38 research outputs found
Comparative Analysis of the Efficiency of Air Source Heat Pumps in Different Climatic Areas of Iran
No full textAbstractTo address the problems caused by fossil energy usage it is important to make a transition to renewable sources of energy, in particular in the residential area. Heating systems such as air source heat pumps that gather heat energy from the ambient air are useful alternatives. However, whether or not such technical solutions are actually used depends on individual decisions. In the current paper the economic aspect for heating is analysed for different regions of Iran and for different pricing strategies for electricity and gas. This is done based on numerical simulations over a year based on temperature data, for domestic heating based on a heat pump in comparison to gas-based heating
A Case Study in Saudi Arabia: Biodiversity of Maize Seed-Borne Pathogenic Fungi in Relation to Biochemical, Physiological, and Molecular Characteristics
No full textMicrobiodiversity is usually correlated with environmental conditions. This investigation is a case study to cover the lack of knowledge on the correlation of biochemical, physiological, and molecular attributes with the distribution of seed-borne pathogenic fungi of maize under the environmental conditions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to help forecast any destructive epidemics. Forty-one fungal species belonging to 24 genera were detected using standard moist blotter (SMB), deep freezing blotter (DFB), and agar plate (AP) techniques. SMB was superior in detecting the maximum numbers (36 species) of seed-borne mycoflora. The pathogenicity assay revealed that, among 18 seed-borne fungal pathogens used, 12 isolates caused high percentages of rotted seeds and seedling mortality symptoms, which were identified molecularly using an internal transcribed spacer sequence. Two Curvularia spp. and Sarocladium zeae were reported for the first time in KSA. The strains showed various enzymatic activities and amino acid profiles under different environmental setups. Temperature and humidity were the environmental variables influencing the fungal pathogenicity. The highest pathogenicity was correlated with the presence and concentration of threonine, alanine, glutamic, aspartic acids, and protein. The study concluded with the discovery of four new phytopathogens in KSA and, further, evidenced a marked correlation among the investigated variables. Nevertheless, more studies are encouraged to include additional physiological properties of the phytopathogens, such as toxigenic activity, as well as extend the fungal biodiversity study to other plants
Characterization of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma on the way for early detection: one center experience
No full textBackground Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the commonest primary liver neoplasm that usually develop in the background of cirrhosis. Hepatitis C virus is endemic in Egypt and is the major cause of cirrhosis. Studying the characteristics of patients with HCC may help in clarifying the schedule for screening of high-risk patients for an early detection of HCC.
Patients and methods The 492 patients attending the hepatology and HCC clinics in Specialized Medical Hospital, Mansoura University for follow up of liver cirrhois and HCC were subjected to full history, physical examination, laboratory profile, and imaging studies needed for the diagnosis. Data were collected and analyzed. According to the radiological results, patients were divided into three groups (fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC) and compared.
Results The study included 336 males and 156 females. Patients with HCC were mainly males with a mean age of 58 years. A statistically significant difference between HCC group and the other groups with respect to hemoglobin level, white blood cells count, platelet count, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, albumen level, serum bilirubin, international normalized ratio, and α-fetoprotein (AFP) was found. The sensitivity and specificity of AFP in differentiating HCC cases are 81.1 and 71.9%, respectively. Logistic regression for prediction of HCC showed that males with age greater than 58 years, hypoalbuminaemia, and AFP greater than 11.2 ng/dl have a 76.3% positive predicted value.
