Sustainable Architectural Applications in the Gulf States-Post Occupancy Evaluation Case Study of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

This study aimed at studying, analyzing, and assessing sustainability experiment in KSA through estimating buildings established and designed in many sites at the kingdom. But these buildings were analyzed from the descriptive method, in addition to extracting special standards through the users of these buildings. The opinions of the users were taken through a questionnaire for extracting the satisfaction level about the sustainable buildings in KSA. Above all, meetings with the people of specialty who designed the buildings were held and compared before and after design, together with the method of visualizing the subject. The study considered all elements and terms used in order to extract some helpful results for the decision makers, together with putting strategies and an approach for designing the sustainable buildings in the kingdom. The findings indicated that the user is affected by the sustainable measures taken in designing and construction of these buildings. Many factors affected the satisfaction level of the users including the cultural, social and economic factors

Six Months of Balloon Treatment does Not Predict the Success of Gastric Banding

BACKGROUND: We studied whether weight loss by intragastric balloon would predict the outcome of subsequent gastric banding with regard to weight loss and BMI reduction. METHODS: A prospective cohort of patients with a body mass index (BMI)>40 kg/m(2) received an intragastric balloon for 6 months followed by laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Successful balloon-induced weight loss was defined as > or =10% weight loss after 6 months. Successful surgical weight loss was defined as an additional 15% weight loss in the following 12 months. Patients were divided in group A, losing > or =10% of their initial weight with 6 months' balloon treatment, and group B, losing <10% of their initial weight. RESULTS: In 40 patients (32 female, 8 male; age 36.6 yr, range 26-54), the mean BMI decreased from 46.5 to 40.5 kg/m(2) (P <0.001) after 6 months of balloon treatment and to 35.2 kg/m(2) (P <0.001) 12 months after LAGB. Group A (25 patients) and group B (15 patients) had a significant difference in BMI decrease, 12.4 vs 9.0 kg/m(2) (P <0.05), after the total study duration of 18 months. However, there was no difference in BMI reduction (4.7 kg/m(2) vs 5.8 kg/m(2)) in the 12 months after LAGB. 6 patients in group A lost > or =10% of their starting weight during 6 months balloon treatment as well as > or =15% 12 months following LAGB. 6 patients in group B lost <10% of their starting weight after 6 months of BIB, but also lost > or =15% 12 months following LAGB. CONCLUSION: Intragastric balloon did not predict the success of subsequent LAG

Adjustable Intragastric Balloons: A 12-Month Pilot Trial in Endoscopic Weight Loss Management

Intragastric balloons are associated with (1) early period intolerance, (2) diminished effect within 3–4 months, and (3) bowel obstruction risk mandating removal at 6 months. The introduction of an adjustable balloon could improve comfort and offer greater efficacy. A migration prevention function, safely enabling prolonged implantation, could improve efficacy and weight maintenance post-extraction. The first implantations of an adjustable balloon with an attached migration prevention anchor are reported. The primary endpoint was the absence of bowel perforation, obstruction, or hemorrhage. Eighteen patients with mean BMI of 37.3 were implanted with the Spatz Adjustable Balloon system (ABS) for 12 months. Balloon volumes were adjusted for intolerance or weight loss plateau. Mean weight loss at 24 weeks was 15.6 kg with 26.4% EWL (percent of excess weight loss) and 24.4 kg with 48.8% EWL at 52 weeks. Sixteen adjustments were successfully performed. Six downward adjustments alleviated intolerance, yielding additional mean weight loss of 4.6 kg. Ten upward adjustments for weight loss plateau yielded a mean additional weight loss of 7 kg. Seven balloons were removed prematurely. Complications necessitating early removal included valve malfunction (1), gastritis (1), Mallory–Weiss tear (1), NSAID (2× dose/2 weeks) perforating ulcer (1), and balloon deflation (1). Two incidents of catheter shear from the chain: one passed uneventfully and one caused an esophageal laceration without perforation during extraction. The Spatz ABS has been successfully implanted in 18 patients. (1) Upward adjustments yielded additional weight loss. (2) Downward adjustments alleviated intolerance, with continued weight loss. (3) Preliminary 1-year implantation results are encouraging

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10&nbsp;years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37&nbsp;years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Corrosion performance of electrospinning nanofiber ZnO-NiO- CuO/polycaprolactone coated on mild steel in acid solution

