Adaptive fuzzy logic control for solar buildings

Significant progress has been made on maximising passive solar heating loads through the careful selection of glazing, orientation and internal mass within building spaces. Control of space heating in buildings of this type has become a complex problem. Additionally, and in common with most building control applications, there is a need to develop control solutions that permit simple and transparent set up and commissioning procedures. This work concerns the development and testing of an adaptive control method for space heating in buildings with significant solar input. A simulation model of a building space to assess the performance of different control strategies is developed. A lumped parameter model based on an optimisation technique has been proposed and validated. It is shown that this model gives an improvement over existing low order modelling methods. A detailed model of a hot water heating system and related control devices is developed and evaluated for the specific purpose of control simulation. A PI-based fuzzy logic controller is developed in which the error and change of error between the internal air temperature and the user set point temperature is used as the controller input. A conventional PD controller is also considered for comparison. The parameters of the controllers are set to values that result in the best performance under likely disturbances and changes in setpoint. In a further development of the fuzzy logic controller, the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) is used to control the indoor temperature of a space by setting it at a point where the PMV index becomes zero and the predicted percentage of persons dissatisfied (PPD) achieves a maximum threshold of 5%. The controller then adjusts the air temperature set point in order to satisfy the required comfort level given the prevailing values of other comfort variables contributing to the comfort sensation. The resulting controller is free of the set up and tuning problems that hinder conventional HVAC controllers. The need to develop an adaptive capability in the fuzzy logic controller to account for lagging influence of solar heat gain is established and a new adaptive controller has therefore been proposed. The development of a "quasi-adaptive" fuzzy logic controller is developed in two steps. A feedforward neural network is used to predict the internal air temperature, in which a singular value decomposition (SVD) algorithm is used to remove the highly correlated data from the inputs of the neural network to reduce the network structure. The fuzzy controller is then modified to have two inputs: the first input being the error between the setpoint temperature and the internal air temperature and the second the predicted future internal air temperature. When compared with a conventional method of control the proposed controller is shown to give good tracking of the setpoint temperature, reduced energy consumption and improved thermal comfort for the occupants by reducing solar overheating. The proposed controller is tested in real time using a test cell equipped with an oil- filled electric radiator, temperature and solar sensors. Experimental results confirm earlier findings arrived at by simulations, in that the proposed controller achieves superior tracking and reduces afternoon solar overheating, when compared with a conventional method of control

Recurrent Pneumonia in Children Admitted to Assiut University Children Hospital. Magnitude of the Problem and Possible Risk Factors

Background: Incidence data indicate that recurrent pneumonia occurs in 7.7–9% of all children withcommunity acquired pneumonia. We aim by this study to assess the prevalence of recurrent pneumoniaamong the admissions with diagnosis of pneumonia in Assiut university children hospital for one year andto try to define the possible related risk factors. Patients and methods: This is a prospective hospital basedstudy in Assiut University Children’s Hospital. Children younger than 16 years admitted with a hospitaldiagnosis of pneumonia to Assiut University Children’s Hospital for one year from 1 February 2017 to 31January 2018 were included.Results: Approximately 1 in 12 children with pneumonia in our locality have recurrent pneumonia with percentageof 12.61%. Cardiac diseases especially congenital heart diseases was the cause among 25.45%of the cases, immunodeficiency diseases represented 20.9% of the cases ,while bronchial asthma wasthe cause of recurrent pneumonia among 16.36% of the cases. As regard to risk factors in studied group,prematurity was detected among 7.27 % of the cases while more than 50% were formula fed and more than60% exposed to pollution. Father smoking was detected among 36.36% of cases. Patients aged > 6 yearsshowed significantly higher frequency in risk factors as obesity, indoor and outdoor pollution and use ofsteroids in comparison to other age groups. However, patients aged 0-3 years exhibited significantly higher% frequency of having heart disease, oro-motor in coordination /swallowing dysfunction, gastro esophagealreflux and under nutrition as risk factors for recurrent pneumonia in comparison to other age groups.Conclusions: The most frequent underlying cause for recurrent pneumonia in Assiut University Children’sHospital which presents the largest referral pediatric hospital in Upper Egypt for one year according to ourstudy was cardiac diseases; the second most frequent cause was immunodeficiency diseases, followedby bronchial asthma. Risk factors for recurrent pneumonia include socio-economic status of studiedcases, prematurity, exposure to passive smoking and in or outdoor pollution, obesity, under nutrition, lackof breast feeding, gastro esophageal reflux and steroids usage

