Added value of graded compression ultrasound to the Alvarado score in cases of right iliac fossa pain

IntroductionAcute appendicitis is one of the most common emergencies treated by the general surgeon. Simple appendicitis can progress to perforation, which is associated with a much higher morbidity and mortality, and surgeons have therefore been inclined to operate when the diagnosis is probable rather than wait until it is certain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the Alvarado score combined with ultrasounds of the abdomen and pelvis in cases of right iliac fossa pain with suspected acute appendicitis.Methods100 patients admitted to the Department of Surgery at Alexandria Main University Hospital in 2013 complaining of right iliac fossa pain with suspected acute appendicitis were studied prospectively. The demographic information, histopathology, physical examination, laboratory data, Alvarado score, sonography report and histopathological reports of these patients were gathered. The treating surgeon made decisions for surgery or conservative management without any intervention from the research team.ResultsA combination of methods showed that Alvarado alone was 100% sensitive in excluding appendicitis at scores below five and was highly specific at scores above eight (91.9%) with no added value when combining it with ultrasound in those scores. On the other hand, ultrasound was beneficial only in patients with Alvarado scores between five and eight for detecting appendicitis and not excluding it (increasing specificity to 100% and not affecting sensitivity).ConclusionUltrasound is a good adjuvant examination in cases with Alvarado scores between five and eight in order to diagnose appendicitis. Negative ultrasound results do not exclude appendicitis and further assessment by other modalities should be performed

Enhance productivity and net economic return by intercropping sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) with common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under drip irrigation

Intercropping represents ways of maximizing water use efficiency (WUE) for higher yields per unit of irrigation water applied. The field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Farm of Arab El- Awammer Research, Station, Assiut during the two successive growing summer seasons of 2017 and 2018, to study the effect of different irrigation regimes (120, 100 and 80% ETo) and intercropping systems (sole sunflower, sole common bean and intercropping sunflower and common bean) for enhanced productivity and net economic return under drip irrigation. Irrigation with 120% ETo treatment gave higher yield and its compounds and oil % compared to 100 and 80% ETo treatments for sunflower and common bean. The highest stem, head diameters and 100-seed weight and seed and oil yield produced with sole sunflower as compared with intercropping of sunflower with common bean which had the lowest values in both growing seasons. The highest values of IWUE (0.723 and 0.704 kg/m3) were obtained at intercropping under irrigation with 100% ETo. Values of land equivalent ratio of various intercropping systems were larger than one in the intercropping systems. Sunflower + common bean cropping system produced higher values of net return than sole sunflower and sole common bean. The highest net return (2709 US$/ha) were obtained when irrigated sunflower + common bean intercropping system with 120$/ha) were obtained when irrigated sole sunflower with 80% ETo treatment in the first season. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.376327

On the kinematics of the cross body abduction and hand behind the back tests to assess osteoarthritis of the acromioclavicular joint

Background: Osteoarthritis of the acromioclavicular joint is one of the most common sources of shoulder pain. One of the current standard clinical physical examination tests is the cross body adduction test which has been shown to signal the presence of osteoarthritis. Another test referred to as the hand behind the back test has been described to provide a more accurate diagnosis than the CBA test for some patients. Through this work, both the CBA and the HBB tests were modeled in order to determine if there is merit for the HBB test to be used as a diagnostic tool for clinicians. Methods: Both tests were modeled using the zygote solid 3D 50th percentile male human anatomy model and MSC-ADAMS Software to compile and run the simulations. Within MSC-ADAMS the bones were outfitted with joints. During simulation, the bones were moved from the anatomical position to the final position for each test and the corresponding minimum distances between the bones at the acromioclavicular joint were then determined. Results: It was found that the distance between the acromioclavicular joint articulating surfaces decreased by 0.3 mm from the anatomical position during the CBA test and by 1.65 mm from the anatomical position during the HBB. This shows that the minimum space decreased from the anatomical position by more than 5 folds during the HBB test than during the CBA test. Conclusions: These results indicate that the HBB test may be a better diagnostic test due to the greater stress and irritation it places upon the acromioclavicular joint

