Bearing Capacity of Defective Reinforced Concrete Pile in Sand-model Study

Concrete piles that were poorly constructed or analyzed in their soil analyses may have structural or geotechnical defects. To examine such defects, an experimental study was conducted to investigate how a defective reinforced concrete pile behaved. These piles were installed and subjected to a compression axial load in the sand that had relative densities of 30%,60%, and 80%. The tests were performed using four concrete model piles: one intact pile and the other three piles had a structural defect (necking) at three different positions of the pile at (0.25 L from the top, center, and 0.25 L bottom). Geotechnical defect (soft layer or debris) was studied using Styrofoam layer at various vertical distances under the pile toe with Y/D = (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5) D. The test results showed that the bearing capacity of the structural defect was the most in the case of a neck at 0.25 L from the bottom, followed by a neck at the center, and finally a neck at 0.25 L from the top. In the case of a geotechnical defect, the bearing capacity of the pile decreased with the decrease of the vertical distance between the soft layer and the pile toe

A Comparative study between Different Treatment Modalities of Floating Knee Jnjury At Aswan University Hospital

Purpose: The study aimed at presenting a comparison between the modalities of treatment different of floating knee injury at Aswan University Hospital.  Materials and Methods:  This study is a prospective study including all of our 20 cases of floating knee injuries who were treated utilizing various treatment modalities at Aswan University Hospital between December 2018 and September 2019 with a follow-up period of 12 months  Results: Based on the data analysis,  nailing is a better modality in floating knee injury (especially with diaphyseal long bone). Moreover, plating is a good choice for distal fractures, the external fixator is considered a choice for limb saving(as in popliteal ischemia, open fractures(OG3), and compartment syndrome).  Conclusion: Management of floating knee injury is critical as floating knee injury is not like other fractures. Floating knee injuries are serious injuries with a high rate of complications. Besides being caused by high-energy trauma with extensive skeletal and soft tissue damage, they are also associated with potentially life-threatening injuries of the head, chest, and abdomen. There are multiple controversies in surgical management starting from choosing suitable fixation for each patient according to variable conditions.  Floating knee injury remains a challenging orthopedic problem in which regaining good knee function outcome is a major concern. Stable osteosynthesis to achieve rigid fixation and early mobilization should always be attempted

EFFECT OF SOME SLOW RELEASE N FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH AND FRUITING OF TWO MANGO CVS; FIGRI KELAN AND KEITT

This study was conducted for comparing three slow release N fertilizers namely, sulphur-coated urea (SCU), phosphorus – coated urea (PCU) and Enciabene with the conventional fast release N fertilizer namely ammonium nitrate each at the recommended rate of N i.e., 1000 g N/tree/year for growth characters on the three growth flushes, percentages of leaf N, P and K in the Spring growth cycle, date of first bloom, number of panicles/tree, fruit retention %, yield as well as physical and chemical characters of fruits in two mango cvs Figri Kelan and Keitt during 2004 and 2005 seasons. Results showed that suppling the trees of both mango cvs with the three slow release N fertilizers were superior to the application of the fast one in improving shoot length, number of leaves / shoot and leaf area in the three growth cycles, percentages of leaf N, number of panicles / tree as well as physical and chemical properies of the fruits. The slow release N fertilizers slightly advanced first bloom date. Application of sulphur-coated urea (SCU), phosphorus-coated urea (PCU) and Enciabene (ENC) in a descending order, was very favorable in this connection. These results were true for both mango cvs. It is suggested to fertilize the trees of both mango cvs Figri Kelan and Keitt with N at 1000g/tree/year as sulphur-coated urea fertilizer (2.4 Kg/tree/year) for obtaining an economical yield with fairly good fruit qualit

Adopting Scenario-Based approach to solve optimal reactive power Dispatch problem with integration of wind and solar energy using improved Marine predator algorithm