Adherence to Anti-seizure Drugs and Associated Factors among Children with Epilepsy in central Sudan

Background: Epilepsies are the most common neurological disorder in children worldwide. They result in disability or even death. Adherence to anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) is challenging for children with epilepsies. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 67 children with epilepsies age between (2-16 years of age) on follow up visits at neurology refer clinic at Wad Medani Pediatric Teaching Hospital; Central Sudan from February to July. 2022. Adherence to ASDs was measured using Morisky’s Medication Adherence Scale eight – items (MMAS-8) translated to the local language. Descriptive analysis was conducted to calculate frequencies and percentages for categorical data, chi-square test for associated factors with adherence. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.  Results: Gender analysis showed that 36 (53.7%) of patients were males. Forty-eight (71.6%) had good adherence to their medications. Thirty-three (49.3%) had 1-12 seizures/year. Thirty-nine (58.2%) of participants had generalized seizures while 22 (32.8%) had focal seizures. Sixty-six (95.5%) of study patients on poly therapy had good adherences. Adherence was not found to be associated with sex, age, parental education, employment status, ASDs, duration of epilepsy, type of epilepsy, seizures frequency or monotherapy versus poly therapy (p value > 0.05)

Plasma concentration of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine in childhood asthma

Background: Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) is responsible for trafficking of T helper 2 lymphocytes into sites of allergic inflammation. However, its role in assessing the severity of acute asthma in children is still unclear. Objective: We sought to evaluate plasma TARC as a marker for monitoring asthma exacerbation in terms of asthma attack severity. Methods: Plasma TARC concentration was estimated in 24 asthmatic children aged between 2 and 17 years attending the Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Unit of Children’s Hospital, Ain Shams University, and 23 age and sex-matched healthy children using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. For asthmatic patients, the measurement was performed during and after the resolution of acute asthma attack. In addition, complete hemogram and plasma total IgE were evaluated and peak expiratory flow rate was assessed in asthmatic patients during and after acute asthma exacerbation. Results: Plasma TARC mean concentration was significantly higher during acute asthma (839.2 ± 453.6 pg/ml) than after resolution of symptoms (416.5 ± 324.8 pg/ml) and both were statistically higher than the control value (165.7 ± 135.2 pg/ml). During acute attacks of asthma, plasma TARC level was significantly elevated among patients with severe attacks of wheezing (1336.3 ± 431.2 pg/ml) than in those with moderate (743.8 ± 91.8 pg/ml) and mild (437.5 ± 66.1 pg/ml) attacks and inversely related to PEFR measurements during attacks (r = -98, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, no significant relationship was found between plasma TARC levels and either plasma total IgE levels or the absolute eosinophil count. Neither the history of other atopic symptoms nor family history of atopy influenced plasma TARC levels. A significant reduction in plasma TARC level was observed after treatment with inhaled ß2 agonist drugs either alone or in conjunction with inhaled glucocorticoids. Conclusion: Our findings support the concept that TARC may be implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. Plasma TARC is a useful marker in monitoring the severity of asthma exacerbation and in assessing the degree of allergic inflammation in the asthmatic airway. This would help physicians to design appropriate therapy in terms of dose and duration of treatment especially among children with quiescent asthma. Future studies should focus on using TARC antagonists as a new approach to asthma immunotherapy.Keywords: bronchial asthma, acute attacks, remission, TARC, atopy, inhaled glucocorticoids, ß2 agonistsEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2003; 1(2): 86-9

Effect of Deep Tissue Massage on Alleviating Pain Among Breast & Lung Cancer Patients at a Selected University Hospital-Egypt

