Initial deformations of plain woven fabrics.

This work is an attempt to provide simple formulae that can predict the initial behaviour of the most commonly used fabric, namely the plain weave. To achieve this, a simple zigzag shape 'saw-tooth model' was adopted to describe the yarn configuration in the weave structure. An energy method, using Castigliano's theorem, was then employed to derive closed form solutions which relate the yarn parameters and the fabric moduli under either tensile or bending strains. To examine the theory, series of tests were carried out on different plain weave structures and the theoretically calculated results were compared with the actual fabric behaviour. The outcome of the study showed that, when the yarn and fabric parameters are accurately defined, it is possible to obtain a reasonable estimate of the above mentioned fabric properties using the formulae derived in the theoretical analysis. The results and discussion also showed that the initial deformation of some plain weave constructions may produce extension and/or compression strain energies that cannot be ignored in estimating the fabric behaviour with reasonable accuracy

The effect of fertilizers for conventional and organic farming on yield and oil quality of fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) in Egypt

The main objective of this study was to find out whether sufficient and high qualities of fennel yields can be produced without chemical fertilizers but only with the sources allowed by organic farming rules under Egyptian conditions. The extensive use of manufactured chemical fertilizers on the Nile valley soils has increased crops productivity but compromised quality especially for medicinal and aromatic plants which are not acceptable for export. Coupled to this, most of the new reclaimed land in Egypt are sandy soils which are normally poor in essential plant nutrients. In the rural areas, organic fertilization play an important role in agricultural productivity. Fennel an important medicinal plant grows well under Egyptian conditions and plays an important role in foreign exchange earnings. To investigate the effect of organic and inorganic sources of N, P and K on the fennel fruits yield and essential oil, it was important to study the effect of different treatments on soil fertility parameters, total content of macro- and micronutrients in the fennel herbs and fennel growth parameters at different physiological stages. Field trials have been started to investigate the effect of different nitrogen sources on the yield of fennel fruits and essential oil. The natural sources of N (sources allowed by organic farming rules): compost, compost/Azotobacter and chicken manure in comparison with ammonium nitrate (chemical fertilizer). Phosphorous fertilization has been done with rock-P alone and rock-P mixed with elemental S (sources allowed by organic farming rules) and superphosphate as chemical fertilizer. Different potassium sources have been tested also, potassium given as natural source as feldspar (source allowed by organic farming rules) or as chemical fertilizer in the form of potassium sulphate. Two field experiments have been done in an area of newly reclaimed land (Sekem farm) and in comparison on old cultivated land in the Nile val.In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde untersucht, ob es mit den Vorgaben des ökologischen Landbaus zur Düngung möglich ist, ausreichende und qualitativ hochwertige Fenchel-Erträge in Ägypten zu produzieren. Fenchel ist eine wichtige Heilpflanze, die unter den klimatischen Bedingungen Ägyptens gut wächst und einen wichtigen Devisenbringer, insbesondere für kleinbäuerliche Landwirtschaft, darstellt. Neulandflächen in Ägyptens sind meist Sandböden, die arm an essentiellen Pflanzennährstoffen sind und daher der Düngung bedürfen. Ziel der Arbeit war es, den Einfluß von im ökologischen Landbau zugelassen organischen und anorganischen N, P und K Dünger auf den Ertrag von Fenchel und den Gehalt an essentiellen Öle in Feldversuchen zu untersuchen. Geprüft wurden Kompost, Kompost/Azotobacter, Geflügelmist, Rohphosphat, Rohphosphat in Mischung mit elementarem Schwefel und natürlicher Feldspat. Als Kontrolle wurden Ammoniumnitrat, Superphosphat und Kaliumsulfat verwendet. Die Feldversuche wurden zum einen in der Neuland-Region der Wüste (Sekem) sowie auf seit langen landwirtschaftlich genutztem Land im Nil Tal (Giza) während zweier Vegetationsperioden (1998/1999 und 1999/2000) durchgeführt. Die Untersuchungen kamen zu folgenden Ergebnissen: 1. Generell wurden Parameter der Bodenfruchtbarkeit (pH, verfügbare Makro- und Mikronährstoffe) nicht signifikant von den verschiedenen Düngern beeinflußt. Jedoch war bei organischer Düngung in einigen Fällen eine höhere Pflanzenverfügbarkeit von Bodennährstoffen festgestellt. 2. Der Gesamtgehalt an Makro- und Mikronährstoffen in Fenchel waren bei konventioneller Düngung und bei Düngung nach Richtlinien des ökologischen Landbaus gleich hoch. 3. Der Einsatz konventioneller Dünger (Ammoniumnitrat, Superphosphat und Kaliumsulfat) führten tendenziell zu größerer Wuchshöhe, Triebzahl und höheren Trockengewichten

