Reinforcement of concrete using Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer

The use of composite materials such as fiber reinforced polymers in strengthening and repairing of structural elements, particularly those made of reinforced concrete, is widely spreading. Among the fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) used for concrete strengthening, GFRP because they are more ductile and cheaper than carbon fibers and can be considered as an alternative solution to repair and strengthen concrete elements. The GFRP enhance significantly the ductility and strength of concrete by forming perfect adhesive bond between the wrapping material and concrete. Present study mainly emphasizes on effectiveness of external GFRP strengthening for concrete beams and columns. Total five circular concrete columns of 320 mm in height and 160 mm in diameter, and 30 concrete rectangular beams with a section of 40 mmx40 mm and 160 mm in length. Two columns were control and the rest three columns were strengthened with three types of GFRP. For beams, fifteen of them was control and the others were strengthened by GFRP with U-shape. All the test specimens were loaded to fail in axial compression and strain for columns, and under three-point bending for beams. The test results clearly demonstrated that compared with the ordinary concrete, the axial load carrying capacity and flexural strength increase for the reinforced concrete no matter the kind of the GFRP used even if it was in different storage condition

Reinforcement of concrete using Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer

The use of composite materials such as fiber reinforced polymers in strengthening and repairing of structural elements, particularly those made of reinforced concrete, is widely spreading. Among the fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) used for concrete strengthening, GFRP because they are more ductile and cheaper than carbon fibers and can be considered as an alternative solution to repair and strengthen concrete elements. The GFRP enhance significantly the ductility and strength of concrete by forming perfect adhesive bond between the wrapping material and concrete. Present study mainly emphasizes on effectiveness of external GFRP strengthening for concrete beams and columns. Total five circular concrete columns of 320 mm in height and 160 mm in diameter, and 30 concrete rectangular beams with a section of 40 mmx40 mm and 160 mm in length. Two columns were control and the rest three columns were strengthened with three types of GFRP. For beams, fifteen of them was control and the others were strengthened by GFRP with U-shape. All the test specimens were loaded to fail in axial compression and strain for columns, and under three-point bending for beams. The test results clearly demonstrated that compared with the ordinary concrete, the axial load carrying capacity and flexural strength increase for the reinforced concrete no matter the kind of the GFRP used even if it was in different storage condition

Clinico-pathological Diagnosis of Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy in a 22-year-old Male

Background: Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) is a rare hereditary disease with a prevalence of 2.03–6.8 per 100,000 individuals. FSHD is the third most common type of muscular dystrophy after the Duchene muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy. To the best of our knowledge, the current case report is the first to report probable FSHD case mainly diagnosed using clinico-pathological evidence from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Case Report: A 22-year-old right-handed male college student presented with progressive proximal muscular weakness associated with wasting. The weakness started from the bilateral facial muscles and progressively involved proximal upper and lower limbs muscles associated with scapular winging, waddling gait, and bilateral foot drops. His bulbar, sensory, autonomic, and cognitive systems were spared. Muscles EMG showed myopathic patterns and normal serum CK. Muscle biopsy from affected muscles showed variation in fiber size with groups of angular fibers, preserved fibers, and hypertrophic fibers with marked fibrosis and adipose tissue replacement with no apparent inflammation and necrosis which is consistent with pathological features of muscular dystrophy. Considering the clinical semiology, physical findings, EMG findings, and pathological findings diagnosis of FSHD of scapuloperoneal variant was made. The patient was managed with analgesics, nutritional advice, and ankle prosthesis for foot drops. Currently, the patient is in a similar condition with modest improvement in his musculoskeletal pain complaints. Conclusion: This case highlights the fact that a careful clinical evaluation with thorough utilization of diagnostic investigations available at our disposal may support the diagnosis of FSHD in resource-limited areas where the necessary genetic tests were not available. Keywords: facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, dystrophy, clinico-pathology, sub-Saharan Afric

The Impact of Creative Accounting Practices on Financial Performance in Industrial Companies listed on Amman Stock Exchange

The study sought to determine the effects of creative accounting practices on financial performance of industrial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE). In order to fulfill the study’s goals, the primary data were collected from the financial statements of 42 industrial companies listed on ASE. Moreover, a multiple regression analysis was used to examine the study’s hypotheses. The study’s results revealed that creative accounting practices, which were income smoothing and earnings management, impacted financial performance that was measured by the return on assets and the return on equity. Therefore, the researchers recommend managers to pay attention to the levels of earnings management and income smoothing practices in evaluating the financial performance of industrial companies

Factors Affecting Domestic Tourism Promotion in Jordan: A Case Study of the Official Media