Background: Cancer increased worldwide. Pain is the most significant problem related for such patients; it affects all aspects of life. Aim of the current study was to examine the effect of deep tissue massage on alleviating pain among breast & lung cancer patients at a selected university hospital, Egypt. Design: A quazi-experimental design was utilized, the study conducted at the Nuclear Medicine Unit at Kasr Al-Aini Educational Hospital, affiliated to Cairo-University. Research questions: 1-Is massage significantly decreased the mean pain intensity scores among study group when compared to control group among patients with breast and lung cancer? 2-Is massage significantly decreased the mean pain quality scores among study group when compared to control group among patients with breast and lung cancer? 3-Is massage significantly decreased the mean sleeping difficulty scores among study group when compared to control group among patients with breast and lung cancer? 4-Is massage significantly decreased the mean symptom burden scores among study group when compared to control group among patients with breast and lung cancer? Sample: A convenient sample of 60 adult male and female patients with breast and lung cancer over 6 consecutive months were randomly assigned into two equal groups, 30 patients each, the control group received only the routine hospital pain management and the study group received deep tissue massage in addition to the hospital routine pain management. Tools: Five tools were utilized to gather data as follow: 1) Demographic data sheet, numeric pain rating scale, pain quality assessment scale, the memorial symptom assessment scale and the difficulty sleeping scale. The study group received 3 sessions of massage per week for about 15 minutes each. All patients were followed up for 6 weeks. Results: The study results concluded that there was no statistical significant difference between study and control groups in relation to demographic variables, intensity and quality of pain, sleeping difficulties and symptom burden in the 1st reading as both groups were homogeneous, while by the end of the 6th week, there was a statistical significant difference between the study & control groups regarding intensity, quality of pain, sleeping difficulties and symptom burden. Conclusion: The study concluded that deep tissue massage is an effective method to decrease pain intensity; improve quality of pain; symptom burden as well as sleeping difficulties. Key words: Lung/breast cancer, massage, Knuckle technique, pain & sleeping difficulty. 

Detection of rhinovirus-associated asthma exacerbations using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in Egyptian children

Background: Acute exacerbations of asthma are the leading cause of emergency department visits in pediatric patients. The development of sensitive diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based techniques permitted demonstration of an already clinically suspected association between common viral respiratory infections and asthma exacerbations. Respiratory viruses have been identified in 80–85% of exacerbations in school-aged children, with human rhinoviruses (HRVs) being the most frequently detected. A recently identified HRV genotype, HRV-C, is circulating worldwide and is an important cause of febrile wheeze and asthmatic exacerbations in children requiring hospitalization.Objectives: This study aimed to detect HRV- induced asthma exacerbations (including the new HRV-C genotype) among a group of Egyptian children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 31 asthmatic children in exacerbations in the period from September 2014 till October 2015. Patients were recruited from the emergency department and chest clinic, Children's hospital, Ain Shams University. Sputum (for children ≥7years) and nasopharyngeal aspirates (for infants and children<7years) were collected for one-step, real-time pan Rhinovirus reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. One step RT-PCR was done to detect Rhinovirus C among positive cases.Results: This study included 31 asthmatic children in exacerbations. They were 15 males (48.4%) and 16 females (51.6%). Their ages ranged from 7 months to 12 years with a mean and SD of (4.47 ± 3.15) years. Eight (25.8%) of the studied patients showed positive Rhinovirus RT-PCR test and 4 (50%) of the HRV positive patients were of the Rhinovirus C genotype (12.9% of the total population). HRV positive patients showed higher percentage of positive family history of bronchial asthma (p=0.002), higher mean values of respiratory rate (p=0.001) and temperature (p=0.001), but lower mean value of oxygen saturation (p =0.011). There were statistically significant differences regarding the exacerbation severity (p=0.024) and outcome (p=0.048) between HRV positive and negative patients.Conclusion: HRVs are important triggers of asthma exacerbations among Egyptian children. The newly described HRV-C genotype accounts for a significant proportion of HRV- associated asthma exacerbations. Further studies on a larger scale are needed for HRV-C and other possibly undiscovered HRV genotypes.Keywords: Rhinovirus, Rhinovirus C genotype, asthma exacerbation, real time RT-PC

On some local properties of fuzzy manifold and its folding

This paper is a continuation of [5]. It introduces the local properties of the fuzzy manifold. the fuzzy vector field in a fuzzy tangent space will be defined. Theorems governing the relation between the folding of the fuzzy tangent space and the folding of the fuzzy manifold are deduced

