Turbulent flow in an idealized wing-body junction

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Prediction of Business Failure as a Criterion for Evaluating the Usefulness of Alternative Accounting Measures

This study examines the usefulness of general price level information (GPL) and current cost information (CC) originally provided by SFAS No. 33 as compared to historical cost information (HC) in predicting bankruptcy. The study also examines the usefulness of GPL data versus CC data when each supplements HC data. In addition, this study tests the usefulness of the three types of information systems combined in one model (HC, GPL, and CC) versus HC data in predicting bankruptcy. The study focuses on the predictability of business failure using financial ratios as predictors. A comparison of these predictors is made in order to identify the accounting system that yields a better prediction of bankruptcy. Two multivariate statistical techniques, multiple discriminant analysis (MDA) and logistic regression analysis (LRA), are used to derive the ex—post classification and the ex-ante prediction results. Six functions are developed, based on ratios computed with HC, CC, GPL, the combined HC and GPL, the combined HC and CC, and the combined HC, GPL, and CC. The resulting functions are used to classify 40 firms as failed or nonfailed. The analysis is repeated for three time bases—one, two, and three years before bankruptcy. The main results of the various analyses indicate that the combined HC and CC model has more discriminant power than does the HC, the GPL, or the combined HC and GPL models in each of the three years before bankruptcy. The results also show that there are significant differences in the overall classification rate derived from the combined HC, GPL, and CC model and the HC model, the GPL model, or the combined HC and GPL model . The differences between the combined HC and CC and the combined HC, GPL, and CC models are not significant in each of the three years before bankruptcy. The results also indicate that the differences in the the performance of MDA and LRA are not significant except in the second year before bankruptcy when the combined HC and GPL model is used

Assessment of early outcomes of surgical treatment of comminuted fracture calcaneus through trans calcaneal approach

Background: Treatment options for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures are still up for debate. The gold standard treatment for intra-articular calcaneal fractures is the conventional extensile lateral approach (ELA). Objective: achievement of good reduction with stable support for intra-articular calcaneal fractures by using trans calcaneal approach aiming for better functional outcome. Methods :On the basis of a prospective cohort research, at Zagazig University Hospital Orthopedic Department we recruited 18 patients with comminuted fractures in the calcaneus who had been admitted to the hospital with intra-articular fractures, Extensive lateral approach and T-plate fixation were used to treat this condition 3 and 6 months after surgery, the American Orthopedic Foot And Ankle Society's functional assessment was performed. Results: All patients eventually achieved full union by the end of follow-up. Only one patient had delayed union. Most of patients (55.56%) had good outcome according to AOFAS score. 11.11% had excellent outcome. While about one third of patients had unsatisfactory outcome, either fair (27.77%) or poor (5.56) AOFAS score. In regard to complications, most of the studied group (61.11%) didn’t have any complications, three patients had surgical site infection, and 11.11% of patients had sural neuritis. Conclusion: The trans-calcaneal method of reduction through ELA is an excellent method for treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures, as it provides good exposure and facilitates anatomical reduction of fracture

Energy management control strategy for renewable energy system based on spotted hyena optimizer

Hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and other pollutants from the transportation sector harm human health in many ways. Fuel cell (FC) has been evolving rapidly over the past two decades due to its efficient mechanism to transform the chemical energy in hydrogen-rich compounds into electrical energy. The main drawback of the standalone FC is its slow dynamic response and its inability to supply rapid variations in the load demand. Therefore, adding energy storage systems is necessary. However, to manage and distribute the power-sharing among the hybrid proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell (FC), battery storage (BS), and supercapacitor (SC), an energy management strategy (EMS) is essential. In this research work, an optimal EMS based on a spotted hyena optimizer (SHO) for hybrid PEM fuel cell/BS/SC is proposed. The main goal of an EMS is to improve the performance of hybrid FC/BS/SC and to reduce the amount of hydrogen consumption. To prove the superiority of the SHO method, the obtained results are compared with the chimp optimizer (CO), the artificial ecosystem-based optimizer (AEO), the seagull optimization algorithm (SOA), the sooty tern optimization algorithm (STOA), and the coyote optimization algorithm (COA). Two main metrics are used as a benchmark for the comparison: the minimum consumed hydrogen and the efficiency of the system. The main findings confirm that the minimum amount of hydrogen consumption and maximum efficiency are achieved by the proposed SHO based EMS

