Soil resources and potential for agricultural development in Bahr El Jebel in southern Sudan, Jonglei Canal project area

The author has identified the following significant results. Fourteen LANDSAT scenes were used to produce mosaics of the 167, 474 sq km study area. These were black and white MSS 7 images and false color composite images. Five major soil-landscape units were delineated on the mosaics, and these were subdivided into a total of 40 soil mapping units. Aerial reconnaissance was useful in defining boundaries between mapping units and in estimating the proportion of the various soils which composed each mapping unit. Ground surveying permitted first-hand observation of major soils and sampling for quantitative laboratory analysis. Soil interpretations were made, including properties, potentials, and limitations

ICAR: endoscopic skull‐base surgery

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Influence of Cu(111) and Ni(111) Substrates on the Capacitances of Monolayer and Bilayer Graphene Supercapacitor Electrodes

The quantum capacitance model based on graphene’s fixed-band density of states (DOS) is one of the most popular approaches to modeling the capacitive behavior of graphene-based supercapacitor electrodes. This model, however, consistently overestimates the capacitance of graphene electrodes by an order of magnitude compared to experimental measurements. Moreover, the influence of conducting substrates used as electrical contacts for graphene is typically excluded altogether by its representation as an infinite capacitance connected in series with the quantum capacitance of pristine graphene. This is despite the significant change in the electrode’s total DOS because of graphene’s adsorption to the substrate. Using insights from density functional theory calculations, we present a general model for calculating electrode capacitance based on space charge distribution in graphene–metal junctions. The model predicts capacitance values ranging between 1.4 and 1.7 μF cm–2 for graphene on Cu(111) and Ni(111), which match closely with the experimentally reported range of 2–6 μF cm–2. The model also predicts a constant capacitance for monolayer and bilayer graphene on Cu(111) and Ni(111), which challenges the popular assumption that the slightly field-tunable capacitance observed in practical supercapacitors can be attributed to the quantum capacitance of graphene in isolation from interactions with substrates and electrolytes

Assessment of endothelial dysfunction in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is defined as a specific form of chronic fibrosing interstitial pneumonia limited to the lung, with the histopathology of UIP on surgical lung biopsy. Recent epidemiological evidence indicates that patients with IPF have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The vascular endothelium acts to maintain vascular homeostasis through multiple mechanisms, and alteration in its function precedes the development, progression and clinical expression of atherosclerosis. Aim of the work: To assess the prevalence of endothelial dysfunction in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and its correlation with pulmonary hypertension. Subjects and methods: The study included two groups. The patient group included 30 IPF patients subdivided into 2 subgroups: Subgroup I (15 IPF cases) with pulmonary hypertension; Subgroup II (15 IPF cases) without pulmonary hypertension. The control group included 10 normal healthy individuals. Patients were subjected to written informed consent, detailed history taking, thorough clinical examination, collagen profile, arterial blood gases (PaO2, SaO2), Pulmonary function tests (spirometry), 6 min walk test, HRCT chest scan, echocardiography, and brachial artery duplex to assess endothelial dysfunction. Results: Subgroup (I) and Subgroup (II) showed a statistically highly significant difference in brachial artery flow mediated dilatation (BADFMD) and endothelium – reactive dilatation (ERD) which indicate endothelial dysfunction compared to the control group. Conclusion: This work concluded that BADFMD and ERD more affected in IPF patients regardless of presence or absence of PH than normal population. So, endothelial dysfunction is a possible link between IPF and cardiovascular disease

Weight status and perceived body size image in overweight and obese children 8–12 years old

Background: Young people's perception of their weight status attracted much interest. With a better understanding of childhood body image problems, investigating prevention programs within schools is an important next step. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate body size perception in school children using verbal descriptor and BMI-calibrated visual-matching methods to examine associations between perceived and actual body size. Methods: The subjects of this study were 106 school students (8–12 years old) from Khaldia region in Kuwait. Cross-sectional data on height, weight, and body image were collected in the classroom. Only overweight and obese children were assigned to participant with BMI percentile values for age and sex of >85 to 95, respectively. Students selected a figure to represent their current images. Body image was measured using a body image tool with a sequence of seven body silhouettes progressing from very thin to overweight. Results: The results revealed that both verbal and visual scales overestimate overweight and underestimate obese ones. There is a predominance of underestimation rather than overestimation, especially in girls. Visual-matching could be considered a more precise measure of body size perception than verbal, which could explain the greater sensitivity to sex differences. Parents in general and of girls specific underestimate the size of their children than boy's parents. The perception of friends of body size was underestimated. The majority of obese and overweight attributed their conditions to eating more foods. Those trying to lose weight did this through both reduction of amount of food. Conclusions: These results indicated that children can estimate their body size with visual-matching and verbal-rating methods, but the degree of precision was more accurate by visual one. The verbal scale showed a tendency for children of all sizes to perceive themselves as normal or overweight. Keywords: Children, Obesity, Body imag

Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) a marker of oxidative stress in obstructive sleep apnea

Introduction: OSA is a common condition that is primarily characterized by intermittent and recurrent pauses in respiration results in multiple cycles of hypoxia/re-oxygenation with an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Aim of work: Is to assess TBARS as a marker of oxidative stress in obese patients with and without OSA. Subjects and methods: Study was performed on 51 obese subjects who had been referred to the Chest Department of Kasr Alaini Hospital with clinical suspicion of OSA in order to perform polysomnography. They were classified into two groups; Cases: consist of 33 obese patients who were diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Controls: consist of 18 obese subjects, without OSA as a control group. The two groups were subjected to polysomnograpic study and serum TBARS. Results: There was statistically highly significant increase in Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) among cases compared to controls. As regards the polysomnographic data, there was statistically highly significant increase in AHI, desaturation index and duration of desaturation <90% among cases compared to control subjects. While minimal O2 sat% and average O2 sat% were lower in cases than in the control subjects this reduction was statistically significant. There was statistically highly significant increase in serum TBARS levels among cases as compared to controls. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between grade of obesity and serum TBARS among studied cases. Conclusion: TBRAS could be used as a marker of oxidative stress in OSA

Insulin resistance in obstructive sleep apnea

Introduction: OSA is a common condition that is characterized by intermittent and recurrent pauses in respiration results in multiple cycles of hypoxia/reoxygenation with an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Aim of work: Is to assess serum insulin level and insulin resistance in obese patients with and without OSA. Subjects and methods: Study was performed on 51 obese subjects who had been referred to the Chest Department of Kasr Alaini Hospital with clinical suspicion of OSA in order to perform polysomnography. They were classified into two groups; cases: consist of 33 obese patients who were diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and controls: consist of 18 obese subjects, without OSA as a control group. The two groups were subjected to polysomnographic study, serum insulin by ELISA and assessment of insulin resistance by calculation of HOMA index. Results: There was statistically highly significant increase in Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) among cases compared to controls. As regards the polysomnographic data, there was statistically highly significant increase in AHI, desaturation index and duration of desaturation <90% among cases compared to control subjects. Regarding minimal O2 sat% and average O2 sat% were lower in cases than in the control subjects and this reduction was statistically significant. There was statistically highly significant increase in serum insulin, HOMA index among cases as compared to controls. Conclusion: Insulin resistance in OSA is related to sleep associated hypoxemia and hypoxic stress