The FAST-AIMS Clinical Mass Spectrometry Analysis System

Within clinical proteomics, mass spectrometry analysis of biological samples is emerging as an important high-throughput technology, capable of producing powerful diagnostic and prognostic models and identifying important disease biomarkers. As interest in this area grows, and the number of such proteomics datasets continues to increase, the need has developed for efficient, comprehensive, reproducible methods of mass spectrometry data analysis by both experts and nonexperts. We have designed and implemented a stand-alone software system, FAST-AIMS, which seeks to meet this need through automation of data preprocessing, feature selection, classification model generation, and performance estimation. FAST-AIMS is an efficient and user-friendly stand-alone software for predictive analysis of mass spectrometry data. The present resource review paper will describe the features and use of the FAST-AIMS system. The system is freely available for download for noncommercial use

[in]formal Pattern Language - A guide to Handmade Improvitecture© in Cairo

The thesis is situated in Cairo, a city with 64% of the population living in informal settlements. Cairo‘s informality transcends, however, the boundaries of these areas and manifests itself daily in spatial and temporal appropriations: street vendors invading Downtown Cairo and formal urban pockets, construction of barricades, security systems and high-way developments by community members taking charge; improvising their way through the battle for resources and social justice, and claiming their “right to the city.“ In contrast to many misconceptions, informal settlements in Cairo don‘t depict the typical characteristics of slums and respond to the needs of the lower-middle class. The uncontrolled expansion of informal settlements on scarce agricultural land in Egypt constitutes a nation-wide environmental and self-sufficiency problem. Moreover, it triggers the following issues: lack of open green space, insufficient infrastructure, accessibility and garbage accumulation. Forced eviction and relocation of informal communities, undertaken by the government, result in their further marginalization, loss of vitality and lack of communal responsibility. Participatory programs sometimes have the pitfalls of offering short-term solutions because the main roles are still played by experts. In this context, where the informal has become mainstream, the thesis raises the following questions: How can the [in]formal be redefined? What is the role of the architect in self-organized communities? What are the tools to optimize current and future informal growth, while empowering communities and celebrating their improvisation? The thesis introduces the term Improvitecture© (improvisation + improvement + architecture) as a catalyst for development and the architecture from, and for, informality. Improvitecture redefines traditional borders between architect and community member, planned and improvised, and, finally, formal and informal. Inspired by Christopher Alexander’s A Pattern Language, and through the case study of Ard El Lewa, the thesis proposes a process and an [in]formal Pattern Language manual, which serves as a guide for community members, designers, planners and officials to improve [in]formal areas and embed productive green spaces, sustainability, communal responsibility and ownership in the resident‘s daily life. Within the framework of an open-source website, collaborative sessions, a workshop with children and an exhibition on site, community members, architecture students and experts collaboratively broke down the complex physical reality of [in]formal settlements and their urban narratives into patterns. Patterns were then analyzed and combined with a set of tools and in-situ design solutions, which optimize them and allow for a more sustainable built environment. To further document and compile patterns for the manual, the wider community is encouraged to take part in this on-going open process by completing a pattern template and/or posting geo-tagged images of patterns to the website, which will then appear on an interactive map and catalogue that communicate the identify of [in]formal areas. For further details on the [in]formal Pattern Language initiative, visit www.informalpatternlanguage.co

Detection of Five Novel Mutations in K-ras Gene for Iraqi Patients with Bladder Cancer

The present study was carried out in Genetic Engineering and biotechnology Institut

