone metastasis is unclear. Methods We developed and characterized a novel canine prostatic cancer cell line (LuMa) that will be useful to investigate the relationship between osteoblastic bone metastasis and osteomimicry in PCa. The LuMa cell line was established from a primary prostate carcinoma of a 13-year old mixed breed castrated male dog. Cell proliferation and gene expression of LuMa were measured and compared to three other canine prostatic cancer cell lines (Probasco, Ace-1, and Leo) in vitro. The effect of LuMa cells on calvaria and murine preosteoblastic (MC3T3-E1) cells was measured by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and alkaline phosphatase assay. LuMa cells were transduced with luciferase for monitoring in vivo tumor growth and metastasis using different inoculation routes (subcutaneous, intratibial [IT], and intracardiac [IC]). Xenograft tumors and metastases were evaluated using radiography and histopathology. Results After left ventricular injection, LuMa cells metastasized to bone, brain, and adrenal glands. IT injections induced tumors with intramedullary new bone formation. LuMa cells had the highest messenger RNA levels of osteomimicry genes (RUNX2, RANKL, and Osteopontin [OPN]), CD44, E-cadherin, and MYOF compared to Ace-1, Probasco, and Leo cells. LuMa cells induced growth in calvaria defects and modulated gene expression in MC3T3-E1 cells. Conclusions LuMa is a novel canine PCa cell line with osteomimicry and stemness properties. LuMa cells induced osteoblastic bone formation in vitro and in vivo. LuMa PCa cells will serve as an excellent model for studying the mechanisms of osteomimicry and osteoblastic bone and brain metastasis in prostate cancer.United States Department of Health & Human Services National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (UL1TR001070)United States Department of Health & Human Services National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA NIH National Cancer Institute (NCI) (P30CA016058)Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF) Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MHESR)Ohio State UniversityMinistry of Scientific Research, EgyptDepartment of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Bioscience

Development of Membrane Selective Electrode for Determination of the Antipsychotic Sulpiride in Pharmaceuticals and Urine

The construction and electrochemical response characteristics of a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane selective electrode for the determination of sulpiride (SPD) are described. The sensing membrane comprised an ion-exchanger formed between the protonated drug and tetraphenylborate (TPB-) in a plasticized PVC matrix. The influence of membrane composition on the electrode response was studied. The electrode showed a fast, stable and Nernstian response over a sulpiride concentration range (1 × 10-4 – 1 × 10-2 M) with a mean slope of 58.4 ± 0.9 mV dec-1 of concentration, a mean detection limit of 4.2 × 10-5 ± 1.2 × 10-5 M, a wide working pH range (2 – 8) and a fast response time (< 15 s). The electrode showed good selectivity towards sulpiride with respect to some inorganic and organic compounds. When the electrode was applied to the determination of sulpiride in pharmaceuticals and human urine, a high percentage of recovery was attained with no need for sample pretreatment procedures because of the lack of interfering matrix effects

Construction productivity model using fuzzy approach

Productivity is one of the most important elements to manage construction projects especially with regards to the prediction of the activities’ durations. Uncertainty is an entrenched characteristic of most construction projects. Most research works in simulating construction productivity have focused predominantly on modeling and have neglected to study the effect of subjective variables on productivity of construction process. The unique nature of construction projects and uncertainty of the construction processes lead to a need of new generation of models that utilizes the historical data. The presented research develops, using Fuzzy approach, a model to utilize, analyze, extract and find the hidden patterns of the project data sets to predict the construction process productivity. The engine depends on finding the relation between quantitative and qualitative variables, which affect the construction processes, and productivity. The methodology of this research consists of six steps: (1) Investigate the factors affecting the productivity (2) select the critical factors that affect the productivity; (3) build Fuzzy sets; (4) generate Fuzzy rules and models; (5) build Fuzzy knowledge base; and (6) validate the effectiveness of the built model to predict the construction process productivity. The developed model is validated and verified using case study with sound and satisfactory results, 90.65 % average validity percent. The developed research/engine benefits both researchers and practitioners because it provides robust model for construction processes and a tool to predict the productivity of construction processes.Non UBCUnreviewedFacultyOthe

Hookworm infection among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: Impact of co-infection on the therapeutic failure of pulmonary tuberculosis

Objective/background: The aim of this study is to determine the rate of hookworm infection among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and to find out if there is a relation between hookworm infection and the therapeutic failure of pulmonary TB. Methods: We carried out a prospective, hospital-based study. The study included 231 naıve patients with pulmonary TB, consecutively. Patients were evaluated at the 4th month of therapy for persistence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. All patients had clinical evaluation, laboratory investigations (including sputum culture and stool microscopic examination), and imaging studies (abdominal ultrasonography and chest radiography). Results: The study population mean age was 42.7±13.9 years old with 26.8% of them 40 years old or more. Out of 231 patients, 133 (57.6%) were men. Therapeutic failure rate of pulmonary TB was 29.4%. Hookworm infection was diagnosed among 16.5% of patients and 27.7% had diabetes mellitus (DM). Using multivariate analysis, it was found that age of 40 years or more (odds ratio [OR] 8.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7–41.3; p = .009), hookworm infection (OR 7.6; 95% CI 1.2–49.9; p = .034), and DM (OR 5.9; 1.2–28; p = .027) were independently associated with therapeutic failure of pulmonary TB among the study population with pulmonary TB. Conclusion: In conclusion, the rate of therapeutic failure of pulmonary TB is high. Besides older age and DM, hookworm infection can reduce the therapeutic response of pulmonary TB. Screening for and control of DM and hookworm infection among patients with pulmonary TB may improve their therapeutic response