Group B streptococcal carriage, antimicrobial susceptibility, and virulence related genes among pregnant women in Alexandria, Egypt

Background and aim: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) has emerged as a leading cause of illness and death among neonates. The study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of recto-vaginal carriage of GBS among pregnant women at 35–37 weeks, gestation, to describe GBS antimicrobial susceptibility profile and to investigate selected virulence genes by PCR.Subjects and methods: Two-hundred pregnant women at 35–37 weeks of gestation attending antenatal clinic at Al-Shatby University Hospital were enrolled in the study. Both vaginal and rectal swabs were collected from each subject. Swabs were inoculated onto CHROMagarTM StrepB and sheep blood agar plates. All GBS isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using disc diffusion. Disc approximation test was performed to detect erythromycin resistance phenotype (MLSB). GBS virulence genes scpB, bac, bca, and rib were identified by PCR.Results: Among the 200 pregnant women, 53 (26.5%) were identified as GBS carriers. All carriers had vaginal colonization (100%), four (7.5%) had combined recto-vaginal colonization. None of the carriers had rectal colonization alone. All isolates (100%) were susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefepime, vancomycin, and linezolid. On the other hand, 43.4%, 28.3%, 22.6%, and 15% of isolates were resistant to levofloxacin, azithromycin, erythromycin, and clindamycin respectively. Out of 12 erythromycin resistant isolates, six isolates had constitutive while two had inducible MLSB resistance. scpB was identified in 100%, rib in 79.2%, and bac in 35.8% of GBS isolates. None of the isolates possessed the bca gene.Conclusion: Introduction of GBS screening in Egyptian pregnant women is recommended. Penicillin or ampicillin is still the antibiotic of choice for intrapartum prophylaxis.Keywords:  Group B streptococci, Rib gene, Penicillin susceptibility, Vaginal carriag

Subsurface stratigraphy and micropaleontology of the Neogene rocks, Nile Delta, Egypt

Three wells (Naf-2, Naf-3 and Naf-101), were described and sampled in order to increase understanding of the stratigraphy and micropaleontology of the North Abu Qir Field, Nile Delta, Egypt. Lithostratigraphic studies aided recognition of the following Miocene-Pliocene rock formations (from base to top); Qantara Formation, Sidi Salim Formation, Qawasim Formation, Rosetta Formation, Abu Madi Formation, Kafr El Sheikh Formation, Baltim Formation, Mit Ghamr Formation, and Bilqas Formation. Biostratigraphic studies were based on the distribution of foraminifera through the Miocene-Pliocene succession. The environmental conditions of the Neogene rocks of the studied wells are interpreted using the results of palaeoecological parameters (e.g. the total number of foraminifera (T.N.F) and planktonic/benthonic ratio (P/B)

Heart Rate Variability as A Predictor of Hypotension Following Spinal Anesthesia for Elective Caesarian Section in Preeclamptic Parturients: A Descriptive Observational Study

AIM: In this study we aimed to find out the heart rate variability measuring using electrical cardiometry is not reliable as a predictor for hypotension following spinal anesthesia in preeclamptic parturients undergoing elective cesarean section. METHODS: Electrical Cardiometry system was used to measure Heart rate variability (HRV) at five different time points before fluid loading (T0, baseline), after fluid loading (T1), 5 min after spinal anaesthesia (T2), 15 min after spinal anaesthesia (T3) and 30 min after spinal anaesthesia (T4). Traditional HRV measurement was determined using time-domain analysis. This Observational descriptive cohort study was conducted in Kasr Al-Ainy Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University from February 2018 till June 2019, after approval of the Ethical Committee and written patients consent. RESULTS: The main finding of the current study is that heart rate variability measuring using electrical cardiometry is not reliable as a predictor for hypotension following spinal anaesthesia in preeclamptic parturients undergoing elective cesarean section. CONCLUSION: Heart rate variability cannot be used as a predictor for hypotension following spinal anaesthesia in preeclamptic patients undergoing elective caesarean section using electrical cardiometry