A Modified Cooling System for Stand Alone PV Greenhouse in Remote Areas

Abstract. Agricultural efforts are normally carried out in remote areas where electricity from national electric grid may not exist or grid connection is very expensive. Greenhouses industry is one of the most important agricultural practices in remote areas. Greenhouses help in extending the gardening activities and allows us to cultivate certain plants all over the year; by controlling air temperature and relative humidity inside greenhouse. In greenhouses, cooling and pumping equipments dominate the demand for electricity. Therefore, a stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) system is necessary to feed that demand. Medicinal herbs, for example are the most suitable plants to be cultivated in the greenhouses. They often need a temperature range of 15 -21 oC and about 70% relative humidity to grow. As the climate in Egypt is not suitable all over the year to cultivate these medicinal herbs, it is preferable and necessary to use PV-based control greenhouse to cultivate these medicinal herbs in Egyptian remote areas. This paper presents a proposed greenhouse cooling system, which uses a stand-alone PV system to feed the electrical loads of the greenhouse. At the same time, it introduces the complete sizing procedure of the greenhouse stand-alone PV system

Improved control strategy of DFIG-based wind turbines using direct torque and direct power control techniques

This paper presents different control strategies for a variable-speed wind energy conversion system (WECS), based on a doubly fed induction generator. Direct Torque Control (DTC) with Space-Vector Modulation is used on the rotor side converter. This control method is known to reduce the fluctuations of the torque and flux at low speeds in contrast to the classical DTC, where the frequency of switching is uncontrollable. The reference for torque is obtained from the maximum power point tracking technique of the wind turbine. For the grid-side converter, a fuzzy direct power control is proposed for the control of the instantaneous active and reactive power. Simulation results of the WECS are presented to compare the performance of the proposed and classical control approaches.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Correlación clínico patológica de los fallecidos en el postoperatorio de revascularización miocárdica, período 2006 al 2009 del Hospital

Introducción: en Cuba, al igual que en el resto del mundo, las enfermedades isquémicas cardiacas ocupan las primeras causas de muerte con un incremento del número de cirugías de revascularización miocárdica. El amplio uso de autopsia en Cuba y su eficacia, motivó establecer la correlación clínico patológica de los pacientes fallecidos operados de revascularización miocárdica como herramienta de control de la calidad en el quehacer profesional. Objetivo: determinar la correlación clínico patológica de los fallecidos en el postoperatorio de revascularización miocárdica en cirugía cardiovascular del Hospital “Hermanos Ameijeiras” entre 2006 a 2009. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y de corte transversal, se analizaron causas básicas y directas de muerte, clínicamente y por autopsia; se compararon según parámetros de anatomía patológica para evaluar calidad del diagnóstico en coincidentes (total o parcial) o no coincidentes. Se obtuvieron 682 pacientes operados en este período; la muestra quedó constituida por 59 fallecidos para un 8,6% de mortalidad. Se contó con la aprobación del comité de ética. Resultados: más del 70% del total de fallecidos corresponde a mayores de 60 años. Se observó un incremento de fallecidos masculinos sobre