The penetration of renewable energy resources into electric power networks has been increased considerably to reduce the dependence of conventional energy resources, reducing the generation cost and greenhouse emissions. The wind and photovoltaic (PV) based systems are the most applied technologies in electrical systems compared to other technologies of renewable energy resources. However, there are some complications and challenges to incorporating these resources due to their stochastic nature, intermittency, and variability of output powers. Therefore, solving the optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) problem with considering the uncertainties of renewable energy resources is a challenging task. Application of the Marine Predators Algorithm (MPA) for solving complex multimodal and non-linear problems such as ORPD under system uncertainties may cause entrapment into local optima and suffer from stagnation. The aim of this paper is to solve the ORPD problem under deterministic and probabilistic states of the system using an improved marine predator algorithm (IMPA). The IMPA is based on enhancing the exploitation phase of the conventional MPA. The proposed enhancement is based on updating the locations of the populations in spiral orientation around the sorted populations in the first iteration process, while in the final stage, the locations of the populations are updated their locations in adaptive steps closed to the best population only. The scenario-based approach is utilized for uncertainties representation where a set of scenarios are generated with the combination of uncertainties the load demands and power of the renewable resources. The proposed algorithm is validated and tested on the IEEE 30-bus system as well as the captured results are compared with those outcomes from the state-of-the-art algorithms. A computational study shows the superiority of the proposed algorithm over the other reported algorithms

Role of MRP-1 and GST-Pi in MDR and their inhibition by indomethacin in AML

Background: MDR continues to be a major challenge to effective chemotherapeutic interventions against cancer. Defining major factor contributing to MDR and inhibiting their action may thus be used for reversing MDR.Aim: This work aimed to evaluate the role played by MRP-1 and GST-Pi in MDR, and to explore the possible role of indomethacin as an inhibitor of chemotherapy resistance in patients with AML.Subjects and methods: The study included 2 groups, one included 20 healthy volunteers and the second included 50 AML patients. All patients received one cycle of standard induction chemotherapy, then regrouped according to their response to either CR group or unremitted group. Unremitted patients received a second cycle of chemotherapy combined with indomethacin. From each subject a blood sample was drawn before and after the 1st cycle of chemotherapy and after the 2nd cycle. From blood, mononuclear cells were separated, mRNA was extracted, and RT-PCR was carried out to detect GST-Pi and MRP-1 gene expression.Results: GST-Pi expression in CR group was 60% before therapy that significantly decreased to 30% after therapy. While in unremitted group, its expression significantly increased from 30% before to 80% after therapy. GST-Pi positive patients had a significantly lower overall and disease free survival time than GST Pi negative patients (P = 0.000 and 0.039, respectively). While MRP-1 expression was so low (20%) and remained unchanged after therapy in both groups. MRP-1 expression did not affect overall or disease free survival. Taking indomethacin with 2nd cycle of chemotherapy in unremitted patients resulted in a significant inhibition of GST-Pi expression and a significantly longer overall survival time than those taking 2nd cycle chemotherapy alone (P =0.034).Conclusion: MRP-1 is not likely to contribute to MDR, while GST-Pi might have a role in MDR phenotype in AML patients. Furthermore, GST-Pi inhibition significantly reduced MDR in AML patients.Keywords: AML; MDR; GST-Pi; MRP-1; Indomethacin; RT-PC

EFFECT OF SOME CHEMICAL MATERIAL AND GERMINATION MEDIA ON SEED GERMINATION AND GROWTH OF GRAFTED CASIMIROA TRANSPLANTS

This investigation was carried out in the plastic house of Horticulture Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza during two consequent seasons (2002 – 2003) and (2003 – 2004). The study was aimed to enhance growth of Casimiroa rootstock seedlings to reach grafting size in a short time, beside defineding the suitable method of grafting. In this concern, results revealed that seed soaked in MgSO4 at 5 % for 15 min. and planted in media consists of peat and sand at 1 : 1, was increased seed germination percentage (92.1 and 94.8 %) and minimized the germination period (19.1 and 19.3 days), as compared with the other treatments. Thus it reached to the grafting size at a period of (179 and 180 days) in both seasons, respectively. However, Dormex (hydrogen cyanamide) treatment at 2% gave the highest root length (24.6 and 24.8 cm), and number of roots per plant (19.4 and 19.0). Results also showed that shield budding by using soft wood grafts, gave the highest percentage of success (69.2 and 72.4%), shortest  period of bud / scion (23.0 and 24.0 days), highest values of scion length (26.5 and 25.7 cm) and highest leaf area (38.28 and 40.67 cm2). However, cleft grafting with softwood grafts increased average number of leaves per sprouted graft (6.0 and 6.6) and shoot scion diameter (0.6 and 0.5 cm). Generally, seeds treated with MgSO4 at 5% berfore sowing in media consists of peat and sand at 1 : 1 in volume, induced healthy and sizeable rootstocks in a short time. Moreover, grafting rootstocks by soft wood grafts was the best method