Editorial commentary on draft of world health organization sixth edition laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen

Semen examination is the cornerstone of the evaluation of male fertility potential. Despite its apparent simplicity, it is a complex series of assessments with highly variable results that are subject to interpretation. The semen analysis is used to gauge reproductive potential and guide the clinician in management of the infertile couple. Over the past 40 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) Infertility Task Force has attempted to standardize the methodology of semen examination so as to bring uniformity and relevance to the test

Impact of Initialization on Gradient Descent Method in Localization Using Received Signal Strength

In this article we present a localization technique based on received signal strength (RSS) combined with the gradient descent optimization method. The goal of this article is to show the importance of gradient descent in localization domain over the trilateration technique, and that by reducing the number of needed anchor nodes. Furthermore, we demonstrate the effect of the initialization technique on the localization accuracy. Results have shown that the selection of the initialization type (4 types of initialization were tested) has an efficient impact on the accuracy of the target sensors location estimation

Impact of antioxidant therapy on natural pregnancy outcomes and semen parameters in infertile men: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Purpose: Seminal oxidative stress (OS) is a recognized factor potentially associated with male infertility, but the efficacy of antioxidant (AOX) therapy is controversial and there is no consensus on its utility. Primary outcomes of this study were to investigate the effect of AOX on spontaneous clinical pregnancy, live birth and miscarriage rates in male infertile patients. Secondary outcomes were conventional semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and seminal OS.Materials and Methods: Literature search was performed using Scopus, PubMed, Ovid, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included and the meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines.Results: We assessed for eligibility 1,307 abstracts, and 45 RCTs were finally included, for a total of 4,332 infertile patients. We found a significantly higher pregnancy rate in patients treated with AOX compared to placebo-treated or untreated controls, without significant inter-study heterogeneity. No effects on live-birth or miscarriage rates were observed in four studies. A significantly higher sperm concentration, sperm progressive motility, sperm total motility, and normal sperm morphology was found in patients compared to controls. We found no effect on SDF in analysis of three eligible studies. Seminal levels of total antioxidant capacity were significantly higher, while seminal malondialdehyde acid was significantly lower in patients than controls. These results did not change after exclusion of studies performed following varicocele repair.Conclusions: The present analysis upgrades the level of evidence favoring a recommendation for using AOX in male infertility to improve the spontaneous pregnancy rate and the conventional sperm parameters. The failure to demonstrate an increase in live-birth rate, despite an increase in pregnancy rates, is due to the very few RCTs specifically assessing the impact of AOX on live-birth rate. Therefore, further RCTs assessing the impact of AOX on live-birth rate and miscarriage rate, and SDF will be helpful

KIRURŠKO LIJEČENJE STRES URINARNE INKONTINENCIJE, FEKALNE INKONTINENCIJE I VAGINALNOG PROLAPSA NOVOM OPERACIJOM »URETRO-ANO-VAGINOPLASTIKA«

