Using bracing systems to improve the seismic performance of moment resisting frame

Bracing systems [BS] have been widely adopted as the primary lateral load resisting system in medium and high-rise buildings due to their inherent substantial lateral stiffness and load resistance, and it is considered the most effective method for fusing existing RC structures. Therefore, the seismic response of steel braced frames [SBF] with bracing members connected to the columns had been explored for a moment-resisting frame [MRF]. And different configurations of BS had been investigated to study their effects on lateral load resistance and get the optimized bracing configurations. Moreover, the study doesn’t take into consideration only the BS over the height of the building, but it also reduces the length of the bracing element by adding many bracing panels over the height of stories which can lead to an increase in the resistance of seismic loading. The bracing panels can be an effective technique in dealing with the architects' constraints. Therefore, smaller brace components can be chosen for studying to avoid the architect’s constraints and create different configurations while still meeting code criteria for brace strength and overall slenderness. The earthquake behavior of the retrofitted structure was analyzed by distributing the SB of various types (X, V inverted) over the height of the RC frame. The results demonstrate that the smaller brace components for X & V inverted bracing can contribute to reducing the lateral displacement and maximum story drift

Effect of Nursing Exercise Protocol on Hemodynamics and Functional Capacity among Patients after Cardiac Surgery

Context: Exercise interventions are the cornerstone of cardiac rehabilitation. The exercise program consists of respiratory physiotherapy, neck and shoulder exercises, walking, and cycling. The purpose is to prevent respiratory complications, neck and shoulder pain and increase the physical functional level.Aim: This study evaluates the effect of applying nursing exercise protocol on hemodynamics and functional capacity among post-cardiac surgery patients. Methods: Quasi-experimental research design utilized in the current study. A purposive sample, including 60 male and female patients, was classified equally into two equal groups; study group (n= 30) and control group (n= 30), collected through 14 months. This study was carried out in the inpatient cardiac surgery department and the outpatient cardiac clinic of Cardiothoracic Surgery Hospital in New Minia City. Four tools were utilized in collecting data; named Health Assessment Record; Six Minute Walk Distance Test; Modified Medical Research Council Scale (MMRC) for measuring dyspnea; and Nursing Educational Protocol Checklist. Results: Current study findings displayed an improvement of total distance walked among study groups compared to the control group. It also showed highly statistically significant differences between the groups related to total distance walked after 12th-week post-discharge documented by p-value (0.000).Conclusion: The current study findings concluded that the nursing educational protocol in the form of deep breathing, incentive spirometer; coughing, and early ambulation induces a significant improvement in hemodynamic variables and six-minute walk distance, recommending that hospitals should implement the nursing educational protocol as a routine hospital policy among all cardiac surgical patients in all age groups

Applications of Rare Earth Metals in Al-Si Cast Alloys

The present article reviews a large number of research publications on the effect of mischmetal (MM), rare earth metals (RE), La or Ce, and combinations of La + Ce on the performance of Al-Si cast alloys mainly 319, 356, 380, 413, and 390 alloys. Most of these articles focused on the use of rare earth metals as a substitute for strontium (Sr) as a eutectic silicon (Si) modifier if added in low percentage ( 1 wt.%) is required to achieve a noticeable reduction in grain size, however at the cost of alloy brittleness

Estimating the Prevalence of Foodborne Pathogen Campylobacter jejuni in Chicken and Its Control via Sorghum Extracts

Campylobacter jejuni is a Gram-negative bacterium which is considered as the most reported cause of foodborne infection, especially for poultry species. The object of this work is to evaluate the occurrence of C. jejuni in chicken meat as well its control via three types of sorghum extracts (white sorghum (WS), yellow sorghum (YS), and red sorghum (RS)); antibacterial activity, antioxidant power, and cytotoxicity of sorghum extracts were also assessed. It was found that C. jejuni is very abundant in chicken meat, especially breast and thigh. WS extract showed more effectiveness than both yellow and red ones. Lyophilized WS extract offered high total phenolic compounds (TPCs) and total flavonoid compounds (TFCs) of 64.2 ± 0.8 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE/g) and 33.9 ± 0.4 mg catechol equivalent (CE)/g, respectively. Concerning the antibacterial and antioxidant activities, WS showed high and significant antibacterial activity (p < 0.001); hence, WS displayed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6.25%, and revealed an inhibition zone of 7.8 ± 0.3 mm; it also showed an IC50 at a concentration of 34.6 μg/mL. In our study, different samples of chicken fillet were collected and inoculated with pathogenic C. jejuni and stored at 4 °C. Inoculated samples were treated with lyophilized WS extract at (2%, 4%, and 6%), the 2% treatment showed a full reduction in C. jejuni on the 10th day, the 4% treatment showed a full reduction in C. jejuni on the 8th day, while the 6% treatment showed a full reduction in C. jejuni on the 6th day. Additionally, 2%, 4%, and 6% WS extracts were applied on un-inoculated grilled chicken fillet, which enhanced its sensory attributes. In sum, WS extract is a promising natural preservative for chicken meat with accepted sensory evaluation results thanks to its high antibacterial and antioxidant potentials

A proposed protocol for GMP-BoK implementation gap analysis - case study at AASTMT

