Renal artery morphology and anatomical variations among Sudanese subjects

The objectives of this study were to determine the level of origin of the renal artery on both sides of the body, to describe its course and branching pattern on both sides, and to detect the Supernumerary renal arteries (SRA) and their course. Both cadaveric and radiological descriptive studies were conducted from July 2015 to July 2016.The morphology and variations of the renal arteries were documented in 50 formalin fixed cadavers that were dissected in different faculties of medicine in Khartoum state. This was followed by assessment of 150 computerized tomography angiographies of the renal transplant donors who presented to three major transplant centers in Khartoum in the period between 2012 and 2015.The most common vertebral level of origin off the aorta was between the first and second lumbar segments. A supernumerary renal artery was detected in 25.5% and it was the most common anatomical variation. This was followed by early prehilar bifurcation in 6.5%. Supernumerary renal arteries were commonly hilar and lower polar, and they were more frequent in males. Bilateral supernumerary arteries were found in 4% of cases. The most common anatomical variation of the renal artery was supernumerary renal artery.Keywords: Renal artery, supernumerary, anatomical variation

Quality of life among asthmatic children in Zagazig University Hospitals

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation. The Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) is one of the most widely used instruments for measuring health-related QOL in children with asthma.Objective: to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with bronchial asthma to identify the most important determinants adversely affecting their QOL.Patients and methods: This study was conducted on 72 asthmatic children over six months period. They were recruited from The Outpatient Clinic of Pediatrics Pulmonology Unit, Zagazig University Hospitals. All study patients were subjected to complete history taking, clinical examination, determination of level of asthma symptom control and filling PAQLQ.Results: About 58% of patients had partially controlled asthma and one quarter of them had well controlled asthma (Symptoms domain was the most affected domain ranged from 3 to 5.2 with mean 4.056). There was statistically significant relation between sex and physical, emotional and overall score of PQLQ. There was statistically significant relation between residence & social class and QOL scores. There was statistically significant relation between BMI and QOL scoresConclusion: Asthma significantly adversely affects the QOL of the affected children. Control of the main determinants of QOL scores might improve the QOL of these patients

Energy Efficient Buildings in Smart Cities: Biomimicry Approach

Smart cities are those using technologies to make life easier for their citizens and enhancing the quality of life and urban service in order to reduce consumption, especially of energy. Biomimicry is one of the tools of the 21st century toachieve an emotional smart city that has its own spirit and identity. Biomimicryhas three main levels: organism, behaviour and ecosystem level, in terms of form generation, material selection,construction process, and function establishing.A subcategory of biomimicry is building skin which forms the entire exterior envelope of the building. It is the boundary through which buildings interact with the environment and the whole city. The aim of this paper isto discussbiomimicry as a tool to reduce energy consumption in cities through buildingskins. It also discusses concepts of smart cities. It provides an overviewof biomimicry as a tool of achieving a perfect biomimetic skin of buildings in smart cities. In addition it analysescase studies of energy conservationusing concepts of biomimicry. Finally it would conclude guidelines for biomimicry design of building skinsas a tool for reducing energy consumption in smart citie

Pramipexole protective effect on rotenone induced neurotoxicity in mice

Introduction: 
Pramipexole is a new dopaminergic drug which has been approved for PD treatment. However, we tried to find a new capacity for this drug rather than symptomatic effect. 

Materials and Methods: 
A chronic rotenone model with daily oral dose of 30mg/kg was induced in mice. Pramipexole was tried in a new approach where the treatment began in the middle of rotenone course with oral dose 1mg/kg/day of pramipexole. 

Results: 
Further analysis of behavioral tests and immunohistochemistry revealed success of pramipexole in improving the rotenone intoxicated mice. 

Conclusion: 
These results showed possible beneficial effects of pramipexole against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity

Oscillating Magnetohydrodynamic Stability Self-gravitating Fluid Cylinder Pervaded By General Varying Magnetic Field

The dispersion relation of magnetohydrodynamic stability of an oscillation self-gravitating flowing fluid cylindrical enclosed by varying magnetic field is studied. The problem is specified, investigated analytically and the data verified mathematically, the fundamental equations are resolved, non-singular solutions are found using the proper boundary circumstances, also, derived the total second order integro-differential equation of Mathieu equation type. Just the small axisymmetric region is destabilized by the capillary force but is stabilized by the otherwise perturbation modes. The constant magnetic field that permeates the fluid is strongly stabilized regardless of the perturbation type, while the varied magnetic field bound the fluid is completely destabilized in axisymmetric mode(m=0), but it is either so or not in the non-axisymmetric ( ≥ 1) perturbation per the constraint. Moreover, the fluids oscillating flow has a potent inclination to stabilize. Once the capillary forces destabilising effect on the model is diminished and subdued, stability develops

Magnetohydrodynamic Stability of Self-gravitating Streaming Fluid Cylinder

The stability self- gravitating magneto-hydrodynamic of the cylinder flowing fluid was examined. Relation of eigenvalue is derivative. Analytical, the findings were explained, and numerically, they were confirmed. The magnetic and capillary are very strong stabilise, while the streaming is destabilise. The (un)-stable domains are specified. Checked the capillary effect and magnetic fields have an effect just on models self-gravitating instabilities