We put forward a novel concept explaining the mechanism of micturition and the factors that control urinary continence. Also, we describe the mechanism of defecation and the factors that control stool continence and prevent fecal incontinence. A weak internal urethral sphincter (IUS) will not withstand sudden rise of intra-abdominal pressure and urine will leak. The weakness of the IUS is mostly due to traumatic rupture of its wall as a result of the huge vaginal distension that happens during prolonged, difficult and multiple frequent labors. So, surgical correction is by exposing that rupture and mending its walls. Also the marked vaginal distension which occurs in labor will cause lacerations in the internal anal sphincter (IAS) which is intimately related to the posterior vaginal wall. The torn weak IAS will cause fecal incontinence (FI). Exposing the torn IAS and mending the torn walls will restore the sphincter strength and fecal continence. Vaginal prolapse occurs as a result of vaginal wall weakness, redundancy and flabbiness subsequent to its marked stretching of its walls during vaginal deliveries. Overlapping the vaginal flaps both in the anterior and posterior vaginal wall, such repair will strengthen the vaginal walls, as if we put a collagenous mesh but instead this is an autologus collagenous mesh. We innovated an operation called »urethro-ano-vagino-plasty« to surgically treat urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence and and vaginal prolapse. Objectives. To describe this novel operation, and assess its results for a follow up period of 24 months. Methods. 134 patients with SUI and FI were assessed. Urethro-ano-vaginoplasty was done, and the results were assessed immediately and for 24 months follow up. Results. 121 (90.3%) gained urinary and fecal continence and remained continent in the follow up period. Conclusion. The internal anal sphincter (IAS) is a collageno-muscular tissue cylinder that surrounds the anal canal innervated by alpha-sympathetic nerve supply from the hypogastric nerves. It is surrounded in its lower part by the EAS which is a striated muscle innervated by the pudendal nerve. Its damage during childbirth causes fecal incontinence and mending the torn walls restores fecal continence.Predstavljena je nova koncepcija o mehanizmu mokrenja i čimbenicima koji reguliraju mokraćnu kontinenciju. Također, opisan je mehanizam defekacije te čimbenici koji kontroliraju kontinenciju stolice i sprječavaju fekalnu inkontinenciju. Slab unutarnji uretralni sfinkter (IUS) se ne može suprostaviti naglom porastu intraabdominalnog tlaka te će mokraća bježati. Slabost IUS-a je većinom posljedica ozljede njegove stijenke zbog silnog vaginalna širenja koje se zbiva tijekom produljenih, tešlih i učestalih rađanja. Kirurška korekcija se sastoji u nalaženju prsnuća i opskrbi njegove stijenke. Vaginalno širenje tijekom poroda uzrokuje prsnuće unutarnjeg analnog sfinktera (IAS), koji je intimno povezan sa stražnjom vaginalnom stijenkom. Oslabljeni i prsnuti IAS uzrokuje fekalnu inkontinenciju (FI). Prikaz prsnutog IAS-a i šivanje njegovih razderanih stijenki uspostavit će snagu sfinktera i fekalnu kontinenciju. Vaginalni prolaps nastaje kao posljedica slabosti i mlohavosti vaginalne stijenke te njene proširenosti, zbog istezanja tijekom vaginalnog rađanja. Preklapanjem vaginalnih režanja prednje i stražnje stijenke ojačava se stijenka, umjesto umjetne mrežice postavljamo vlastitu autolognu kolagenu mrežicu. Izumjeli smo za korekciju urinarne i fekalne inkontinencije te vaginalna prolapsa novu operaciju i nazcvali je »uretro-ano-vagino-plastika«. Cilj rada je opisati novu operaciju i prosuditi njen uspjeh nakon 24 mjeseca. Metoda. Operirane su 134 bolesnice sa stres urinarnom inkontinencijom i fekalnom inkontinencijom. Rezultati. 121 bolesnica (90,3%) je opet postigla mokraćnu i fekalnu kontinenciju i zadržala ih tijekom praćenja. Zaključak. Unutarnji analni sfinkter je kolegano-mišićni tkivni cilindar, inerviran alfa-simpatičnim živcima iz hipogastričkog pleksusa koji okružuje analni kanal. U donjem dijelu je okružen vanjskim sfinkterom koji je poprečno-prugaste mišićne građe i inerviran ograncima pudendalnog živca. Njegovo oštećenje tijekom rađanja uzrokuje fekalnu inkontinenciju, a šivanje prsnute stijenke uspostavlja fekalnu kontinenciju

FEKALNA INKONTINENCIJA Nova koncepcija: Uloga unutarnjeg analnog sfinktera pri defekaciji i fekalnoj inkontinenciji

