Total ear reconstruction: The role of bilateral triangular post-auricular flaps for creation of the cephaloauricular sulcus

Introduction: Auricular reconstruction of congenital or acquired ear defects can provide a realistic good-looking ear and functional cephaloauricular sulcus especially for those who wear eyeglasses. Over the past few years, refinements in the techniques of elevating the buried ear framework in the second stage of ear reconstruction have shifted from simple skin grafting to the use of flaps and cartilage blocks for creation of the cephaloauricular sulcus. Objective: The aim of the study was to describe useful simple modification using bilateral triangular flaps and full thickness skin graft to create adequately functional cephalo-auricular sulcus especially for patients wearing eyeglasses during the second stage ear reconstruction.The study design: The described technique was carried out between June 2010 and January 2014, for 37 patients (24 patients with congenital microtia grade III, 7 patients with post-burn ear deformity, and 6 patients with post-traumatic ear defects). During the second stage of total ear reconstruction, the ear framework is separated substantially from the side of the head and positioned at the desired angle by means of a block of cartilage covered with a fascial flap. Then, two local triangular flaps from the adjacent non-hairy skin are created (one is superiorly based and the other is inferiorly based) and inset into the created cephaloauricular sulcus. The rest of the post-auricular defect is covered with a full thickness graft.Results: The technique was simple and effective with no post-operative complication regarding flaps viability. Patients requiring glasses have worn frames soon after the tie-over was removed and no sulcus problems have resulted

Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting

This project aims to come out with a system that able to exert some energy from radio waves that able to use by other electronics equipments. This device consists of three main parts to works which are, Radio Frequency Transducer, Power Management circuit, and the Energy Storage Device

Facial rejuvenation: Serial fat graft transfer

Autologous fat transfer is a century-old method for both aesthetic and reconstructive purposes. It is considered by many plastic surgeons the ideal body filler. The only disadvantage is its variable degree of resorption, which ranged from 45% to 80%. Various groups have studied the effects of cryo-preservation for fat storage, the advantage being that fat harvesting need only be performed once, and thereafter fat injections can be performed using stored fat as an outpatient service. This a clinical study carried out to test the aesthetic outcome of serial injection of the cryo-preserved fat cells for both aesthetic and reconstructive purposes.Methods: Clinical evaluation was performed under standardized condition for serial lipofilling between October 2003 and May 2012, and 364 autologous fat transfers were performed in 104 patients ranging in age from 18 to 69 years (mean age 34 years).Results: The postoperative clinical results favored the use of serial fat transfer because the aesthetic and structural results were stable up to 90% of the initial volume more than a year after initial transfer.Conclusion: Our data suggest that serial transfer of the cryo-preserved fat leads to better cosmetic results on the basis of outpatient service without increasing the financial burden for our patients

Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting

This project aims to come out with a system that able to exert some energy from radio waves that able to use by other electronics equipments. This device consists of three main parts to works which are, Radio Frequency Transducer, Power Management circuit, and the Energy Storage Device

Study of the Antioxidant Activity of Synthetic 3-hydroxyflavone Derivatives by DPPH and Hydrogen Peroxide Methods

Flavonoids have good efficacy as antioxidants due to their ability to scavenge free radicals within cells. In our previous study, synthetic flavonoid derivatives (A2-A13) were prepared in vitro through condensation, oxidative cyclization, alkylation and esterification reactions. The antioxidant activity of the alkyl and esterified derivatives of the flavonoid compound (A2) 3-hydroxy-2-(4-[dimethylamino]phenyl) benzo-4-pyrone was studied by two methods: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical inhibition method and inhibition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and compared to the activity of standard antioxidant compounds, ascorbic acid and quercetin. The flavonoids (prepared samples) A2, A5, and A7 showed high activity approaching that of ascorbic acid and quercetin as well-known antioxidants. As for the compounds (A3, A6, A8, A9, A10, A11, A12, A13), which contain an -OH enol group, a benzyl group, and a chlorine group and the acetate group, its effectiveness has decreased significantly

HEALING POTENCY OF HAEMATOCOCCUS PLUVIALIS EXTRACT FOR TREATING TYPE 2 DIABETES IN RATS

Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of ethanolic extract of Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.Methods: The antidiabetic activity of H. pluvialis was investigated by the determination of glucose and insulin levels, aspartate (AST), alanine transaminases (ALT), lipid profile including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). Histopathological examination of pancreas and liver were also carried out.Results: The results revealed that the levels of glucose, TC, TG, LDL-C as well as AST and ALT enzyme activities were increased significantly in diabetic rats. While, insulin and HDL-C levels decreased significantly in STZ-induced diabetic rats. The remediation of diabetic rats with H. pluvialis attenuated the elevated levels of glucose, TC, TG, LDL-C as well as AST and ALT activities in diabetic rats. Besides, it improved insulin, HDL-C levels, pancreas and hepatic architectures.Conclusion: H. pluvialis extract has a promising antidiabetic potency through attenuation of several metabolic disorders associated diabetes

Determinants of Attitude Towards Zakat on Employment Income in Nigeria

The objective of this paper was to empirically examine the influence of perceived capability, perceived government support and religiosity as determinants of attitude towards Zakat in Nigeria. A survey questionnaire was administered on government employees and 343 valid observations were retrieved and analyzed from the survey. The PLS analysis technique was used to assess the measurement model, the structural model as well as the predictive relevance of the model of the study. The outcome of the examination disclosed the appropriateness of the model of the study as well as the analytical tool utilized. The postulated relationships were all supported. Thus, the findings, if utilized in developing policies for strengthening the attitude of employees towards Zakat, will boost Zakat collections, since a positive attitude leads to improved collections. The study establishes the efficacy and the suitability of its model on factors influencing the attitude of employees towards Zakat in Nigeria

Moderating role of religiosity on Zakat compliance behavior in Nigeria

Purpose: This paper examines the moderating effect of religiosity in the theory of reasoned action (TRA) on intention to comply with the Zakat on employment income (ZEI).Design/methodology/approach: A survey of civil servants in Kano State, Nigeria was carried out and 474 valid observations were retrieved from the 700 distributed questionnaires. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to validate the instrument that measures the variables, examined the structural model and the predictive relevance of the study's model.Findings: The results revealed the suitability of both the TRA and the PLS-SEM in the study of ZEI behavioral intention in a developing country. All the hypothesized direct relationships were supported on the one hand. On the other hand, one of the two indirect relationships, subjective norm and behavioral intention moderated by religiosity was supported, but the other tests for moderating effects of religiosity on the relationship between attitude and behavioral intention was not.Practical implications: Public and private Zakat institutions in Muslim majority societies in Nigeria and in other Muslim countries may use the findings to focus their attention on the formulation of policies based on the findings of the study to strengthen eligible Zakat payers’ intention to comply to further boost their Zakat collections.Originality/value: This study extends the TRA in the context of ZEI by proposing religiosity as a moderator in the predictive capacity of TRA on ZEI. Moreover, the suitability for the use of PLS-SEM as a statistical tool in investigating the extended TRA with religiosity as a moderating variable as well as its implications for theory and practice were also discussed