The use of urodynamic to assess the mechanism of incontinence in patients with Yang-Monti based catheterizable cutaneous stomas

Objective: To analyze the static and dynamic urodynamic parameters of reservoirs and continent conduits in continent cutaneous urinary diversion with catheterizable stoma. Materials and methods: 76 patients had augmented ileocystoplasty or continent urinary diversion with catheterizable urinary stoma based on Mitrofanoff principle and Yang-Monti procedure using subserous tunnel as continence mechanism. They were followed up for at least 6 months post-operatively for continence through stoma and divided into two groups (continents vs non-continent) according to stomal continence. Both groups had urodynamic assessment performed via the stoma to assess reservoir capacity, pressure and contractions, efferent limb functional length, reservoir overactivity, static and dynamic maximal closure pressures and leak point pressure. Results: Continence rate was 87%. Continent group included 66 patients and incontinent group included 10 patients. In both groups at rest, the reservoir pressure after filling did not exceed 25 cm H2O. During peristaltic contraction, the pressure did not exceed 30 cm H2O and the duct remained continent. After Valsalva maneuver, the reservoir pressure increased up to 34 (+ 7.4) cm H2O and leakage occur in 10 patients (13%). Reservoir (wall) overactivity was recorded in 54 patients, with insignificant rise in intraluminal pressure during the contractions. In both groups, the efferent tract closing pressure was always higher than the reservoir pressure. The mean of maximal closing pressure at Valsalva was 82.5 (+ 4.18) cm H2O in the continent group and 61.66 (+ 8.16) cm H2O in the incontinent group. The mean functional length of the conduit was 4.95 + 1.62 in the continent group and 2.80 + 1.50 cm in the incontinent group. Conclusions: Urodynamic evaluation of continent catheterizable cutaneous stoma after Yang-Monti procedure has a practical significance. Functional length of the conduit seems to be the most influential factor for continence reflecting static & dynamic maximal closure pressure. Higher conduit closing pressure is associated with better continence. Contractions of the pouch and peristaltic contraction of the conduit has no effect on continence mechanism

On the Maximal Positive Definite Solution of the Nonlinear Matrix Equation X − ∑ mi = 1 A ∗i X − 1 A i + ∑ nj = 1 B ∗j X − 1 B j = I

In this paper, the existence and uniqueness of the maximal positive definite solution of the nonlinear matrix equation X − ∑mi=1 A∗i X −1 Ai + ∑nj=1 B∗j X −1 B j = I is studied. Our technique is based on the coupled fixed-point theorem. A sufficient condition for the existence of the unique maximal solution of the above nonlinear matrix equation is investigated. Some numerical examples are presented to show the applicability and the effectiveness of our technique

A Novel Approach of Optimum Time Interval Estimation for Al-7.5Si/Al-18Si Liquid–Liquid Bimetal Casting in Sand and Metallic Moulds

This work describes a novel approach for Al-7.5Si/Al-18Si liquid–liquid bimetal casting in sand and metallic moulds. The aim of the work is to facilitate and develop a simple procedure to produce an Al-7.5Si/Al-18Si bimetallic material with a smooth gradient interface structure. The procedure involves the theoretical calculation of total solidification time (TST) of the first liquid metal (M1), pouring the liquid metal (M1), and allowing it to solidify; then, before complete solidification, the second liquid metal (M2) is introduced into the mould. This novel approach has been proven to produce Al-7.5Si/Al-18Si bimetal materials using liquid–liquid casting. The optimum time interval of Al-7.5Si/Al-18Si bimetal casting with modulus of cast Mc ≤ 1 was estimated based on subtracting 5–15 s or 1–5 s from TST of M1 for sand and metallic moulds, respectively. Future work will involve determining the appropriate time interval range for castings having modulus ≥ 1 using the current approach

Influence of Pre-Tinning Process on Coating Morphology and Interface Structure of Low Carbon Steel Dipped in Molten 6061 Al Alloy

Pre-treated low carbon steel specimens with flux or flux + tin mixture were coated by hot-dip aluminizing process. Al alloy (6061) was melted and hold at 750 °C. Fluxed and pre-tinned low carbon steel samples were dipped in a molten bath for time intervals of 0.5, 1, 2.5 and 3.5 min. Applying double coating processes via tinning-aluminizing techniques facilitated the formation of Fe-Al intermetallic interface and increasing the thickness of homogenous coating layer over the substrate material. The presence of Sn facilitates to great extent the formation of a better interlayer-free bond of residual flux and/or oxides. The fluxed–dipped steel substrates have inhomogeneous distribution of Al alloy coating as well as an interface with residual flux and oxides for dipping time up to 2.5 min. A homogenous distribution with good thickness morphology of the Al alloy coating and homogeneous thin intermetallic interface was achieved for tinned steel substrate at all applied dipping times. The comparison between the pre-tinning and pre-fluxing processes on steel substrates showed a significant effect of tinning over fluxing treatment acting on the thickness layer of Al-coating and interface using a short time dipping. For dipping time up to 2.5 min, the hardness of pre-tinning substrates is greater than that of fluxed ones due to the presence of residual flux and void interface in fluxed steel