Introduction. Fecal incontinence is involuntary escape of stool, mucus and/or flatus.Its causes are: anal sphincter damage (childbirth trauma, surgical trauma.); constipation; diarrhea; rectocele; rectal prolapse and rarely congenital causes. Fecal material entering the rectum is evacuated by defecation during which: 1. The smooth muscles of the distal colon and rectum contract, propelling the feces into the anal canal; 2.The anal sphincter relaxes allowing defecation to occur. We put forward a recent concept on the patho-physiology of defecation.The mechanism of defecation has two stages: first stage: (in early childhood) before training; second stage is after training. The mother starts to teach her child how to control himself. This is gained by maintaining high alpha sympathetic tone at the internal anal sphincter (IAS) keeping it closed all the time till appropriate place and time are available. Wherever appropriate place is available and there is a desire, six neuromuscular actions will occur: 1) the person will lower the acquired high alpha sympathetic tone at the IAS relaxing it opening the anal canal; 2) through the voluntary nervous system (NS) he will widen the ano-rectal angle to bring the anal canal and the rectum on one axis. This is done through the pelvic floor muscles; 3) through, voluntary NS he will also relax the external anal sphincter (EAS); then synergistic actions between the voluntary and autonomic nervous system occur; 4) the abdominal and diaphragmatic muscles contract, increasing the intra- abdominal pressure and forcing the feces through the anal canal (via the voluntary NS); 5) the smooth muscles of the distal colon and rectum contract, propelling the feces into the anal canal (through the autonomic NS); 6) followed by sequential contractions of the three parts of the EAS (deep then superficial and then the subcutaneous parts) that will squeeze the anal canal propelling any residual contents. Objectives. Imaging of the anal canal by 3-dimension ultrasound (3DUS) in normal women and women suffering from fecal incontinence and from rectocele, to compare the state of the IAS and EAS. Methods. 40 patients with FI were assessed clinically and by imaging using 3DUS, and also 10 normal women not suffering from fecal incontinence (FI) as a control. Results. The anal canal is closed in normal women, with intact IAS. In women suffering from FI the anal canal is wide and open with torn IAS. Conclusion. The internal anal sphincter (IAS) is a collageno-muscular tissue cylinder that surrounds the anal canal innervated by alpha-sympathetic nerve supply from the hypogastric nerves. It is surrounded in its lower part by the EAS which is a striated muscle innervated by the pudendal nerve. Its damage during childbirth causes fecal incontinence, and mending its torn wall restores fecal continence.Uvod. Fekalna inkontinencija (insuficijencija stolice) znači nevoljno bježanje stolice, sluzi i/ili vjetrova. Uzroci su: oštećenje sfinktera (pri rađanju djeteta, kirurška trauma), zatvor stolice, proljev; rektokela, ispadanje rektuma, rijetko prirođeno ispadanje. Stolica ulazi u završno crijevo te iz njega izlazi na sljedeći način: 1. Glatki mišići donjeg i završnog dijela debelog crijeva se stežu, potiskujući feces u analni kanal; 2. Analni sfinkter olabavi i omogući da uslijedi defekacija. Predstavljamo svježe shvaćanje o patofiziologiji defekacije. Mehanizam ima dva razdobkja: prvo razdoblje je rano djetinstvo, bez poduke; drugo razdoblje je nakon poduke. Majka podučava svoje dijete kako se kontrolirati. To se postiže visokim alfa simpatičkim tonusom unutarnjeg analnog sfinktera, držeći ga zatvorenim sve dok se ne ukaže odgovarajuće mjesto i vrijeme. Kad se nađe odgovarajuće mjesto, i ako postoji želja, počinje šest sinergističkih neuromuskularnih aktivnosti: 1) osoba će sniziti postojeći visoki alfa simpatički tonus unutarnjeg analnoga sfinktera i time otvoriti analni kanal; 2) pomoću voljnog živčanog sustava smanjit će ano-rektalni kut i dovesti ih u istu osovinu; to postiže pomoću mišića dna zdjelice: 3) voljnim živčanim sustavom također će omlohaviti vanjski analni sfinkter; tada nastupa sinergistična djelatnost voljnog i autonomnog živčevlja; 4) trbušni i dijafragmalni mišići se stežu, povećavaju intraabdominalni tlak te potiskuju feces kroz analni kanal; 5) stežu se glatki mišići debelog crijeva i rektuma te potiskuju feces u analni kanal (autonomnim živčevljem); 6) slijede segmentalna stezanja sva tri dijela vanjskog sfinktera (dubokog, površnog pa potkožnog), koja će iz analnog kanala istisnuti sve zaostatke. Svrha rada. Trodimenzionalnim ultrazvukom prikazati analni kanal u zdravih žena te u onih koje pate od fekalne inkontinencije i rektokele, usporediti njihov unutrašnji i vanjski analni sfinkter. Metode. Analizirano je klinički i 3DUZ-om 40 pacijentica s fekalnom inkompetencijom i uspoređeno s 10 zdravih žena. Rezultat. Analni kanal je u zdravih žena zatvoren, njihov unutrapnji sfinkter je neoštećen. U žena s fekalnom inkompetencijom analni kanal je širok i otvoren te s razderanim sfinkterom. Zaključak. Unutarnji analni sfinkter je kolageno-mišićno tkivo oblika cilindra koje okružuje analni kanal, inerviran je alfa-simpatičkim živcima iz hipogastričkog pleksusa. Unutarnji sfinkter je okružen donjim dijelom vanjskog analnog sfinktera, koji je građen od prugastog mišićja inerviranog pudendalnim živcem. Njegovo oštećenje tijekom rađanja uzrokuje fekalnu inkontinenciju. Prepravak njegove razderane stijenke uspostavlja fekalnu kontinenciju

KIRURŠKO LIJEČENJE STRES URINARNE INKONTINENCIJE, FEKALNE INKONTINENCIJE I VAGINALNOG PROLAPSA NOVOM OPERACIJOM »URETRO-ANO-VAGINOPLASTIKA«