Purpose: Maritime Education and Training (MET) plays a crucial role in maintaining the safety and sustainability of the maritime industry. However, it remains behind the industry expectations to fulfill the gap regarding the required level of maritime capacities to safely control efficient new technology and keep them sustainable and effective during the industrial revolution era. The International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) developed the Global Maritime Professional Body of Knowledge (GMP-BoK) to address the current gap between the maritime industry expectations and the delivered Maritime Education and Training (MET) programs. Design/methodology/approach: This paper briefly introduces the GMP-BoK and proposes a protocol for a new analogous instrument to efficiently implement the GMP-BoK via a user-friendly method developed at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT). The developed analogous instrument helps maritime universities and institutes to digitalize and develop an integrated curriculum framework that is based on robust evaluation and data analysis to develop strategic plans to improve seafarer capabilities. Moreover, the paper suggests a protocol for mapping and analysis of maritime programs and courses, enabling educators to reliably perform gap analysis and identify repetitions within delivered courses and programs based on the GMP-BoK recommended practices. As a case study, the proposed protocol was validated utilizing the Maritime Engineering Technology Program (METP). Findings: The findings of this study revealed that the examined METP includes 30% repetition and focuses on the cognitive and psychomotor methods of education, with little focus on the affective technique

Consensus evidence-based clinical practice recommendations for the diagnosis and treat-to-target management of osteoporosis in chronic kidney disease stages G4-G5D and post-transplantation: An initiative of Egyptian Academy of Bone Health

The aim of this study was to reach a consensus on an updated version of the recommendations for the diagnosis and Treat-to-Target management of osteoporosis that is effective and safe for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) G4-G5D/kidney transplant. Delphi process was implemented (3 rounds) to establish a consensus on 10 clinical domains: (1) study targets, (2) risk factors, (3) diagnosis, (4) case stratification, (5) treatment targets, (6) investigations, (7) medical management, (8) monitoring, (9) management of special groups, (10) fracture liaison service. After each round, statements were retired, modified, or added in view of the experts' suggestions, and the percent agreement was calculated. Statements receiving rates of 7-9 by more than 75% of experts' votes were considered as achieving consensus. The surveys were sent to an expert panel ( = 26), of whom 23 participated in the three rounds (2 were international experts and 21 were national). Most of the participants were rheumatologists (87%), followed by nephrologists (8.7%), and geriatric physicians (4.3%). Eighteen recommendations, categorized into 10 domains, were obtained. Agreement with the recommendations (rank 7-9) ranged from 80 to 100%. Consensus was reached on the wording of all 10 clinical domains identified by the scientific committee. An algorithm for the management of osteoporosis in CKD has been suggested. A panel of international and national experts established a consensus regarding the management of osteoporosis in CKD patients. The developed recommendations provide a comprehensive approach to assessing and managing osteoporosis for all healthcare professionals involved in its management. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2022 by The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

Spondylarthropathies (including psoriatic arthritis): 244. Validity of Colour Doppler and Spectral Doppler Ultrasound of Sacroilicac Joints Againts Physical Examination as Gold Standard

Background: Sacroiliac joints (SJ) involvement is a distinctive and charasteristic feature of Spondyloarthritis (SpA) and x-ray is the test routinely used to make a diagnosis. However, x-ray reveals late structural damage but cannot detect active inflammation. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of Doppler ultrasound in SJ. Methods: Prospective blinded and controlled study of SJ, in which three populations were compared. We studied 106 consecutive cases, who were divided into three groups: a) 53 patients diagnosed with SpA who had inflammatory lumbar and gluteal pain assessed by a rheumatologist; b) 26 patients diagnosed with SpA who didn't have SJ tenderness and had normal physical examination; c) control group of 27 subjects (healthy subjetcs or with mechanical lumbar pain). All patients included that were diagnosed with SpA met almost the European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) classification criteria. Physical examination of the SJ included: sacral sulcus tenderness, iliac gapping, iliac compression, midline sacral thrust test, Gaenslen's test, and Patrick s test were used as gold standard. Both SJ were examined with Doppler ultrasound (General Electric Logiq 9, Wauwatosa WI, USA) fitted with a 9-14 Mhz lineal probe. The ultrasonographer was blinded to clinical data. Doppler in SJ was assessed as positive when both Doppler colour and resistance index (RI) < 0.75 within the SJ area were present. Statistical analysis was performed estimating sensitivity and specificity against gold standard. The Kappa correlation coefficient was used for reliability study. Results: 106 cases (53 female, 55 male; mean age 36 10 years) were studied. There were no statistical differences between groups related to age or sex. Physical examination of SJ was positive in 38 patients (59 sacroiliac joints). US detected Doppler signal within SJ in 37 patients (58 SJ): 33 of them were symptomatic SpA (52 SJ), one of them were asymptomatic SpA (1 SJ) and one was a healthy control (1 SJ). The accuracy of US when compared to clinical data as gold standard at subject level in the overall group was: sensitivity of 68.6% and specificity of 85.7%, positive predictive value of 70.5% and negative predictive value of 84.5%. A positive likelihood ratio of 4.8, a negative likelihood ratio of 0.36 and a kappa coefficient of 0.55 were achieved. Conclusions: Doppler US of SJ seems to be a valid method to detect active SJ inflammation. Disclosure statement: The authors have declared no conflicts of interes