CYTOTOXICITY OF IMIDACLOPRID AND MYCLOBUTANIL PESTICIDES ON THREE CANCER CELL LINES

Three cancer cell lines, i.e. HEpG-2 (human liver carcinoma), MCF-7 (human breast adeno-carcinoma), and PC3 (Prostatic Small Cell Carcinoma) were used to determine the cytotoxic effects of the neonicotinoid insecticide (imidacloprid) and conazole fungicide (myclobutanil). Cytotoxicity was measured by neutral red incorporation (NRI) assay. The lowest concentration of the tested pesticides (0.5 μg/ml) was toxic. With the increase of the concentration up to 80 μg/ml, the Department of plant protection, Faculty of Agric., Ain Shams University, shoubra  Elkheima, Cairo, Egypt Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agric., Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt damage degree of the cellular form and size was more serious. The midpoint cytotoxicity value, (NRI50) for imidacloprid and myclobutanil for HEpG-2, MCF-7, and PC3 cancer cell lines were 110.5, 67.7 and 67.6 μg/ml and 38.12, 41 and 27.5 μg/ml, respectively. In general, myclobutanil was very toxic in the three cancer cell lines compared with imidacloprid

RESIDUES OF IMIDACLOPRID AND MYCOLBUTANIL IN/ON GRAPE AND SOIL UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS

Persistence Vs degradation behavior of insecticide imidacloprid (35% SC) and fungicide myclobutanil (24% EC) in/on grape (leaves and fruits) and surrounding soil under canopy were investigated under field conditions. Leaves, fruits and soil samples were collected at 2 hours to 21 days after application at the recommended rate. QuEChERS method was used for extraction and clean-up and analyzed using HPLC and GC for imidacloprid and myclobutanil, respectively .The initial residue deposits, degradation percentages and/or, the parameters (RL50 and RL90) and Pre Harvest Intervals (PHIs) of the targeted pesticides were the criteria of concern. Results revealed that, grape leaves retained higher initial amounts than fruits by about 5.0 7 and 1.34 times for imidacloprid and myclobutanil, respectively. As for RL50, RL90 and PHIs values, imidacloprid showed 4.12 ,13.42 and 21.95 days and 5.13 ,13.41 and 11.96 days on grape leaves and fruit, respectively. The corresponding calculated values were 4.71, 9.38 and 16.31days and 1.97, 9.14 and 14.90 days for myclobutanil on the same targeted samples, respectively. In addition, the grape fruits could be consumed safely after 12 and 15 days of treatment with imidacloprid and myclobutanil, respectively. On the other hand , results indicated that the residue half life (RL50) values for the same targeted pesticides in soil  were 11.56 and 15.74 days, respectively. In general, myclobutanil residues in soil recorded higher persistence levels than higher imidacloprid and on the contrary it showed less persistence in/on grape leaves and fruits

An artificial gorilla troops optimizer for stochastic unit commitment problem solution incorporating solar, wind, and load uncertainties

The unit commitment (UC) optimization issue is a vital issue in the operation and management of power systems. In recent years, the significant inroads of renewable energy (RE) resources, especially wind power and solar energy generation systems, into power systems have led to a huge increment in levels of uncertainty in power systems. Consequently, solution the UC is being more complicated. In this work, the UC problem solution is addressed using the Artificial Gorilla Troops Optimizer (GTO) for three cases including solving the UC at deterministic state, solving the UC under uncertainties of system and sources with and without RE sources. The uncertainty modelling of the load and RE sources (wind power and solar energy) are made through representing each uncertain variable with a suitable probability density function (PDF) and then the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) method is employed to generate a large number of scenarios then a scenario reduction technique known as backward reduction algorithm (BRA) is applied to establish a meaningful overall interpretation of the results. The results show that the overall cost per day is reduced from 0.2181% to 3.7528% at the deterministic state. In addition to that the overall cost reduction per day is 19.23% with integration of the RE resources. According to the results analysis, the main findings from this work are that the GTO is a powerful optimizer in addressing the deterministic UC problem with better cost and faster convergence curve and that RE resources help greatly in running cost saving. Also uncertainty consideration makes the system more reliable and realistic