We put forward a novel concept explaining the mechanism of micturition and the factors that control urinary continence. Also, we describe the mechanism of defecation and the factors that control stool continence and prevent fecal incontinence. A weak internal urethral sphincter (IUS) will not withstand sudden rise of intra-abdominal pressure and urine will leak. The weakness of the IUS is mostly due to traumatic rupture of its wall as a result of the huge vaginal distension that happens during prolonged, difficult and multiple frequent labors. So, surgical correction is by exposing that rupture and mending its walls. Also the marked vaginal distension which occurs in labor will cause lacerations in the internal anal sphincter (IAS) which is intimately related to the posterior vaginal wall. The torn weak IAS will cause fecal incontinence (FI). Exposing the torn IAS and mending the torn walls will restore the sphincter strength and fecal continence. Vaginal prolapse occurs as a result of vaginal wall weakness, redundancy and flabbiness subsequent to its marked stretching of its walls during vaginal deliveries. Overlapping the vaginal flaps both in the anterior and posterior vaginal wall, such repair will strengthen the vaginal walls, as if we put a collagenous mesh but instead this is an autologus collagenous mesh. We innovated an operation called »urethro-ano-vagino-plasty« to surgically treat urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence and and vaginal prolapse. Objectives. To describe this novel operation, and assess its results for a follow up period of 24 months. Methods. 134 patients with SUI and FI were assessed. Urethro-ano-vaginoplasty was done, and the results were assessed immediately and for 24 months follow up. Results. 121 (90.3%) gained urinary and fecal continence and remained continent in the follow up period. Conclusion. The internal anal sphincter (IAS) is a collageno-muscular tissue cylinder that surrounds the anal canal innervated by alpha-sympathetic nerve supply from the hypogastric nerves. It is surrounded in its lower part by the EAS which is a striated muscle innervated by the pudendal nerve. Its damage during childbirth causes fecal incontinence and mending the torn walls restores fecal continence.Predstavljena je nova koncepcija o mehanizmu mokrenja i čimbenicima koji reguliraju mokraćnu kontinenciju. Također, opisan je mehanizam defekacije te čimbenici koji kontroliraju kontinenciju stolice i sprječavaju fekalnu inkontinenciju. Slab unutarnji uretralni sfinkter (IUS) se ne može suprostaviti naglom porastu intraabdominalnog tlaka te će mokraća bježati. Slabost IUS-a je većinom posljedica ozljede njegove stijenke zbog silnog vaginalna širenja koje se zbiva tijekom produljenih, tešlih i učestalih rađanja. Kirurška korekcija se sastoji u nalaženju prsnuća i opskrbi njegove stijenke. Vaginalno širenje tijekom poroda uzrokuje prsnuće unutarnjeg analnog sfinktera (IAS), koji je intimno povezan sa stražnjom vaginalnom stijenkom. Oslabljeni i prsnuti IAS uzrokuje fekalnu inkontinenciju (FI). Prikaz prsnutog IAS-a i šivanje njegovih razderanih stijenki uspostavit će snagu sfinktera i fekalnu kontinenciju. Vaginalni prolaps nastaje kao posljedica slabosti i mlohavosti vaginalne stijenke te njene proširenosti, zbog istezanja tijekom vaginalnog rađanja. Preklapanjem vaginalnih režanja prednje i stražnje stijenke ojačava se stijenka, umjesto umjetne mrežice postavljamo vlastitu autolognu kolagenu mrežicu. Izumjeli smo za korekciju urinarne i fekalne inkontinencije te vaginalna prolapsa novu operaciju i nazcvali je »uretro-ano-vagino-plastika«. Cilj rada je opisati novu operaciju i prosuditi njen uspjeh nakon 24 mjeseca. Metoda. Operirane su 134 bolesnice sa stres urinarnom inkontinencijom i fekalnom inkontinencijom. Rezultati. 121 bolesnica (90,3%) je opet postigla mokraćnu i fekalnu kontinenciju i zadržala ih tijekom praćenja. Zaključak. Unutarnji analni sfinkter je kolegano-mišićni tkivni cilindar, inerviran alfa-simpatičnim živcima iz hipogastričkog pleksusa koji okružuje analni kanal. U donjem dijelu je okružen vanjskim sfinkterom koji je poprečno-prugaste mišićne građe i inerviran ograncima pudendalnog živca. Njegovo oštećenje tijekom rađanja uzrokuje fekalnu inkontinenciju, a šivanje prsnute stijenke uspostavlja fekalnu kontinenciju