Genetic variability of camel (Camelus dromedarius) populations in Saudi Arabia based on microsatellites analysis

The genetic diversity and population genetic structure of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) are poorly documented in Saudi Arabia. The present study was conducted to address some of these genetics using four Saudi Arabian camel populations namely; Magaheem (MG), Maghateer (MJ), Sofr (SO) and Shual (SH). Genomic DNA was extracted from the hair roots of 160 camels, 40 individuals from each population. Sixteen microsatellite markers were used to genotype these 160 camels. Out of these 16 markers, only microsatellite VOLP67 did not produce any polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons. There were 139 alleles generated by the 15 microsatellites loci with a mean of 9.27 alleles per locus. Four of the microsatellites loci studied in MG, eight in MJ and six in both SO and SH were found to be deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The fixation genetic indices (Fst) among the four populations were very low, ranging from 0.006 (between SH and SO) to 0.017 (between MG and MJ), indicating low population differentiation among the four Saudi camel populations. No significant heterozygote excess or bottleneck in most nearest past was detected in the four camel populations as indicated by sign, standardized differences and Wilcoxon tests, along with the normal L shaped distribution of mode-shift test. The present study showed that the microsatellite markers are powerful tools in breeding programs, although there is a need for applying more microsatellites in order to be able to discriminate fairly between camel populations of Saudi Arabia.Keywords: Camels, Camelus dromedarius, microsatellite markers, Saudi Arabia, genetic variabilit

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A 15-years Experience at a Single Centre, Wad Medani, Sudan

No Abstract

Robustness of steel truss bridges: laboratory testing of a full-scale 21-metre bridge span

