Geological and Engineering Properties of Granite Rocks from Aqaba Area

Abstract Jordanian granitic rocks (JG) are highly distributed and available in huge quantities in south Jordan, Aqaba area. Granite in south Jordan (JG) is belonging to Aqaba granite complex. This study has been carried out to investigate geological and engineering properties of JG from Aqaba vicinity, south Jordan, in addition to identify and classify the different granitic rocks. 27 random samples of JG were collected from different quarries in three locations from the study area to investigate their characterization. Engineering properties of JG were tested and investigated using ultra sonic velocity test, abrasion test, flexural strength, specific gravity test, and compressive strength test. Engineering tests results show that JG has metal disk abrasion less than 21 mm, flexural strength of 16.9 Mpa, average dry specific gravity of 2.69 and very low absorption while the compressive strength results range between 60 to 90 Mpa. The results show that the engineering characterization of JG is complying with local and international specifications and standards used for classifying the decorative and building granite stones

Silver colloidal nanoparticle stability: influence on Candida biofilms formed on denture acrylic

Our aim in this study was to evaluate how the chemical stability of silver nanoparticles (SNs) influences their efficacy against Candida albicans and C. glabrata biofilms. Several parameters of SN stability were tested, namely, temperature (50ºC, 70ºC, and 100ºC), pH (5.0 and 9.0), and time of contact (5 h and 24 h) with biofilms. The control was defined as SNs without temperature treatment, pH 7, and 24 h of contact. These colloidal suspensions at 54 mg/L were used to treat mature Candida biofilms (48 h) formed on acrylic. Their efficacy was determined by total biomass and colony-forming unit quantification. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance and the Bonferroni post hoc test (=0.05). The temperature and pH variations of SNs did not affect their efficacy against the viable cells of Candida biofilms (P > 0.05). Moreover, the treatment periods were not decisive in terms of the susceptibility of Candida biofilms to SNs. These findings provide an important advantage of SNs that may be useful in the treatment of Candida-associated denture stomatitis.We thank Dr David Williams, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK, for providing the strain 324LA/94. The authors also thank Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, process 2009/15146-5), Brazil, for supporting the work of D. R. M. The authors are indebted to Laboratorio Interdisciplinar de Eletroquimica e Ceramica, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Brazil, in the name of Andressa Kubo, for preparing and characterizing the colloidal suspensions of silver nanoparticles

Silicone Oil Utilized in Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Patients with Advanced Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: Physico-Chemical and Optical Properties

Rami Al-Dwairi,1 Ahmad A Ahmad,2 Abdelwahab Aleshawi,1 Areen A Bani-Salameh,2 Ihsan A Aljarrah,2 Qais M Al-Bataineh,2,3 Seren Al Beiruti,1 Ali Omar Alshami,1 Edina Rusen,4 Gabriela Toader5 1Department of Special Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 2Department of Physics, Thin Films and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Art, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 3Leibniz Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften‐ISAS‐e.V., Dortmund, 44139, Germany; 4Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, Bucharest, 011061, Romania; 5Military Technical Academy “Ferdinand I”, Bucharest, 050141, RomaniaCorrespondence: Rami Al-Dwairi, Department of Special Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science & Technology, P. O. Box: 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan, Tel +962799273019, Fax +962 2 7201064, Email [email protected]: Silicone oils have the role in maintaining the attachment of the retina in conditions where the risk of retinal re-detachment is high. However, silicone oils have the tendency to emulsify with subsequent complications. In this work, analyses have been performed to understand changes that occurred to the optical, and physical characteristics of the oil after removal from the vitreous cavity of patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for fibrovascular membranes/tractional retinal detachment (FVM/TRD).Methods: Four samples of silicone oil were allocated from patients who underwent PPV for FVM/TRD. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, micro-viscometry, and ultraviolet-visible spectrometer analyses were utilized to determine the changes in its chemical bondings, viscosity, absorbance, transmittance, buoyance, and specific gravity.Results: The mean age of the patients was 49.0 years. The mean duration of silicone oil implantation was 18.9 months. FTIR analysis showed significant breaking in the chemical bonding that was related to the lens status during the primary PPV, the presence of significant retinal hemorrhages, the duration of silicone oil implantation, and the degree of silicone oil filling. Similarly, viscosity and contact angle analyses revealed a reduction in the viscosity with similar factors to the FTIR analysis. Moreover, absorbance and transmittance were largely affected by the aggressiveness of FVM/TRD.Conclusion: This study revealed that certain factors such as the age of the patient, duration of silicone oil implantation, lens status, and the presence of retinal hemorrhages, the degree of silicone oil filling and aggressiveness of FVM/TRD may contribute to the emulsification process.Keywords: silicone oil, tractional retinal detachment, emulsification, viscosit

