Progress of work for monitoring marine turtles along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast

Since 2016 steps towards the monitoring and conservation of marine turtles along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast were taken, to determine other possible nesting sites. A survey was implemented with the relevant stakeholders to identify possible nesting areas along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast from Port Said to El-Sallum. By the adoption of the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast, activities related to category (ii): management action, category (iii): research, and category (iv): capacity building were implemented. Monitoring and tagging programmes were established; protocols for sampling and genetic analyses were established, in addition to a survey of the relevant stakeholders. Training programmes were conducted at regional and national levels and then the national team was identified

Study on activated carbon/HFO-1234ze(E) based adsorption cooling cycle

10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2011.11.066Applied Thermal Engineering5021570-1575ATEN

A study of isokinetic trunk and knee muscle strength in patients with chronic sciatica

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate trunk and knee muscle strength in patients with chronic sciatica.Patients and methodTwenty-eight patients with right-side chronic sciatica (group 1, G1) and 40 healthy controls (group 2, G2) were evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer (Cybex Norm II). Quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength were evaluated at concentric velocities of 60 and 120°/s and the trunk muscles were evaluated at concentric velocities of 60 and 90°/s.ResultsG1 comprised 15 women and 13 men (mean ± SD age: 34.787±6.06; weight: 65.85±5.33kg; height: 165±6.92cm). G2 comprised 20 women and 20 men (mean ± SD age: 35.92±6.66; weight: 67.07±6.12kg; height: 165.82±7.65cm. There were no significant inter-group differences concerning these parameters. In G1, the peak torque values for the trunk extensors were 123.71±32.45 and 108.85±32.07 Newton metres (Nm) at angular velocities of 60 and 90°/s, respectively. In G2, the values were 192.73±64.24 and 168.65±53.96Nm, respectively. In G1, the peak torque values for the trunk flexors were 134.32±30.77 and 124.39±32.59Nm at angular velocities of 60 and 90°/s, respectively. In G2, they were 177.44±44.1 and 157.81±39.01 Nm, respectively. The difference between G1 and G2 was statistically significant. The peak torque for the right quadriceps in G1 was 100.03±24.45 and 78.71±22.92Nm at angular velocities of 60 and 120°/s, respectively. In G2, these values were 160.5±36.34 and 131.05±33.42Nm. The peak torque for the hamstrings in G1 was 56.42±13.02 and 50±13.55Nm at angular velocities of 60 and 120°/s, respectively. In G2, these values were 97.77±33.32 and 84.72±31.41Nm. Again the difference between G1 and G2 was statistically significant. We also noted a statistically significant difference between G1 and G2 in terms of the peak quadriceps and hamstring torque values on the left side. In G1, the quadriceps and hamstrings were significantly weaker on the sciatica side than on the unaffected side.ConclusionThe present study demonstrated trunk and knee muscle weakness in patients with chronic sciatica, when compared with healthy subjects. This weakness was predominant on the sciatica side. Consequently, the management of these patients should include a knee muscle reinforcement programme

Chronic neck pain and vertigo: Is a true balance disorder present?

AbstractObjectiveWe sought to establish whether chronic neck pain patients suffering from vertigo and instability have true balance disorders.Patients and methodsNinety-two patients having suffered from chronic neck pain for at least 3 months were enrolled in the present study. Patients with a history of neck trauma or ear, nose and throat, ophthalmological or neurological abnormalities were excluded. The patients were evaluated in a clinical examination (neck mobility) and a test of dynamic and static balance on the Satel® platform in which mediolateral (Long X) and anterior-posterior deviations (Long Y) were monitored. Our patients were divided into three groups: a group of 32 patients with neck pain and vertigo (G1), a group of 30 patients with chronic neck pain but no vertigo (G2) and a group of 30 healthy controls.ResultsAll groups were comparable in terms of age, gender, weight and shoe size. Osteoarthritis was found in 75% and 70% of the subjects in G1 and G2, respectively. Neck-related headache was more frequent in G1 than in G2 (65.5% versus 40%, respectively; p=0.043). Restricted neck movement was more frequent in G1 and concerned flexion (p<0.001), extension (p<0.001), rotation (p<0.001), right inclination (p<0.001) and left inclination (p<0.001). Balance abnormalities were found more frequently in G1 than in G2 or G3. Static and dynamic posturographic assessments (under “eyes open” and “eyes shut” conditions) revealed abnormalities in statokinetic parameters (Long X and Long Y) in G1.ConclusionOur study evidenced abnormal static and dynamic balance parameters in chronic neck pain patients with vertigo. These disorders can be explained by impaired cervical proprioception and neck movement limitations. Headache was more frequent in these patients

Connectivity and stock composition of loggerhead turtles foraging on the North African continental shelf (Central Mediterranean): implications for conservation and management

The loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, is a highly migratory species with a complex life cycle that involves a series of ontogenetic habitat shifts and migrations. Understanding the links amongst nesting populations and foraging habitats is essential for the effective management of the species. Here we used mixed stock analysis to examine the natal origin of loggerhead turtles foraging on the North African continental shelf off Tunisia, one of the most important Mediterranean neritic habitats. An 815-bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA control region was sequenced from 107 individuals sampled from 2007 to 2009. No temporal variation in haplotype frequencies was detected. Juveniles (n = 87) and adults (n = 23) exhibited weak but significant genetic differentiation that resulted in different stock compositions. Libya was the main source population but the proportion of turtles from this rookery was higher in adults (median = 80%) than in juveniles (median = 35%). Western Greece was the second most important contributing population. Juvenile stock composition derived from mixed stock analysis and the estimates produced by numerical simulation of hatchling dispersion in the Mediterranean Sea were significantly correlated, supporting the recent theory that loggerheads imprint on possible future neritic habitats during the initial phase of their life. This association was not significant for adults, suggesting that other factors contribute to shaping their distribution. Overall, our results show that human activities on the South Tunisian continental shelf pose an immediate threat to the survival of the Libyan rookery

Performance Investigation of MOF-Ethanol Based Adsorption Cooling Cycle

Adsorption cooling systems employs benign refrigerants and could be driven by solar energy or waste heat. Therefore, they are a feasible alternative to vapor compression cooling systems. This paper investigates the performance of metal-organic framework (MOF) ethanol based adsorption cooling cycle. Adsorption isotherms of ethanol onto MOF of type MIL-101 -Cr have been measured experimentally using a magnetic suspension balance for temperatures ranging from 30 to 70 °C and within pressure up to 20 kPa. Then, the experimental data were fitted using Toth adsorption isotherms equation. The coefficient of performance (COP) and specific cooling effect (SCE) were then calculated for evaporation and cooling temperatures of 10 and 30 °C, respectively. The experimental results show that COP attains 0.70 and SCE increases with the increase of heat source temperature and attains 225 kJ per kg of adsorbent at temperature of 80 °C which makes this pair suitable for solar cooling application