Modulation of L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis by meloxicam and/or L-carnitine in rats

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease, where oxidative stress, subsequently inflammatory mediators activation play a pivotal role. Currently, no definite treatment exists and therapy is mainly supportive that directed to inhibit local pancreatic injury and systemic inflammatory complications. This study is presented to explore whether anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant drug could ameliorate L-arginine-induced AP.Methods: Rats were sub-grouped randomly into five groups. Control group, AP was provoked by a single intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine (250 mg/100g), rat treated with meloxicam (4 mg/kg, IP), animals treated with L-carnitine (500 mg/kg, IP), and rats were treated with both meloxicam and L-carnitine. All treatments were once daily for 7 consecutive days and started 1 hr later after L-arginine administration. Serum and tissues samples were prepared for biochemical analysis. Histopathological examination for the other pancreatic tissues was done.Results: L-arginine significantly elevated serum activity of amylase and lipase enzymes, while notably reduced serum calcium level. Moreover, L-arginine markedly increased the pancreatic tissues content of tumor necrosis factor-α, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide. In addition, L-arginine significantly increased pancreatic activity of myeloperoxidase, while markedly depleted glutathione level. Treatment with either meloxicam or L-carnitine significantly attenuated L-arginine-induced biochemical changes. On the other hand, co-administration of both meloxicam and carnitine has an ameliorative effect greater than each drug alone.Conclusion: Treatment with both meloxicam and L-carnitine is a more effective than each of them alone which is attributed to augmentation their antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory effects

Aktiviti penilaian dalam makmal menggunakan peta konsep dalam menjana kemahiran berfikir aras tinggi: suatu kerangka teori

Perubahan dunia yang pesat telah menuntut kepada transformasi pendidikan, bukan sahaja dari aspek kurikulum dan pedagogi, malah komponen pentaksiran dan penilaian juga perlu dititikberatkan. Matlamat pendidikan abad ke21 adalah untuk menghasilkan pelajar yang mempunyai kefahaman mendalam terhadap sesuatu ilmu pengetahuan serta mempunyai kemahiran berfikir aras tinggi yang diharap dapat melahirkan tenaga kerja yang cemerlang. Aktiviti makmal penting dalam mempelajari ilmu Kimia yang terdiri daripada pelbagai konsep abstrak. Melalui aktiviti ini, pelajar seharusnya lebih memahami dan menguasai sesuatu topik pembelajaran seterusnya membantu kepada rangsangan kemahiran berfikir aras tinggi. Bagi mengukur hasil pembelajaran aktiviti tersebut, aktiviti penilaian merupakan aspek penting yang perlu ditekankan. Peta konsep merupakan salah satu alat penilaian pembelajaran yang dikatakan dapat membantu pelajar menvisualkan konsepkonsep yang telah difahami serta menjadi platform kepada rangsangan KBAT. Maka, suatu kerangka teori diperlukan untuk mendasari kajian ini. Pada asasnya, teori konstruktivisme merupakan tunjang kepada aktiviti penilaian dalam makmal yang diharapkan dapat meningkatkan kefahaman konseptual yang mendalam dan diperlukan dalam menjana kepada peningkatan kemahiran berfikir aras tinggi pelajar

Concept map as an alternative assessment in laboratory activities

The rapid development of the world's technological advances, economy competition, scientific innovation generally have claim to the transformation of the educational system as a whole (Koh, Tan, Ng, 2012). The transformation done in science, math, technology and engineering in the 21st century is emphasized to the formation of students who can demonstrate higher thinking skills with confidence, such as critical thinking and creative, innovative thinking and problem solving (Evren, Bati & Yilmaz, 2012). This is of concern not only to provide a workforce that is ready to compete at the global level, but more importantly for the development of self as individuals more successful (Ministry of education, 2012)

A Systematic Design of a Compact Wideband Hybrid Directional Coupler Based on Printed RGW Technology

Printed ridge gap waveguide (PRGW) is considered among the state of art guiding technologies due to its low signal distortion and low loss at Millimeter Wave (mmWave) spectrum, which motivates the research community to use this guiding structure as a host technology for various passive microwave and mmWave components. One of the most important passive components used in antenna beam-switching networks is the quadrature hybrid directional coupler providing signal power division with 90° phase shift. A featured design of a broadband and compact PRGW hybrid coupler is propose in this paper. A novel design methodology, based on mode analysis, is introduced to design the objective coupler. The proposed design is suitable for mmWave applications with small electrical dimensions ( 1.2λo×1.2λo ), low loss, and wide bandwidth. The proposed hybrid coupler is fabricated on Roger/RT 6002 substrate material of thickness 0.762 mm. The measured results highlight that the coupler can provide a good return loss with a bandwidth of 26.5% at 30 GHz and isolation beyond 15 dB. The measured phase difference between the coupler output ports is equal 90∘± 5∘ through the interested operating bandwidth. A clear agreement between the simulated and the measured results over the assigned operating bandwidth has been illustrated