[EN] This study aimed to experimentally analyse the robustness of riveted steel bridges based on truss-type structures and to define practical recommendations for early detection of local failures before they cause progressive structural collapse. Although there are many experimental studies on robustness and progressive collapse on buildings, those on bridges are either theoretical or deal with actual collapses. This paper describes a unique case of a 21m full-scale bridge span tested under laboratory conditions with an extensive monitoring system, together with an experimental study to evaluate structural behaviour and robustness as damage or failure progressed in its elements. A linear-static finite-element analysis was also included to examine other possible causes not included in the experiment. The results proved the structural redundancy of this type of truss structure based on the joints¿ resistance to bending moments and gave rise to a series of practical structural health recommendations to identify early failures and avoid progressive or sudden bridge collapse. The study carried out and the recommendations it produced are now being applied in three similar bridge case studies.We would like to express our gratitude to the FGV (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana) and FCC Construcción S.A., CHM Obras e Infraestructuras S.A., Contratas y Ventas S.A. and CALSENS S.L. for giving us the opportunity to test a bridge at the ICITECH facilities, also to Juan Antonio García Cerezo, of FGV, for his invaluable cooperation and recommendations. We also wish to show our gratitude for the magnificent work on the bridge by Jesús Martínez, Eduardo Luengo and Daniel Tasquer. The tests on the bridge meant that much of the Structures Laboratory was out of service for other work, for which we owe a debt of gratitude to our ICITECH colleagues for their infinite patience and understanding.Buitrago, M.; Bertolesi, E.; Calderón García, PA.; Adam, JM. (2021). Robustness of steel truss bridges: laboratory testing of a full-scale 21-metre bridge span. Structures. 29:691-700. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2020.12.005S69170029Ghali, A., & Tadros, G. (1997). Bridge Progressive Collapse Vulnerability. Journal of Structural Engineering, 123(2), 227-231. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9445(1997)123:2(227)Cha, E. J., & Ellingwood, B. R. (2012). Risk-averse decision-making for civil infrastructure exposed to low-probability, high-consequence events. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 104, 27-35. doi:10.1016/j.ress.2012.04.002Zhuang, M., & Miao, C. (2020). RETRACTED: Fatigue reliability assessment for hangers of a special-shaped CFST arch bridge. Structures, 28, 235-250. doi:10.1016/j.istruc.2020.08.067Starossek, U. (2009). Avoiding Disproportionate Collapse of Major Bridges. Structural Engineering International, 19(3), 289-297. doi:10.2749/101686609788957838Russell, J. M., Sagaseta, J., Cormie, D., & Jones, A. E. K. (2019). Historical review of prescriptive design rules for robustness after the collapse of Ronan Point. Structures, 20, 365-373. doi:10.1016/j.istruc.2019.04.011Bontempi, F. (2019). Elementary concepts of structural robustness of bridges and viaducts. Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring, 9(5), 703-717. doi:10.1007/s13349-019-00362-7Deng, L., Wang, W., & Yu, Y. (2016). State-of-the-Art Review on the Causes and Mechanisms of Bridge Collapse. Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 30(2), 04015005. doi:10.1061/(asce)cf.1943-5509.0000731Bi, K., Ren, W.-X., Cheng, P.-F., & Hao, H. (2015). Domino-type progressive collapse analysis of a multi-span simply-supported bridge: A case study. Engineering Structures, 90, 172-182. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2015.02.023Rania, N., Coppola, I., Martorana, F., & Migliorini, L. (2019). The Collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa on 14 August 2018: A Collective Traumatic Event and Its Emotional Impact Linked to the Place and Loss of a Symbol. Sustainability, 11(23), 6822. doi:10.3390/su11236822Buitrago, M., Sagaseta, J., & Adam, J. M. (2020). Avoiding failures during building construction using structural fuses as load limiters on temporary shoring structures. Engineering Structures, 204, 109906. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.109906Adam, J. M., Parisi, F., Sagaseta, J., & Lu, X. (2018). Research and practice on progressive collapse and robustness of building structures in the 21st century. Engineering Structures, 173, 122-149. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.06.082Adam, J. M., Buitrago, M., Bertolesi, E., Sagaseta, J., & Moragues, J. J. (2020). Dynamic performance of a real-scale reinforced concrete building test under a corner-column failure scenario. Engineering Structures, 210, 110414. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.110414Alshaikh, I. M. H., Bakar, B. H. A., Alwesabi, E. A. H., & Akil, H. M. (2020). Experimental investigation of the progressive collapse of reinforced concrete structures: An overview. Structures, 25, 881-900. doi:10.1016/j.istruc.2020.03.018Fu, Q., & Tan, K.-H. (2019). Numerical study on steel-concrete composite floor systems under corner column removal scenario. Structures, 21, 33-44. doi:10.1016/j.istruc.2019.06.003Mucedero, G., Brunesi, E., & Parisi, F. (2020). Nonlinear material modelling for fibre-based progressive collapse analysis of RC framed buildings. Engineering Failure Analysis, 118, 104901. doi:10.1016/j.engfailanal.2020.104901Bao, Y., Main, J. A., & Noh, S.-Y. (2017). Evaluation of Structural Robustness against Column Loss: Methodology and Application to RC Frame Buildings. Journal of Structural Engineering, 143(8), 04017066. doi:10.1061/(asce)st.1943-541x.0001795Eren, N., Brunesi, E., & Nascimbene, R. (2019). Influence of masonry infills on the progressive collapse resistance of reinforced concrete framed buildings. Engineering Structures, 178, 375-394. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.10.056Wang, M. R., & Zhou, Z. J. (2012). Progressive Collapse and Structural Robustness of Bridges. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 193-194, 1021-1024. doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.193-194.1021Jiang, H., Wang, J., Chorzepa, M. G., & Zhao, J. (2017). Numerical Investigation of Progressive Collapse of a Multispan Continuous Bridge Subjected to Vessel Collision. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 22(5), 04017008. doi:10.1061/(asce)be.1943-5592.0001037Miyachi, K., Nakamura, S., & Manda, A. (2012). Progressive collapse analysis of steel truss bridges and evaluation of ductility. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 78, 192-200. doi:10.1016/j.jcsr.2012.06.015Khuyen, H. T., & Iwasaki, E. (2016). An approximate method of dynamic amplification factor for alternate load path in redundancy and progressive collapse linear static analysis for steel truss bridges. Case Studies in Structural Engineering, 6, 53-62. doi:10.1016/j.csse.2016.06.001Trong Khuyen, H., & Eiji, I. (2017). Linear Redundancy Analysis Method Considering Plastic Region for Steel Truss Bridges. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 22(3), 05016011. doi:10.1061/(asce)be.1943-5592.0000999Garavaglia, E., & Sgambi, L. (2016). Selective maintenance planning of a steel truss bridge based on the Markovian approach. Engineering Structures, 125, 532-545. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2016.06.055Olmati, P., Gkoumas, K., Brando, F., & Cao, L. (2013). Consequence-based robustness assessment of a steel truss bridge. Steel & Composite structures, 14(4), 379-395. doi:10.12989/scs.2013.14.4.379Azizinamini, A. (2002). Full scale testing of old steel truss bridge. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 58(5-8), 843-858. doi:10.1016/s0143-974x(01)00096-7Sagaseta, J., Olmati, P., Micallef, K., & Cormie, D. (2017). Punching shear failure in blast-loaded RC slabs and panels. Engineering Structures, 147, 177-194. doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2017.04.051ABAQUS v16.4. Abaqus, Theory manual 2016

