ICAR: endoscopic skull‐base surgery

n/

Value of Adding Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis to Anthropometric Indices in the Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome in 10–16 Years Old Schoolgirls

The use of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in clinical settings is common. However, the value of BIA-based parameters in diagnosing metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children is under-investigated. Herein, we aimed to study the usefulness of BIA-indices in the diagnoses of MetS in 6–10-year-old girls. Therefore, a diagnostic accuracy case-control study was conducted, which included 75 girls aged 10–16 years, divided into three age-matched groups (normal, None-MetS, and MetS). Anthropometric indices, BIA parameters (including fat-free mass (FFM), body fat percent (BFP), and total body water (TBW)), blood pressure (BP), and blood samples were collected. Our main findings show that for girls in None-MetS and MetS groups, the waist circumference (WC) correlated positively with waist-hip ratio and mid-arm circumference (r = 0.58, 0.47, respectively), but not with BFP based on skinfold thickness (SFT), or mid-arm muscle area. WC was positively correlated with FFM and TBW, while high-density lipoprotein was inversely correlated with FFM. However, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides and BP showed no association with anthropometric measurements and BIA components. WC was the best indicator of MetS (AUC = 0.88, cut-off = 81.5 cm), followed by BMI (AUC = 0.84, cut-off = 26.9 kg/m2), while BFP based on SFT was the least sensitive (62.5%). In conclusion, apart from the FM index, anthropometric parameters such as WC are more valuable in diagnosing MetS in young adolescent girls

Groundwater aquifer assessment using hydrogeophysical investigations: the case of western Al Ain Sokhna area, Gulf of Suez, Eastern Desert, Egypt

This study aims to assess the groundwater aquifer and defined the quality of water in the Gulf of Suez region. Hydrochemical and electrical resistivity techniques have been used for evaluating an aquifer, including its extension and quality, in the western Al Ain Sokhna area, Gulf of Suez. This study collected 16 groundwater samples from wells tapping the upper Miocene aquifer. Laboratory tests, including the estimation of electrical conductivity (E.C.), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS) and major ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, CO32–, HCO33–, SO42– and Cl–, were conducted. Most water samples belonged to the category of permissible water (TDS 500–1500 ppm) which represented 62.5% and brackish water which represented 37.5%. A total of 47 vertical electrical sounding stations were measured using the Schlumberger array of AB/2 up to 1500 m to detect the subsurface geologic section and delineate water-bearing layers. The results of geoelectrical interpretation illustrated that the subsurface section has five geoelectrical layers. The third layer represents the freshwater aquifer, and the fourth layer represents the brackish water aquifer. The upper Miocene aquifer represents the first aquifer with fresh groundwater of resistivities ranging from 14.7 to 100 Ω.m and thickness ranging between 28.4 and 86 m

Effects of Initial Temperature, Initial Pressure, and External Heat Flux on the Thermal Behavior of Ethanol/Biodiesel as Biomass Structures

The emergence of significant environmental problems, the depletion of fossil fuel reserves, and the anticipation of price hikes have driven researchers to explore and adopt renewable fuels derived from biological sources. Such renewable energy sources include biomass, biodiesel (BD), ethanol, bioethanol (BE), among others. Biomass is a form of energy that can be obtained from waste or the cultivation of specific plants. Notably, BD fuel can be produced from organic sources, such as animal fats or waste oil from restaurants, which is a considerable advantage of BD. Moreover, BE is a non-toxic, safe, and biodegradable fuel, and ethanol produced biologically is referred to as BE, which represents a renewable fuel with a non-fossil origin. Against this backdrop, the upcoming research employs two types of alcoholic fuel, ethanol and BD, as biomass structures. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, the study evaluated the effects of temperature (Temp), pressure (Press), and external heat flux (EHF) on thermal parameters, such as HF and thermal conductivity (TC). The evaluation results indicated that an increase in the initial temperature from 1800 to 2000 K led to higher mobility of the samples, resulting in an increase in the values of HF and TC from 488 to 551 W/m2 and 0.26–0.32 W/m.K, respectively. Similarly, raising the initial Press from 1 to 5 bar increased the number of oscillations and mobility of the structures, leading to increased HF and TC values from 488 to 551 W/m2 and 0.26–0.32 W/m.K, respectively. Notably, the EHF changes exhibited similar behavior. Additionally, a significant outcome was observed when the EHF rose from 1 to 5 W/m2. This increase in EHF led to a corresponding rise in the number of reactions occurring in the studied structure. As a result, the released heat intensified, leading to increased HF and TC values. Specifically, HF values rose from 503 to 538 W/m2, and TC increases from 0.28 to 0.31 W/m.K

Effect of Nano-Fertilizers on Alfalfa Plants Grown under Different Salt Stresses in Hydroponic System

In light of climate change and the ever-increasing population, salt stress has become a critical issue for agriculture and food security. The use of nano-fertilizers in agriculture is a promising application for salt stress management. Therefore, we investigated a hydroponic experiment to evaluate the effect of different nano-fertilizers: macro-nutrient (K2SO4) and micro-nutrient (ZnO and SiO2) on two alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes: (Susceptible: Bulldog 505, and tolerant: Mesa-Sirsa) grown with different salt concentrations (6 and10 dS m−1) in split-split design. The results demonstrated that nano-K2SO4 enhanced shoot dry weight, plant height, number of flowers, number of tillers, root length, root fresh weight, and root dry weight under both salt levels. Addition of nano-K2SO4 enhanced plant relative water contents and electrolyte leakage with both genotypes under different salt levels. Nano-SiO2 promoted proline and SOD production with high salinity with values of (0.78 and 1.06 µmol g−1 FW) and 191.15 and 143.46 U. g−1 FW under Bulldog and Mesa-Sirsa, respectively. The application of nano-ZnO promoted plant micro-elements under 6 dS m−1 with both genotypes. The incorporation of nano-fertilizers into hydroponic systems provides a promising strategy, especially in regions with low water quality