Effect of Addition of ADHE and CABP Surfactants on the Physiochemical and Mechanical Properties of Cement Pastes

The lightweight aerated concrete, mortar and paste is recently acceptable for the use in civil construction purposes as a result of their peculiar features such as heat-insulating, sound absorption, low self-weight and self-compacting features, hence their high workability, this features depend on their content of air. However, their major demerits are its difficulty of high strength development when compared with normal ones. This paper studies the parameters leads to produce a sustainable aerated paste by choosing a suitable air-entraining agent that entrain wide range of air with minimum lose in strength. To reach this goal a comparative study is carried out between the effect of adding different percentages of each of the cationic surfactant alkyl dimethyl hydroxyl ethyl ammonium chloride (ADHE) and the amphoteric surfactant cocamido propyl betaine (CAPB) to some Portland cement pastes. The influence of the different surfactant concentrations and the mixing times on the air content of the pastes and accordingly the bulk density, compressive strength and microstructure of the hardened cement specimens is discussed. The results demonstrate the preference of using CAPB over ADHE because its ability to give a wide range of air dosage and its ability to improve the compressive strengt

Diagnostic efficacy of monoclonal antibody based sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of Fasciola gigantica excretory/secretory antigens in both serum and stool

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This research was carried out to develop a reliable monoclonal antibody (MoAb)-based sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis of active <it>Fasciola gigantica </it>infection in both serum and stool for comparative purposes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From a panel of MoAbs raised against <it>F. gigantica </it>excretory/secretory antigens (ES Ags), a pair (12B/11D/3F and 10A/9D/10G) was chosen due to its high reactivity and strict specificity to <it>F. gigantica </it>antigen by indirect ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The two MoAbs were of the IgG₁and IgG_2asubclasses, respectively. Using SDS-PAGE and EITB, the selected MoAbs recognized 83, 64, 45 and 26 kDa bands of ES Ags. The lower detection limit of ELISA assay was 3 ng/ml. In stool, the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic efficacy of ELISA was 96%, 98.2 and 97.1%; while in serum they were 94%, 94.6% and 94.3%, respectively. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between ova count in stool of <it>F. gigantica </it>infected patients and the OD readings of ELISA in both stool and serum samples (<it>r </it>= 0.730, p < 0.01 and r = 0.608; p < 0.01, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data showed that the use of MoAb-based sandwich ELISA for the detection of <it>F. gigantica </it>coproantigens in stool specimens was superior to serum samples; it provides a highly efficient, non-invasive technique for the diagnosis of active <it>F. gigantica </it>infection.</p

AI-Driven Learning: Advances and Challenges in Intelligent Tutoring Systems

Abstract: The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into educational technology has dramatically transformed learning through Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS). These systems utilize AI to offer personalized, adaptive instruction tailored to each student's needs, thereby improving learning outcomes and engagement. This paper examines the development and impact of ITS, focusing on AI technologies such as machine learning, natural language processing, and adaptive algorithms that drive their functionality. Through various case studies and applications, it illustrates how ITS have revolutionized traditional educational methods and addresses the challenges and limitations, including data privacy and system biases. The discussion also covers future directions in ITS development, highlighting emerging trends and potential advancements. The goal is to provide a thorough understanding of how ITS use AI to enhance educational experiences and suggest avenues for future research in this evolving field