A comparison of nutritional intake and daily physical activity of girls aged 8-11 years old in Makkah, Saudi Arabia according to weight status

Abstract Background Obesity rates in Saudi Arabia are amongst the highest in the world. It is known that teenage girls are less active than teenage boys, but less is known about the diet and activity patterns in younger girls. Therefore this study sought to investigate dietary intake and daily physical activity in girls aged 8-11 years old in Saudi Arabia. Methods This was a cross- sectional observational study conducted in seven schools across the city of Makkah. A total of 266 girls had anthropometric measurements taken including height, weight, waist circumference and body fat estimations. Dietary assessment using a 4 day unweighed diet diary was undertaken in 136 of these participants, and 134 agreed to monitor their physical activity for the 4 days using an accelerometer. After exclusion for under-reporting, 109 remained in the dietary analysis and 78 in the physical activity analyses. Differences in means between BMI groups were determined using one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey test. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to look at the effect of multiple variables on body weight. Results A total of 30% of participants were classified obese or overweight. There was a significant difference in the mean daily energy intake between the BMI groups with the obese group having the highest energy, fat, carbohydrate and protein intake (obese group: 2677 ± 804 kcal/d; healthy weight group: 1806 ± 403 kcal/d, p < 0.001), but the percentage contribution of the macronutrients to energy intake remained the same across the BMI groups. There were no differences in number of steps taken per day or time spent in moderate to vigorous intensity exercise according to BMI category. Most of the girls did not meet daily physical activity guidelines (5969 to 6773 steps per day and 18.5 - 22.5 mins per day of moderate to vigorous activity). Multiple linear regression showed that energy intake positively predicted body weight (Beta = 0.279, p =0 .001), whereas, total energy expenditure per kg of body weight and family income had a significant negative influence on body weight (Beta = −0.661, p < 0.001; −0.131, p = 0.028 respectively). Conclusions The results of this cross sectional analysis suggest that obesity in girls aged 8-11 years is linked to excessive energy intake from all macronutrients and the majority of girls in all weight categories are inactive. Research should be conducted to further investigate causal relationships in longitudinal studies and develop interventions to promote dietary change and activity that is culturally acceptable for girls in Saudi Arabia

Adenocarcinoma arising from a gastric duplication cyst: a case report and literature review

Maheeba Abdulla Mohamed Abdulla,1 Mahmood Al Saeed,1 Safa Ameer Alshaikh,2 Umesh J Nabar3 1Department of Internal Medicine, 2Department of Pathology, 3Department of Radiology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, The Kingdom of Bahrain Introduction: Alimentary tract cystic duplication is a rare congenital anomaly predominantly affecting females, and diagnosed mostly in the early years of life.Case report: We present here a case of a 51-year-old man presenting with a 2-day history of melena. Gastroscopy showed fresh blood, as well as a mass lesion and cavity at the fundus. Biopsies of the mass edge reported the occurrence of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and mild chronic gastritis. Computed tomography imaging showed a 5.1&times;6.5&nbsp;cm cystic mass in the gastric greater curvature. The patient received six cycles of epirubicin, capecitabine, and oxaliplatin, followed by uncomplicated total gastrectomy.Literature review: Data from all 11 reports of similar cases were reviewed and pooled. The result shows male predominance and variable symptoms, as well as a wide age range (25&ndash;76&nbsp;years) at presentation. The cysts are commonly located along the greater curvature and are unilocular. Surgery was the treatment in most cases.Conclusion: Alimentary tract cystic duplication is rare and may predispose to malignancy. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention is important for the best outcome. Keywords: gastric duplication cyst, gastric mass, adenocarcinoma, cystic duplication, alimentary tract cystic duplicatio