This paper deals with the impact of the Jordanian media in stimulating domestic tourism. When studied under various aspects, this study is deducted to evaluate the general trend of the official media and its role in increasing the size of domestic tourism in Jordan. The scientific case of this study is about the weakness of the Jordanian domestic tourism compared with the International Tourism. This is in addition to the official media's role regarding this issue. In this study, it had been concluded that the official media provides good results in the promotion of domestic tourism. Nevertheless, there are still many obstacles which continue to get in the way of the efforts which aim to develop and widen the prospects of domestic tourism in Jordan. The study pointed out a number of recommendations. One of the most important recommendations was that all media used for Tourism purposes in Jordan needs to be developed regarding the content, not the design. Also, the content should provide a real message about how an affordable domestic tourism can be appropriate and suitable for the Jordanian family. In addition, in-depth studies on the impact of the new media and its known tools to promote domestic Tourism should be developed

Influence of bonded length of the Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Plates on the behavior of a concrete beam

Sometimes Aged or Damaged Structures need to be reinforced and retrofitted to enhance their performances and structural life, for this reason, the rehabilitation has been the subject of extensive research. The strengthening Reinforced Concrete structures is one of the most difficult and important tasks of civil engineering. Among the ways used to strength the concrete; the reinforcement using Carbon fiber reinforced polymer. This material has proved to be more efficient than other composites because of its high elastics modulus, its durability and this kind of materials are less affected by corrosive environmental conditions. The technique used in this study will be the external bonding of Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) to a concrete beam. In this paper, the focus will be on the influence of bonded length of the CFRP Plates on the global behavior of the beam. The study is developed by the finite element program ABAQUS and will contain 11 specimens with a dimension of 100*200*1000mm and the length of the CFRP will be 100 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm, 400 mm, 500 mm, 600 mm, 700 mm, 800 mm, 900 mm, and a fully reinforced beam. Numerical results are presented and discussed herein

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Antibiotics Prescription Trends at a Central West Bank Hospital

Objectives: We aimed to reliably describe the pattern of outpatient prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics (ATBs) at a central hospital in the West Bank, Palestine.Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study investigating a cohort of 2,208 prescriptions ordered by outpatient clinics and the emergency room over one year in Beit Jala Hospital in Bethlehem, West Bank. The orders were analysed for the rate and types of NSAIDs and ATBs utilised, and the appropriateness of these drugs to the diagnosis. Results: Of the total prescriptions, 410 contained NSAIDs (18.6%), including diclofenac (40.2%), low dose aspirin (23.9%), ibuprofen (17.8%) and indomethacin (15.1%). A minority of these prescriptions contained a combination of these agents (2.5%). Only one prescription contained cyclooxyeganse-2 inhibitors (0.2%). The appropriateness of NSAID use to the diagnosis was as follows: appropriate (58.3%), inappropriate (14.4%) and difficult to tell (27.3%). The rate of ATB use was 30.3% (669 prescriptions). The ATBs prescribed were amoxicillin (23.3%), augmentin (14.3%), quinolones (12.7%), first and second generation cephalosporins (9.4% and 12.7%, respectively) and macrolides (7.2%). ATB combinations were identified in 9.4%, with the most common being second-generation cephalopsorins and metronidazole (4.3%). Regarding the appropriateness of prescribing ATBs according to the diagnosis, it was appropriate in 44.8%, inappropriate in 20.6% and difficult to tell in 34.6% of the prescriptions. Conclusion: These findings revealed a relatively large number and inappropriate utilisation of ATBs and NSAIDs. An interventional programme needs to be adopted to reinforce physicians’ knowledge of the rational prescription of these agents

Unveiling the antitumor potential of novel N-(substituted-phenyl)-8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamides as dual inhibitors of VEGFR2 kinase and cytochrome P450 for targeted treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Being the sixth most diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, liver cancer is considered as a serious disease with a high prevalence and poor prognosis. Current anticancer drugs for liver cancer have drawbacks, such as limited efficacy in later stages of the disease, toxicity to healthy cells, and the potential for drug resistance. There is ample evidence that coumarin-based compounds are potent anticancer agents, with numerous analogues currently being investigated in preclinical and clinical studies. The current study aimed to explore the antitumor potency of a new class of 8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamides against liver cancer. Toward this aim, we have designed, synthesized, and characterized a new set of N-(substituted-phenyl)-8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamide analogues. The assessment of antitumor activity revealed that the synthesized class of compounds possesses substantial cytotoxicity toward Hep-G2 cells when compared to staurosporine, without significant impact on normal cells. Out of the synthesized compounds, compound 7 demonstrated the most potent cytotoxic effect against Hep-G2 cells with an IC50 of 0.75 µM, which was more potent than the drug staurosporine (IC50 = 8.37 µM). The investigation into the mechanism behind the antiproliferative activity of compound 7 revealed that it interferes with DNA replication and induces DNA damage, leading to cell cycle arrest as demonstrated by a significant decrease in the percentage of cells in the G1 and G2/M phases, along with an increase in the percentage of cells in the S phase. Flow cytometric analysis further revealed that compound 7 has the ability to trigger programmed cell death by inducing necrosis and apoptosis in HepG-2 cells. Further explorations into the mechanism of action demonstrated that compound 7 displays a potent dual-inhibitory activity toward cytochrome P450 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) proteins, as compared to sorafenib drug. Further, detailed computational studies revealed that compound 7 displays a considerable binding affinity toward the binding cavity of VEGFR2 and CYP450 proteins. Taken together, our findings indicate that the newly synthesized class of compounds, particularly compound 7, could serve as a promising scaffold for the development of highly effective anticancer agents against liver cancer