In the present work, PCL/ZnO (polycaprolactone/ zinc oxide), PCL/NiO (polycarprolactone/nickel oxide), PCL/CuO (polycarprolactone/copper oxide), and PCL/ZnO-NiO-CuO (polycarprolactone/ zinc oxide- nickel oxidecopper oxide) have been successfully fabricated and deposited on a mild steel through electrospinning technique. SEM, EDX, and FT-IR had been used to characterize all nanofiber coatings on the mild steel. A nanofiber layer of ZnO/NiO/CuO/PCL was utilized to coating the mild steel as a corrosion protector film in 1M HCl. A series of electrochemical techniques like Open circuit potential (OCP), Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear polarization resistance (LPR), and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) were used to analyse the anticorrosion performance of the nanofiber layer ZnO/NiO/CuO/PCL. The results showed that both anodic and cathodic reactions sharp decline with shift in corrosion potential toward a positive direction in the Tafel plots. LPR results showed that the highest protection efficiency was 94.8% with ZnO-NiO-CuO/PCL nanofiber coating. EIS spectra showed that mild steel coated with ZnO/PCL, NiO/PCL, CuO/PCL, and ZnO-NiO-CuO/PCL, realization of capacitive conduct at high frequency and coating strength at law frequency part with resistor component 474.76 ohm.cm2, 527.35 ohm.cm2, 714.73 ohm.cm2, 744.80 ohm.cm2 respectively, indicating the good barrier properties and high ohmic resistance of coatings. SEM displayed a straight, interconnected structure,relatively less porosity with uniform fibers diameter. The fibers had average diameter 429 nm, 525 nm, 639nm, and 443 nm for ZnO/PCL, NiO/PCL, CuO/PCL, and ZnO-NiO-CuO/PCL respectively. EDX and FT-IR resultsconfirmed the existence of ZnO, NiO, and CuO and approved the distribution into PCL matrix. . Results of thepresent study confirmed that ZnO-NiO-CuO/PCL electrospinning nanfiber coating could be considered as a newmetallic oxide nanocomposite coating for a mild steel with excellent corrosion resistance.</p

Different Glycoforms of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen are intracellularly transported through their Association with Distinct Detergent-Resistant Membranes

International audienceHormone-refractory prostate carcinomas as well as the neovasculature of different tumours express high levels of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). PSMA is a type II-transmembrane glycoprotein and a potential tumour marker for both diagnosis and passive immunotherapy. Here, we report on the association of PSMA with detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) at different stages of the protein maturation pathway in LNCaP cells. At least three PSMA glycoforms were biochemically identified based on their extractability behaviour in different non-ionic detergents. In particular, one precursor glycoform of PSMA is associated with Tween 20-insoluble DRMs, whereas the complex glycosylated protein segregates into membrane structures that are insoluble in Lubrol WX and display a different lipid composition. Association of PSMA with these membranes occurs in the Golgi compartment together with the acquisition of a native conformation. PSMA homodimers reach the plasma membrane of LNCaP cells in Lubrol WX-insoluble lipid/protein complexes. At the steady state the majority of PSMA remains within these membrane microdomains at the cell surface. We conclude that the intracellular transport of PSMA occurs through populations of DRMs distinct for each biosynthetic form and cellular compartment

Does immersive VR increase learning gain when compared to a non-immersive VR learning experience?

Currently, computer assisted learning and multimedia form a key part of teaching. Interactivity and feedback are valuable in promoting active as opposed to passive learning. The study is conducted as an assessment of the impact of immersive VR on learning gain compared with a non-immersive video capture of VR, with a primary research question focusing on exploring learning gain and a secondary question exploring user experience, whereby understanding this is paramount to recognizing how to achieve a complete and effective learning experience. The study found immersive VR to significantly increase learning gain whilst two key measures of reported experience; enjoyment and concentration, also appeared significantly higher for the immersive VR learners. The study suggests extensive avenues for further research in this growing field, recognizing the need to appeal to a variety of students’ learning preferences. For educators, the relevance of self-directed and student-centered learning to enable active learning in the immersive tool is highlighted. Findings of such VR-based studies can be applied across several disciplines, including medical education; providing opportunity for users to learn without real-world consequences of error such as in surgical intervention