Socio-cultural determinants and impact of HIV infection in the Sudan

Background: Sudan, among the Subsaharan African countries has a low prevalence of HIV infection particularly in the North of the predominantly Muslim population. The peace agreement (2005) which stopped the civil war in the South opened the boarders with the HIV-high prevalence countries of Central and West Africa. This is expected to increase the transmission of HIV in the whole of Sudan. Methods and results: The present study interviewed 635 HIV positive individuals reporting for testing in three voluntary counseling and treatment (VCT) centres in Khartoum. Socio-cultural determinants of the infection showed that the young adults less than 50 years constitute 66.1% of all infected, with 60% males, 40% females and majority 64.9% are either illiterate or had minimum level of education. 61% of them were Muslims and 39% were Christians or non believers, 50.1% were married. The quality of life changed in 89% of individuals.Conclusion: It is concluded that the infection with HIV in Sudan may increase and health education messages need to be tailored according to the sociocultural determinants of the infection in a multicultural, multi-religious country like the Sudan. Muslims will not be protected against HIV infection unless they adhere to the code of Islam.Keywords: human immuno-deficiency virus, Muslims, Subsahara

Job stress and burnout syndrome among critical care healthcare workers

Background: Among healthcare professions, critical care healthcare workers (HCWs) have one of the most stressful jobs. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between job stress and burnout syndrome (BOS) among nurses and healthcare technicians at the surgical emergency department and intensive care unit of Critical Care department at the Alexandria University Hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional approach was conducted from October 2014 to March 2015. Eighty-two nurses and healthcare technicians participated in the research (response rate = 80.39%). Data was collected by an interview questionnaire using selected subscales of NIOSH Generic job stress Questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory of Health and human service Questionnaire. The relationship between BOS and job stress was examined using bivariate and multivariate analyses.Results: Although majority of participants reported variation of workload (84.15%), quantitative overload (76.8%), responsibility for peoples’ life (69.5%) and lack of perceived control (63.41%), yet, 85.4% were satisfied with their job. Moreover, high levels of emotional exhaustion was reported by the majority of participants (80%), while less than one third reported either high levels of depersonalization or low levels of personal accomplishment domains of BOS. In multiple regression analysis, skill underutilization, variation in workload, and intragroup conflicts were negatively associated with BOS domains. While, job satisfaction and responsibility for peoples’ life were positively associated with personal accomplishment domain of BOS.Conclusion: Critical care HCWs had high BOS. The study concluded that reducing intragroup conflict, improving skills utilization, and raising job satisfaction are crucial to reduce BOS among critical care HCWs. More attention and psychological support is recommended to critical care HCWs.Keywords: Burnout syndrome, Critical care, Healthcare workers, Job stress, Nurse

Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy Versus Bioptron on Psoriasis

Purpose: The current study was carried-out to examine the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy versus bioptron on psoriasis. Subjects and Methods: 60 patients of both sexes with psoriasis contributed in this study and they were aged from 30 to 60 years. They were randomized into two groups of the same number (A and B). Group (A) were given low level laser therapy (LLLT) and medical care, while group (B) were given bioptron light therapy (BLT) and the same medical care that received in group (A). The variables included Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and Dermoscopic finding were measured pre and post intervention program on psoriatic patients in both groups. Both groups were given treatment program 3 sessions a week for 8 weeks. Results: following 8 consecutive weeks, both groups showed statistically significant improvement in all outcome measures, however there was a significant difference between them post treatment, favoring group (A). Conclusion: Low level laser therapy and bioptron were beneficial treatment modalities in psoriatic patients and LLLT may be more effective in treating psoriasis