femeninos con relación 7:2. Existe prevalencia en factores de riesgo como hipertensión arterial e infarto cardíaco previo. La primera causa directa de muerte tanto clínica como por autopsia fue el fallo multiorgánico seguido del choque cardiogénico. Según causas básicas de muerte la ateroesclerosis ocupó el primer lugar con 91,5% y 98,3% clínicamente y por autopsia respectivamente. No existió correlación clínico patológica en 20,3% de causas directas de muerte, y 8,5% en causas básicas de muerte. Conclusiones: los parámetros fueron adecuados para discrepancias diagnosticas en este estudio, con rango de aceptabilidad de 10 al 40%. Se diagnosticaron 20 infartos agudos del miocardio, solo siete pasaron desapercibidos. Las discrepancias para infarto agudo de miocardio, mundialmente oscilan entre 20 a 74%, en el estudio fue del 26%. Se diagnosticaron tres casos de tromboembolismo pulmonar y dos dejaron de diagnosticarse. Las discrepancias para tromboembolismo pulmonar, mundialmente oscilan del 50 a 89%, en este caso fue del 40%. (MÉD.UIS. 2011;24(3):239-45).Palabras clave: Revascularización Miocárdica. Correlación anatomopatológica. Mortalidad.Clinical and pathological correlationship of deceased patients in postoperative myocardial revascularization. From 2006 to 2009 at “Hermanos Ameijeiras” Hospital, Cuba.Introduction: In Cuba like the rest of the world, the first cause of death are heart isquemic diseases and there is an increasing number of myocardial revascularization. We use autopsy regularly and we could use the results to establish clinical and pathological correlationship of deceased patients in postoperative myocardial revascularization to improves our medical and professional work. Objective: to determine Clinical and pathological correlation of deceased patients in postoperative myocardial revascularization. “Hermanos Ameijeiras” Hospital (January2006 – december 2009). Materials and Methods: a descriptive, transversal and retrospective study was realized, in the retrospective period dating from January 2006 to December 2009, In the Cardiology Center of Surgery Clinic Hospital “Hermanos Ameijeiras.” This work was approved by the Ethics Committee responsible for this investigation. The sample was constituted by 59 deceased patients, in each one we analyze clinical and pathological direct and basic causes of death, then a comparison was made according with international rules and we express the results in final coincidence (total, partial or not). Results: the predominant age of deceased patients after myocardial revascularization surpassed 60 years of age over 70%. The coronary risk factors largely associated were hypertension and acute myocardial infarction. The majority of patients were male over female with a relationship of 7:2. The first direct cause of death clinical and by autopsy was multiorgan failure followed by cardiogenic shock. The first basic cause of death clinical and by autopsy was Atherosclerosis coincidently. We cannot found clinical and pathological coincidence in 20.3% in direct causes of death, and 8,5% in basic causes of death. Conclusions: in our study we are in the acceptability range of not coincident diagnostics, even in the range from 10 to 40%. 20 acute myocardial infarction were identify and 7 of them were not. Clinical and pathological international disagreement for acute myocardial infarction is from 20 to 74% and we are in 26%. Three pulmonary embolisms were identify and two of them were not. Clinical and pathological international Disagreement for pulmonary embolism is from 50 al 89% and we are in 40%. (MÉD.UIS. 2011;24(3):239-45).Key words: Myocardial revascularization. Clinical and pathological correlationship. Mortality