Characteristics and applications of iron oxide reduction processes

The present review handles the main characteristics of iron oxide reduction and its industrial applications. The reduction of iron oxide is the basis of all ironmaking processes, whether in a blast furnace or by direct reduction and/or direct smelting processes. The reduction characteristics of iron ores control the efficiency of any ironmaking process and the quality of the produced iron as well. Many controlling parameters should be considered when discussing the reducibility of iron ores such as equilibrium phase diagrams, reduction temperature, pressure, gas composition, and the nature of both iron ores and reducing agent. The different factors affecting the main routes of ironmaking will be highlighted in the present review to give a clear picture of each technology. Moreover, further innovations regarding the reduction of iron oxides such as the reduction by green hydrogen will be discussed

Diversity and Distribution Characteristics of Viruses from Soda Lakes

Viruses are the most abundant living things and a source of genetic variation. Despite recent research, we know little about their biodiversity and geographic distribution. We used different bioinformatics tools, MG-RAST, genome detective web tools, and GenomeVx, to describe the first metagenomic examination of haloviruses in Wadi Al-Natrun. The discovered viromes had remarkably different taxonomic compositions. Most sequences were derived from double-stranded DNA viruses, especially from Myoviridae, Podoviridae, Siphoviridae, Herpesviridae, Bicaudaviridae, and Phycodnaviridae families; single-stranded DNA viruses, especially from the family Microviridae; and positive-strand RNA viruses, especially from the family Potyviridae. Additionally, our results showed that Myohalovirus chaoS9 has eight Contigs and is annotated to 18 proteins as follows: tail sheath protein, tco, nep, five uncharacterized proteins, HCO, major capsid protein, putative pro head protease protein, putative head assembly protein, CxxC motive protein, terl, HTH domain protein, and terS Exon 2. Additionally, Halorubrum phage CGphi46 has 19 proteins in the brine sample as follows: portal protein, 17 hypothetical proteins, major capsid protein, etc. This study reveals viral lineages, suggesting the Virus’s global dispersal more than other microorganisms. Our study clarifies how viral communities are connected and how the global environment changes

Diversity and Distribution Characteristics of Viruses from Soda Lakes

Viruses are the most abundant living things and a source of genetic variation. Despite recent research, we know little about their biodiversity and geographic distribution. We used different bioinformatics tools, MG-RAST, genome detective web tools, and GenomeVx, to describe the first metagenomic examination of haloviruses in Wadi Al-Natrun. The discovered viromes had remarkably different taxonomic compositions. Most sequences were derived from double-stranded DNA viruses, especially from Myoviridae, Podoviridae, Siphoviridae, Herpesviridae, Bicaudaviridae, and Phycodnaviridae families; single-stranded DNA viruses, especially from the family Microviridae; and positive-strand RNA viruses, especially from the family Potyviridae. Additionally, our results showed that Myohalovirus chaoS9 has eight Contigs and is annotated to 18 proteins as follows: tail sheath protein, tco, nep, five uncharacterized proteins, HCO, major capsid protein, putative pro head protease protein, putative head assembly protein, CxxC motive protein, terl, HTH domain protein, and terS Exon 2. Additionally, Halorubrum phage CGphi46 has 19 proteins in the brine sample as follows: portal protein, 17 hypothetical proteins, major capsid protein, etc. This study reveals viral lineages, suggesting the Virus\u27s global dispersal more than other microorganisms. Our study clarifies how viral communities are connected and how the global environment changes

Reduction Behavior and Characteristics of Metal Oxides in the Nanoscale

The development of nanomaterials and nanotechnology enables the production of nanosized metallic alloys with advanced characteristics from their oxides via a thermal reduction technique. The aim of the present work was to produce metallic iron, nickel, and tungsten through the gaseous reduction of nanosized metal oxide powders as a preliminary step towards the fabrication of nanosized heavy tungsten alloys with unique properties. Nanosized NiO, Fe2O3, and WO3 were isothermally and non-isothermally reduced with H2, and the oxygen weight loss was continuously recorded as a function of time. The Thermogravimetric TG-DTA technique was applied in the non-isothermal reduction up to 1000 °C. The reduction extents were calculated from the TG curve, whereas the accompanying heat of the reaction was measured from the DTA curve. The results revealed that NiO was reduced at 2O3 was reduced at 3 was reduced at >950 °C. In the isothermal process, metal oxides were reduced with H2 at 700–1000 °C; a micro-force balance was used and the O2 weight loss was continuously recorded. At a given temperature, the rate of reduction increased in the order NiO > Fe2O3 > WO3. The nano-oxide powders and the reduced products were physically and chemically characterized. The activation energy (Ea) values were computed from the isothermal reduction in the initial and later stages to elucidate the corresponding reduction mechanism. The Ea values indicated that the reduction of metal oxides was controlled by the gas diffusion mechanism at both the initial and later stages of reduction. The results of the present study determined the optimal operation parameters at which the thermal gaseous reduction technique could be applied for preparing metallic alloys from nanosized metal oxides