Unveiling the interplay between NSAID-induced dysbiosis and autoimmune liver disease in children: insights into the hidden gateway to autism spectrum disorders. Evidence from ex vivo, in vivo, and clinical studies

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) represent a diverse group of neuropsychiatric conditions, and recent evidence has suggested a connection between ASD and microbial dysbiosis. Immune and gastrointestinal dysfunction are associated with dysbiosis, and there are indications that modulating the microbiota could improve ASD-related behaviors. Additionally, recent findings highlighted the significant impact of microbiota on the development of autoimmune liver diseases, and the occurrence of autoimmune liver disease in children with ASD is noteworthy. In the present study, we conducted both an in vivo study and a clinical study to explore the relationship between indomethacin-induced dysbiosis, autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), and the development of ASD. Our results revealed that indomethacin administration induced intestinal dysbiosis and bacterial translocation, confirmed by microbiological analysis showing positive bacterial translocation in blood cultures. Furthermore, indomethacin administration led to disturbed intestinal permeability, evidenced by the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasomes pathway and elevation of downstream biomarkers (TLR4, IL18, caspase 1). The histological analysis supported these findings, showing widened intestinal tight junctions, decreased mucosal thickness, inflammatory cell infiltrates, and collagen deposition. Additionally, the disturbance of intestinal permeability was associated with immune activation in liver tissue and the development of AIH, as indicated by altered liver function, elevated ASMA and ANA in serum, and histological markers of autoimmune hepatitis. These results indicate that NSAID-induced intestinal dysbiosis and AIH are robust triggers for ASD existence. These findings were further confirmed by conducting a clinical study that involved children with ASD, autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), and a history of NSAID intake. Children exposed to NSAIDs in early life and complicated by dysbiosis and AIH exhibited elevated serum levels of NLRP3, IL18, liver enzymes, ASMA, ANA, JAK1, and IL6. Further, the correlation analysis demonstrated a positive relationship between the measured parameters and the severity of ASD. Our findings suggest a potential link between NSAIDs, dysbiosis-induced AIH, and the development of ASD. The identified markers hold promise as indicators for early diagnosis and prognosis of ASD. This research highlights the importance of maintaining healthy gut microbiota and supports the necessity for further investigation into the role of dysbiosis and AIH in the etiology of ASD

Profiling estrogen, progesterone, and androgen receptors in colorectal cancer in relation to gender, menopausal status, clinical stage, and tumour sidedness

BackgroundAlthough estrogen (ERα/ERβ), progesterone (PGR), and androgen (AR) receptors are pathologically altered in colorectal cancer (CRC), their simultaneous expression within the same cohort of patients was not previously measured.MethodsERα/ERβ/PGR/AR proteins were measured in archived paired normal and malignant colon specimens (n =120 patients) by immunohistochemistry, and results were analyzed by gender, age (≤50 vs. ≥60 years), clinical stages (early-stage I/II vs. late-stage III/IV), and anatomical location (right; RSCs vs. left; LSCs). Effects of 17β-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and testosterone alone or combined with the specific blockers of ERα (MPP dihydrochloride), ERβ (PHTPP), PGR (mifepristone), and AR (bicalutamide) on cell cycle and apoptosis were also measured in the SW480 male and HT29 female CRC cell lines. ResultsERα and AR proteins increased, whilst ERβ and PGR declined markedly in malignant specimens. Moreover, male neoplastic tissues showed highest AR expression, whilst ERβ and PGR weakest alongside ERα strongest expression was seen in cancerous tissues from women aged ≥60 years. Late-stage neoplasms also revealed maximal alterations in the expression of sex steroid receptors. By tumor location, LSCs disclosed significant elevations in ERα with marked declines in PGR compared with RSCs, and ERα strongest alongside PGR weakest expression was detected in advanced LSCs from women aged ≥60 years. Late-stage LSCs from females aged ≥60 years also showed weakest ERβ and strongest AR expression. In contrast, male RSC and LSC tissues exhibited equal ERβ and AR expression in all clinical stages. ERα and AR proteins also correlated positively, whereas ERβ and PGR inversely, with tumor characteristics. Concomitantly, E2 and P4 monotherapies triggered cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the SW480 and HT29 cells, and while pre-treatment with ERα-blocker enhanced the effects of E2, ERβ-blocker and PGR-blocker suppressed the E2 and P4 anti-cancer actions, respectively. In contrast, treatment with the AR-blocker induced apoptosis, whilst co-treatment with testosterone hindered the effects. ConclusionsThis study advocates that protein expression of sex steroid receptors in malignant tissues could represent prognostic markers, as well as hormonal therapy could provide an alternative strategy against CRC, and their efficacies could be dependent on gender, clinical stage, and tumor location