Comparison of OpenSim and AnyBody modeling system™ predictions in biomechanical modeling of upper extremities

Background: The study of muscle forces in upper extremities is pivotal for advancements in biomechanical modeling, contributing significantly to the field of orthopedics, rehabilitation, and sports science. Despite the prominence of OpenSim and AnyBody modeling system™ in this domain, a gap persists in comparative analyses specifically targeting muscle force predictions in upper extremity motions. Methods: This study compares the predictions of muscle forces in static elbow flexion, shoulder flexion, and shoulder abduction using OpenSim and AnyBody modeling systemTM, hypothesizing significant differences in predictions attributable to their distinct modeling methodologies and assumptions. This work utilized generic models without subject-specific data and conducted simulations in both software environments, focusing on the magnitude and activation of major muscle forces under predefined kinematics. Results: OpenSim and AnyBody modeling systemTM produced similar results when simulating elbow flexion, with both software predicting forces in the major muscles required to maintain the posture. However, discrepancies were observed between the two software for muscle force predictions during the shoulder flexion and abduction movements. AnyBody modeling systemTM appeared to be more robust as it included all the upper extremity muscles and predicted the major muscles forces required for these movements more accurately compared to OpenSim. Conclusions: The results of this study show significant differences in muscle force predictions between OpenSim and AnyBody modeling systemTM, attributed to the unique modeling approaches, especially in representing muscle-tendon complexes and joint dynamics

Impact of irrigation regimes on productivity and profitability of maize + peanut intercropping system in Upper Egypt

Good management of soil and water use is one of the most important factors in agricultural sustainability, and intercropping systems are an important component of good agricultural practices. Thus, a field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Arab Al-Awamer Research Station, Assiut Governorate, Agriculture Research Center, Egypt, during the summer seasons of 2021 and 2022 to investigate the effect of maize (M) + peanut (P) intercropping system on productivity, water use efficiency, and profitability at varying irrigation regimes. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design using a split-plot arrangement with three replicates. Irrigation regimes (120, 100 and 80% ETc) were assigned to the main plots, while the intercropping systems (100% P + 25% M, 100% P + 33% M and 100% P + 50% M) were allocated to the sub-plots. The results showed that most traits of peanut and maize decreased substantially under the 80% ETc irrigation regime. While the largest values of traits were associated with the 120 % ETc. Averaged across the two seasons, the highest values of net return (1,441 US$/ha) were obtained when 100% peanut plants were intercropped with 25% maize at 120% ETc irrigation regime. Therefore, we recommend intercrop maize (25%) with peanut (100%) irrigated with 120% ETc to achieve higher yields and net return. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1041338

Enhance productivity and net economic return by intercropping sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) with common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under drip irrigation

Intercropping represents ways of maximizing water use efficiency (WUE) for higher yields per unit of irrigation water applied. The field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Farm of Arab El- Awammer Research, Station, Assiut during the two successive growing summer seasons of 2017 and 2018, to study the effect of different irrigation regimes (120, 100 and 80% ETo) and intercropping systems (sole sunflower, sole common bean and intercropping sunflower and common bean) for enhanced productivity and net economic return under drip irrigation. Irrigation with 120% ETo treatment gave higher yield and its compounds and oil % compared to 100 and 80% ETo treatments for sunflower and common bean. The highest stem, head diameters and 100-seed weight and seed and oil yield produced with sole sunflower as compared with intercropping of sunflower with common bean which had the lowest values in both growing seasons. The highest values of IWUE (0.723 and 0.704 kg/m3) were obtained at intercropping under irrigation with 100% ETo. Values of land equivalent ratio of various intercropping systems were larger than one in the intercropping systems. Sunflower + common bean cropping system produced higher values of net return than sole sunflower and sole common bean. The highest net return (2709 US$/ha) were obtained when irrigated sunflower + common bean intercropping system with 120$/ha) were obtained when irrigated sole sunflower with 80% ETo treatment in the first season. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.376327