Reexploración de urgencia en el Servicio de Cirugía Cardiovascular del Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras entre 2008 y 2009

Introducción: aproximadamente entre el 5% y el 10% de los pacientes sometidos a cirugía cardiovascular requieren de una reexploración deurgencia. Es el sangrado postoperatorio la primera causa de reintervención de urgencia en un paciente operado de cirugía cardiovascular.El presente trabajo pretende mostrar el comportamiento de la reexploración en pacientes operados de cirugía cardíaca en el servicioy determinar cuáles fueron los principales factores de riesgo asociados a este proceder así como la evolución y el comportamiento delos costos. Objetivos: determinar los factores de riesgo de reintervención de urgencia en cirugía cardiovascular y evaluar los costoshospitalarios por reintervención. Materiales y Métodos: se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de casos (n=47) y controles (n=916) en elServicio de Cirugía Cardiovascular del Hospital Hermano Ameijeiras en el período comprendido entre enero de 2008 a diciembre de 2009.Se compararon variables como: edad, sexo, peso, talla, antecedentes, medicación preoperatoria, necesidad de sangre y hemoderivados,horas de ventilación mecánica, estadio hospitalario, evolución, mortalidad y costos hospitalarios. Resultados: se encontró como factorespredisponentes el sexo masculino, la cardiopatía isquémica, la fiebre reumática, la endocarditis infecciosa, las hepatopatías, antecedentesde accidentes vasculares encefálicos y niveles elevados de creatinina. La ingestión preoperatoria de diuréticos, anticoagulantes yantiagregantes plaquetarios se relacionó con un mayor número de reintervenciones. La reexploración se relacionó con un aumento de:consumo de sangre y hemoderivados, tiempo de circulación extracorpórea, tiempo de ventilación mecánica, estadía en Unidad de CuidadosIntensivos Quirúrgicos y Hospitalaria, tasa de infecciones, mortalidad y un incremento de los costos. El 81% de las reintervenciones no teníanuna causa quirúrgica. Conclusiones: existe un grupo de parámetros que se comportan como factores de riesgo para la reexploración deurgencia. Los pacientes reintervenidos presentaron una mayor morbimortalidad y representaron un mayor costo para el sistema de salud.La utilización de un tromboelastógrafo representaría un ahorro anual de 350 mil dólares. (MÉD.UIS. 2012;25(1):11-7). Rescan emergency cardiovascular surgery service Ameijeiras Brothers Hospital between 2008 and 2009.Introduction: approximately between 5% and 10% of the subjected patients to cardiovascular surgery require of an urgent reexploratión.It is the postoperative bleeding the first cause of reintervention of urgency in an operated patient of cardiovascular surgery. The presentwork seeks to show the behavior of the reexploratión in operated patients of heart surgery in the service and to determine which themain factors of risk were associated to this to proceed as well as the evolution and the behavior of the costs. Objective: determinethe risk factors of emergency reintervention in cardiovascular surgery and to evaluate the hospital costs of reintervention. Materialsand Methods: it was performed a retrospective case-control study (cases n=47, controls n=916) in the Cardiovascular Surgery Serviceof the Hospital “Hermanos Ameijeiras” on the period between January 2008 and December 2009. We compared variables such as: age,sex, weight, height, background, preoperative medication, use of blood and blood products, hours of mechanical ventilation, hospitalstay, development, mortality and hospital costs. Results: we found predisposing factors such as male gender, ischemic cardiomyopathy,rheumatic fever, infective endocarditis, hepatopathies, history of stroke and elevated creatinine levels.Preoperative intake of diuretics,anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents was associated with an increased number of reinterventions. Reintervention was associated withincreased consumption of blood and blood products, longer cardiopulmonary bypass, longer mechanical ventilation, increasedUCIQ andHospital stay, higher rate of infections, increased mortality and increasedcosts. 81% of the reoperations did not have a surgical cause.Conclusions: there is a set of parameters that act as risk factors for emergency reintervention. Reoperated patients had higher morbidityand mortality, and represented a greater cost to the health system. The use of a thromboelastograph would represent an annual savingof $ 350 000.(MÉD.UIS. 2012;25(1):11-7)

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Human Herpesvirus 8 Infection, Rural Egypt1

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Human Herpesvirus 8 Infection, Rural Egypt, Salivary and nosocomial transmission are possible

Epidemiology of hepatitis viruses among hepatocellular carcinoma cases and healthy people in Egypt: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Liver cancers are strongly linked to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV worldwide and has rising rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Egypt's unique nature of liver disease presents questions regarding the distribution of HBV and HCV in the etiology of HCC. Accordingly, a systematic search of MEDLINE, ISI Web of Science, ScienceDirect and World Health Organisation databases was undertaken for relevant articles regarding HBV and HCV prevalence in Egypt among healthy populations and HCC cases. We calculated weighted mean prevalences for HBV and HCV among the populations of interest and examined differences in prevalence by descriptive features, including age, year and geographic region. Prevalences for HBV and HCV were 6.7% and 13.9% among healthy populations, and 25.9% and 78.5% among HCC cases. Adults had higher prevalences of both infections (Adult HBV = 8.0%, Child HBV = 1.6%; Adult HCV = 15.7%, Child HCV = 4.0%). Geographically, HBV was higher in the south, whereas HCV was greater in the north (North HBV = 4.6%, South HBV = 11.7%; North HCV = 15.8%, South HCV = 6.7%). Among HCC cases, HBV significantly decreased over time ( p = 0.001) while HCV did not, suggesting a shift in the relative influences of these viruses in HCC etiology in Egypt. Our results highlight large amounts of heterogeneity among the epidemiological factors associated with liver disease in Egypt and underscore the necessity of an integrated strategy for the successful prevention of viral hepatitis infections and chronic liver disease. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61320/1/23937_ftp.pd