Evaluation of Side Effects of Anti-Seizure Drugs Among Sudanese Children with Epilepsy in Wad Medani Pediatric Teaching Hospital

Abstract: Background: Treatment of epilepsy with anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) for 2-5 years is important to control epileptic seizures.  Side effects of ASDs are well recognised and affect treatment outcomes if ASDs are severe. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive hospital-based study was conducted on 67 children with epilepsy on follow-up visits at a neurology referral clinic in Wad Medani Pediatric Teaching Hospital, Central Sudan, from February 2022 to July 2022.  Side effects of ASDs were measured using the Pediatric Epilepsy Side Effects Scale (PESQs).  Data were entered into the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20, and descriptive analysis was done to calculate frequencies and percentages and chi-square test for association.  The P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Gender assessment showed that 36 (53.7%) of study patients were male.  43(64.2%) of participants had low severity of side effects, 14(20.9%) had low–moderate severity, and 8(11.9%) had no side effects. Significant associations were found between age and cognitive side effects (P-value .008); epilepsy type and cognitive side effects (P-value .026); seizure frequency and behavioural side effects (P-value .018); Type of ASD and behavioural side effects (P-value .000) and; type of ASD and neurological side effects (P-value .004)

Effect of sildenafil citrate on prediabetic and diabetic albino rats treated with metformin

Diabetes Miletus (DM) is a global epidemic disease. It is estimated that there are already 415 million adults aged 20–79 years diabetics worldwide. Sildenafil citrate is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, which increases cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and metformin (MET) is a biguanide used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes which increases peripheral insulin sensitivity. Aim: This study aims to assess the effect of sildenafil citrate and metformin on lipid profile and glycemic control in diabetic and prediabetic albino rats. Materials and methods: Adult male albino rats are used and divided into nine groups each group consists of 10 rats, diabetes is induced by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) for an initial period of 2 weeks followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of (35 mg/kg) Streptozotocin. Prediabetes is induced by feeding (HFD) and glucose in water for a period of 2 weeks. Sildenafil was given in a dose of (5 &10 mg/kg/day orally for 4 weeks), metformin was given in a dose of (50 &100 mg/kg/day orally for 4 weeks) using oral gavages to normal healthy rats, diabetic and prediabetic rats. Blood samples were collected after 4 weeks of treatment in all experimental groups. Results: Combined administration of sildenafil and metformin on diabetic rats improving hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and hyperlipidemia induced by streptozotocin than the administration of metformin or sildenafil alone. Conclusion: Sildenafil has beneficial effects against some diabetic complications. The present study showed that sildenafil with metformin has beneficial effects against diabetic complications

Effect of sildenafil citrate on prediabetic and diabetic albino rats treated with metformin

Diabetes Miletus (DM) is a global epidemic disease. It is estimated that there are already 415 million adults aged 20–79 years diabetics worldwide. Sildenafil citrate is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, which increases cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and metformin (MET) is a biguanide used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes which increases peripheral insulin sensitivity. Aim: This study aims to assess the effect of sildenafil citrate and metformin on lipid profile and glycemic control in diabetic and prediabetic albino rats. Materials and methods: Adult male albino rats are used and divided into nine groups each group consists of 10 rats, diabetes is induced by feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) for an initial period of 2 weeks followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of (35 mg/kg) Streptozotocin. Prediabetes is induced by feeding (HFD) and glucose in water for a period of 2 weeks. Sildenafil was given in a dose of (5 &10 mg/kg/day orally for 4 weeks), metformin was given in a dose of (50 &100 mg/kg/day orally for 4 weeks) using oral gavages to normal healthy rats, diabetic and prediabetic rats. Blood samples were collected after 4 weeks of treatment in all experimental groups. Results: Combined administration of sildenafil and metformin on diabetic rats improving hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and hyperlipidemia induced by streptozotocin than the administration of metformin or sildenafil alone. Conclusion: Sildenafil has beneficial effects against some diabetic complications. The present study showed that sildenafil with metformin has beneficial effects against diabetic complications