Enhanced Gastrointestinal Expression of Cytosolic Malic Enzyme (ME1) Induces Intestinal and Liver Lipogenic Gene Expression and Intestinal Cell Proliferation in Mice

<div><p>The small intestine participates in lipid digestion, metabolism and transport. Cytosolic malic enzyme 1 (ME1) is an enzyme that generates NADPH used in fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. Previous work has correlated liver and adipose ME1 expression with susceptibility to obesity and diabetes; however, the contributions of intestine-expressed ME1 to these conditions are unknown. We generated transgenic (Tg) mice expressing rat ME1 in the gastrointestinal epithelium under the control of the murine villin1 promoter/enhancer. Levels of intestinal ME1 protein (endogenous plus transgene) were greater in Tg than wildtype (WT) littermates. Effects of elevated intestinal ME1 on body weight, circulating insulin, select adipocytokines, blood glucose, and metabolism-related genes were examined. Male Tg mice fed a high-fat (HF) diet gained significantly more body weight than WT male littermates and had heavier livers. ME1-Tg mice had deeper intestinal and colon crypts, a greater intestinal 5-bromodeoxyuridine labeling index, and increased expression of intestinal lipogenic (<i>Fasn, Srebf1</i>) and cholesterol biosynthetic (<i>Hmgcsr</i>, <i>Hmgcs1</i>), genes. The livers from HF diet-fed Tg mice also exhibited an induction of cholesterol and lipogenic pathway genes and altered measures (<i>Irs1</i>, <i>Irs2, Prkce</i>) of insulin sensitivity. Results indicate that gastrointestinal ME1 via its influence on intestinal epithelial proliferation, and lipogenic and cholesterologenic genes may concomitantly impact signaling in liver to modify this tissue’s metabolic state. Our work highlights a new mouse model to address the role of intestine-expressed ME1 in whole body metabolism, hepatomegaly, and crypt cell proliferation. Intestinal ME1 may thus constitute a therapeutic target to reduce obesity-associated pathologies.</p></div

ME1-Tg mice on chow diet exhibit increased ME1 protein and mRNA abundance in small intestine.

<p>A) Schematic representation of the mouse villin1-ME1 transgene construct in which a complete open reading frame for rat ME1 was placed downstream of the murine villin1 gene promoter-enhancer (12.4 kb fragment). The SV40 polyA signal-containing region was located downstream of the <i>Me1</i> cDNA sequence. Red arrows indicate the location of genotyping primers, while black arrows indicate the location of primers used to detect transgene expression by RT-PCR. B) ME1-Tg mRNA expression in the jejunum and colon of WT and ME1-Tg mice detected by RT-PCR (n = 3 mice/group; Exp.1). C) Representative Western blots of ME1 protein in the jejunum, ileum and colon of WT and ME1-Tg mice (n = 2−3/group; Exp. 1). The ME1 antibody detected endogenous murine and Tg-derived rat ME1 proteins. D) Densitometric analysis of relative ME1 protein levels in panel C. E) Representative images of immunohistochemical staining of ME1 in the Ileum and colon of WT and ME1-Tg Tg mice. Scale bars = 100 µM. Arrows indicate villous epithelial and luminal epithelial staining of ME1 in the ileum and colon, respectively. F) Weight gain calculated as percentage increase of final body weight from initial body weight of WT and ME1-Tg male mice (n = 8−10 mice/group) from Exp. 1. Bar graphs represent mean ± SEM; *Significant difference at <i>P</i><0.05 between genotypes. **Significant difference at <i>P</i><0.01 between genotypes. <i>P</i> values are indicated for those tending to have significant differences between groups (0.05<<i>P</i><0.10).</p