Conclusion Cirrhotic patients with age greater than 58 years, males, hypoalbuminaemia, and AFP greater than 11.2 ng/dl are at a higher risk to develop HCC more than other patients and should be monitored at close quarters with better contrast-enhanced technique either contrast-enhanced ultrasound or computed tomography scan
Crude Citric Acid of Trichoderma asperellum: Tomato Growth Promotor and Suppressor of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici
No full textPresently, the bioprocessing of agricultural residues to various bioactive compounds is of great concern, with the potential to be used as plant growth promoters and as a reductive of various diseases. Lycopersiconesculentum, one of the most consumed crops in the human diet, is attacked by Fusarium wilt disease, so the main aim is to biocontrol the pathogen. Several fungal species were isolated from decayed maize stover (MS). Trichodermaasperellum was chosen based on its organic acid productivity and was molecularly identified (GenBank accession number is MW195019). Citric acid (CA) was the major detected organic acid by HPLC. In vitro, CA of T.asperellum at 75% completely repressed the growth of Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL). In vivo, soaking tomato seeds in CA enhanced the seed germination and vigor index. T. asperellum and/or its CA suppressed the wilt disease caused by FOL compared to control. There was a proportional increment of plant growth and yield, as well as improvements in the biochemical parameters (chlorophyll pigments, total phenolic contents and peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase activities), suggesting targeting both the bioconversion of MS into CA and biological control of FOL
Urban Fabric Patterns on Urban Wetland
No full textThe Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.Latin American cities have experienced rapid urbanization and with it the social and environmental challenges caused by urban sprawl. Over the last decades, this increase has led to strong wetland area loss and fragmentation. It has negatively impacted its ecological value and biodiversity, and ignored their ecosystems services. This study analyzes wetland urbanization patterns in the Metropolitan area of Concepción (South of Chile). It proposes a characterization of the urban fabrics using the urbanization variables of density of population and dwellings, distances to roads and city center, and % covered by roads and green areas surrounding the wetland, in order to evaluate which urban variable explains the increase in urbanization, reducing recreation services for the well-being of residents from the different urban fabrics. In Chilean cities, urban wetlands are typically built on with dwellings that are not friendly with the natural environment. The urbanization intensity is modeled with a linear regression ordinary least squares (OLS), and predictions or a model of the dependent variable in terms of its relationships to a set of explanatory urban variables is generated. The built-up area (BA) is the dependent variable, and the variables of densities, distances, green spaces, and roads are independent. A discussion about the effect of spatial urbanization on urban wetlands is achieved, and the urbanization intensity is determined. The study adds to the discussion about spatial patterns and urban processes in urban landscapes; the results are inputs for natural planning and designing for people who intend to use urban wetlands in cities as nature-based solution
Chitinolytic Streptomyces griseorubens E44G enhances the biocontrol efficacy against Fusarium wilt disease of tomato
No full textAuthor Correction: Potential anti-proliferative activity of Salix mucronata and Triticum spelta plant extracts on liver and colorectal cancer cell lines
No full textPancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm: clinical, computed tomography and endoscopic ultrasound features unraveling a rare tumor with pathologic correlation
No full textAbstract Background Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas exhibits low malignant potential and is typically curable via surgical excision, with > 90% 5-year survival rates, including metastatic cases. Accurate preoperative diagnosis is crucial to minimize surgical extent. We aimed to elucidate distinctive imaging features of SPN on computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with pathologic correlation, enabling radiologists to better recognize and distinguish them from other pancreatic lesions. Methods Thirty three patients (3 men, and 30 women; median age of 25 years) with pathologic diagnosis of SPN encountered between November 2019 and July 2024 were included in this study. CT images with pancreatic triphasic protocol were reviewed for tumor location, size, shape, margin, morphology, presence of capsule, calcification, hemorrhage, invasion, enlarged lymph nodes, and bile duct dilatation. Enhancement pattern was assessed and CT attenuation values were calculated. EUS was conducted in 15 patients and its sensitivity in diagnosing SPN was compared to CT alone. Results Most patients in our series were symptomatic young females. Dominant CT features included a well-defined encapsulated lesion with mixed solid/cystic appearance, variable degrees of hemorrhage and calcifications, heterogeneous hypo-enhancement during arterial phase with peak enhancement in portal venous phase, non-dilated bile duct, and absence of liver metastasis. Combining CT and EUS in 15 patients enhanced diagnostic sensitivity compared to CT alone. Conclusion A mixed solid/cystic pancreatic mass in a young woman with progressive enhancement and variable degrees of hemorrhage and calcifications is suggestive of SPN. Combining CT and EUS could enhance preoperative diagnostic accuracy. Despite being a descriptive study with limited scope, this institutional case series provides descriptive insights into tumor characteristics, aligning with existing literature and expanding the collective knowledge base
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided ethanol ablation (EUS-EA) of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and adenocarcinoma: a prospective multicenter study
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