Interaction Analysis between Existing Loaded Piles and Braced Excavation Design Parameters

Three-dimensional numerical analyses are conducted using the finite element software PLAXIS 3D to gain insight into the interaction behavior between deep excavation and adjacent piled foundations in fully saturated sand. Effects of excavation width and depth, the distance between strut level and the excavation surface with each excavation stage, strut stiffness, diaphragm wall stiffness, and diaphragm wall depth are examined during the adjacent excavation. In practice, incorrect values of the braced excavation design parameters may result in an uneconomical or even unsafe design. The analyses revealed that increasing the excavation width or depth has a significant influence on the adjacent pile group behavior. Additionally, it is also observed that reducing the distance between the strut level and the excavation surface with each excavation stage, increasing the struts stiffness, increasing diaphragm wall thickness or depth, and reducing the horizontal or vertical span of struts can assist to reduce settlement and tilting of the pile group induced by the adjacent excavation

The role of packaging (materials &treatments) in addition to spices extract on stability of frozen buffalo meat product

Proximate analysis, expressible water(EP), water holding capacity (WHC), pH value, total acidity, free fatty acids (FFA), thiobarbituric acid values (TBA), and microbiological examination were determined in order to evaluate the effect of packaging materials and treatments in addition to spice extracts on the shelf life of buffalo meat product stored for nine months under frozen condition. The samples were treated by spice extracts and packaged in two packaging materials low density polyethylene (LDPE) bags without vacuum, and laminated polyethylene/nylon bags under vacuum. The data showed that all the samples have expressed moisture loss during the 9 months storage period. The moisture loss and the (EP) were higher in the (LDPE) packaged samples, whereas, (WHC) values decreased with time during storage for all samples. The samples indicated an increase in the acidity values and a reduction in the pH values especially for the first four months of storage period. These changes were associated with an increase in the (FFA) values. The control samples showed the lowest pH value compared with the others, and this indicated the effect of natural antioxidants to retard the formation of (FFA). The (TBA) values for the control samples were higher than those packaged under vacuum or treated by spice extracts. Storage time had negative effect on the total bacterial counts and the coliform group for all samples. The rate of reduction was much higher in the vacuum packaged samples and the spice extracts treated samples as well especially those treated by black cumin extracts than the untreated or samples packaged without vacuu

Kom al-Ahmer I (Antica Metelis?). Rapporto preliminare sulle missioni 2008-2012

La missione dell'Università degli Studi di Siena ha continuato la ricerca nel Delta Occidentale del Nilo con una campagna diretta sul campo da M. Kenawi e sotto la direzione scientifica di E. Papi, dedicata ai siti di Kom al-Ahmer I, che chiameremo semplicemente Kom al-Ahmer, e Kom Wasit. In questo articolo sarà discusso solamente il primo dei due siti, che è probabilmente identificabile con la capitale del nomos, l'antica Metelis. A partire dal 2012 l'Università degli Studi di Siena, in collaborazione con il Centro Archeologico Italo-Egiziano, ha iniziato lo scavo a cui hanno preso parte: Valentina Gasperini (co-direttrice e ceramologa), Irene Cestari (responsabile dei laboratori), Ilaria Rossetti (topografa), Giorgia Marchiori (archeologa), Virginia Fileccia (archeologa) e Barbara Rizzo (disegnatrice)

Continuity of production: kilns and fuel in Egypt and the Mediterranean

This book, and the conference upon which it was based, were funded by: the Oxford Roman Economy Project (OxREP), University of Oxford; a private contribution from Jim Ball (former FAO forestry director, and Commonwealth forests director); the British School at Rome; and the Finnish Institute of Rome. The editors would also like to acknowledge the support of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, and the Department of Archaeology (University of Sydney)

Gara: A Forgotten Oasis in Egypt's Western Desert

his book is the first text dedicated to Gara Oasis, one of the smallest oases in Egypt. It presents a general overview of the history, archaeology, and the landscape of the oasis, which has a population today of about 700. Gara Oasis is located 110 km northeast of Siwa Oasis, in the Western Desert and remains an important transit hub connecting the Nile Delta with the western cultures of Egypt and Libya. In the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great probably passed through Gara Oasis on his way to the Amun Temple in Siwa, leaving behind "Camp of Alexander" as one of the local names for Gara

McKissock’s Reduction Mammaplasty Revisited: A Case Series Study with 12-months Follow-up

Background:. Reduction mammaplasty is 1 of the highly challenging yet demanded plastic surgeries worldwide. Different techniques have been described, and their modifications are always evolving to achieve better aesthetic results. The objective of the current study was to explore the efficiency and safety of bipedicled McKissock’s technique with 3 newly added modifications as a reliable procedure for reduction mammaplasty. Methods:. The study was conducted in Royal Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, during the period from January 2015 to October 2016. It included 25 female patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty. All patients were evaluated by detailed history, careful physical examination, and photographed pre- and postoperatively. The new modifications included surgical undermining and thinning of the bipedicle for volume reduction and contour enhancement. The second modification was a dermal suspension of the lower pole for parenchymal support and longer breast shape stability. The third change was an S-shaped folding of the upper pole of the pedicle during nipple-areolar complex (NAC) transposition. After the operation, all subjects were followed up for 12 months to assess the outcomes of the procedure. Results:. Twenty-five female patients were included in the analysis of this study. The age of the patients ranged from 22 to 49 years with a mean age of 36.2 (7.3) years. The mean body mass index was 30.5 ± 4.3 kg/m2 with a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 38. The average time of operation was 4 hours. The resected tissue was 630–980 g. The optimal aesthetic appearance of the breasts was achieved at 6–9 months postoperatively and marinated to 12 months. The maintenance of improvement was measured by the distance between the mid-clavicular point and 12 O’clock point of the NAC (12’NAC). It varied between 28 and 43 cm preoperatively (mean ± SD, 34.12 ± 4.19 cm), and between 19 and 22 cm postoperatively (mean ± SD, 20.70 ± 1.03 cm; P < 0.001). The average percentage reduction in mid-clavicular point-NAC distance was 38.7% ± 6.2% with a minimum reduction of 27.6% and a maximum 48.8%. Moreover, the nipple to inframammary crease distance varied between 16 and 20 cm preoperatively (mean ± SD, 16.08 ± 1.66 cm), and between 8 and 10 cm postoperatively (mean ± SD, 8.04 ± 0.79 cm; P < 0.001). The patients were very satisfied in most of the cases (20 cases), satisfied in 3 cases, and 2 cases were unsatisfied as they wanted slightly smaller breasts. No complications detected in 18 cases (72%), superficial wound dehiscence at the T-junction in 3 (12%), and seroma in 1 (4%). Two cases (8%) demanded smaller breasts and 1 case (4%) needed a surgical revision of widened scars after 11 months. The major drawbacks were NAC sensitivity alteration and the inability to lactate. Conclusion:. We can conclude that our modifications for the McKissock’s technique with its maintained aesthetic shape in those patients are a reliable option that can be considered, as it is a simple, efficient, and satisfactory method that can improve the results of reduction mammaplasty operations