13 research outputs found
"Hanging Rugs between Aesthetic Value of Flowers and Design Software"
No full textThe art of wall hanging textiles has become one of the highly valued artistic and aesthetic applied arts in civilized societies. It is an important method for decorating public buildings and houses, which covers a large areas of walls. The success of wall hanging rugs industry depends on the designer's ability on successful innovation in which he exploits his culture, imagination and skills in producing rugs characterized by beauty with performance efficiency, to access a high level of quality that impose their efficiency in the market competition. Design is considered one of the most important factors that helps to attract the customer and promote the product economically.Human use nature as a rich source of colors, lines and forms. It is rich in relations that correlate between elements in aesthetic expressive formations. The good artist is the one who has the ability to meditate the nature and distinguish the beauty in its relations. Many artists have created great artworks inspired by the simplest elements in nature such as flowers and plants of all kinds.With the entry of Egypt the free trade era, we had to look for methods to develop the rugs designs and enhance their aesthetic value through looking for a new source of design resources by natural flowers processing using design software such as Photoshop and Illustrator to produce authentic and innovative designs that provides the principles of a successful design such as diversity, balance, unity, rhythm. These designs will be implemented using hand-tufted carpets style.The research problem can be summarized in the predominance of the representative style in hanging rugs design derived from natural flowers and the need of presenting modern trends in the field of hanging rug designs.The research aims to get benefit of the design software in designing of hanging rugs from designs inspired by natural flowers.In this research, a group of hanging rug designs have been made by employing the design software to create designs inspired by natural flowers, and then implemented using the hand tuft
Engineering functional kidney tissue using human iPS cells
No full textRecent advances in the field of stem cell research have enabled the derivation of renal
organoids from hiPSCs; these organoids might be a powerful tool with important
implications for regenerative medicine, but meticulous assessment of the functional
abilities of the induced nephrons is key to the use of these organoids in any
application. Here, I show that hiPSC-derived renal organoids possess proximal tubular
transporters and receptors; I present optimised techniques to assess the function of
these receptors in-vitro and show that these organoids have anion and cation uptake
capacities similar to what can be seen in foetal kidney tissue or isolated proximal
tubules, implying tubular functional capacity, an aspect of renal physiology that has
particular importance in the renal handling of drugs and toxins.
Due to high blood flow and the primary role of the kidney in clearing toxins and
metabolites, renal cells are highly vulnerable to drug toxicity. The lack of in-vitro high
throughput models to screen pharmaceutical compounds for potential nephrotoxicity
during drug development has always hindered the field of drug development and
increased the cost of delivering drugs into the market; in this study, I demonstrate that
hiPSCs-derived renal organoids are able to predict nephrotoxicity with reasonable
accuracy. Combining this ability with the possibility of cryopreserving renal-differentiated
cells and to the use of HMOX1 reporter cell line, to detect oxidative
stress, could streamline the use of these organoids in nephrotoxicity screening and
could potentially flourish the field of drug development.
While the current model of renal organoids could be used for drug screening without
further manipulation, the use of such tissue for therapeutic purposes necessitates a
higher degree of organisation and complexity. In-vivo kidney function is based on the
complex interplay of a range of highly specialised cells together with their three-dimensional
structure and organisation. Scientists are adopting different strategies to
build kidney tissue, from hiPSCs, that could be suitable for use in therapeutic
applications. Common to any of these strategies is the need to generate the correct
cell types in sufficient numbers and purity, and most important, in the right location. I
aim in this study to isolate correctly differentiated ureteric bud (UB) structures from
surrounding cells and to induce branching from single UB-like structure to recapitulate
branching morphogenesis in-vitro. I conjugated GDNF protein to a fluorophore and
used it to label the UB structures and isolate them. I show that the combination of
GDNF, FGF1, CHIR99021 and RA was able to induce branching in the isolated UBlike
structures. The ability to isolate pure differentiated UB structures from surrounding
contaminant tissue and to induce them to branch forming contiguous collecting duct
tree could be a step further towards engineering a more realistic kidney tissue with
single continuous collecting duct system, yet optimising culture conditions and
techniques to build such a tissue is still needed
WITHDRAWN: Cardiac syndrome-X: Is it benign or malignant? An Egyptian follow-up study
No full textThis article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy
Methylene blue removal from aqueous solutions using a biochar/gellan gum hydrogel composite: Effect of agitation mode on sorption kinetics
No full textInternational audienceHydrogel membranes are prepared by casting a mixture of gellan gum (associated with PVA) and biochar produced from a local Egyptian plant. The mesoporous material is characterized by a specific surface area close to 134 m2 g−1, a residue of 28 % (at 800 °C), and a pHPZC close to 6.43. After grinding, the material is tested for Methylene Blue sorption at pH 10.5: sorption capacity reaches 1.70 mmol MB g−1 (synergistic effect of the precursors). The sorption isotherms are fitted by both Langmuir and Sips eqs. MB sorption increases with temperature: the sorption is endothermic (∆H°: 12.9 kJ mol−1), with positive entropy (∆S°: 125 J mol−1 K−1). Uptake kinetics are controlled by agitation speed (optimum ≈200 rpm) and resistance to intraparticle diffusion. The profiles are strongly affected by the mode of agitation: the equilibrium time (≈180 min) is reduced to 20–30 min under sonication (especially at frequency: 80 kHz). The mode of agitation controls the best fitting equation: pseudo-first order rate agitation for mechanical agitation contrary to pseudo-second order rate under sonication. The sorption of MB is poorly affected by ionic strength (loss 97 % with a sorbent dose close to 1 g L−1; a higher dose is required for maximum reduction of the COD (60 % at 3 g L−1)
Evaluation of bull spermatozoa during and after cryopreservation: Structural and ultrastructural insights
No full textImproving the acoustic performance of flexible polyurethane foam using biochar modified by (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane coupling agent
No full textAbstract This study aims to investigate the potential of integrating natural biochar (BC) derived from eggshell waste into flexible polyurethane (FPU) foam to enhance its mechanical and acoustic performance. The study explores the impact of incorporating BC at various weight ratios (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 wt. %) on the properties of the FPU foam. Additionally, the effects of modifying the BC with (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) at different ratios (10, 20, and 30 wt. %) and the influence of diverse particle sizes of BC on the thermal, mechanical, and acoustic characteristics of the FPU composite are investigated. The functional groups, morphology, and elemental composition of the developed FPU composites are analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. Characteristics such as density, gel fraction, and porosity were also assessed. The results reveal that the density of FPU foam increased by 4.32% and 7.83% while the porosity decreased to 50.22% and 47.05% with the addition of 0.1 wt. % of unmodified BC and modified BC with 20 wt. % APTMS, respectively, compared to unfilled FPU. Additionally, the gel fraction of the FPU matrix increases by 1.91% and 3.55% with the inclusion of 0.1 wt. % unmodified BC and modified BC with 20 wt. % APTMS, respectively. Furthermore, TGA analysis revealed that all FPU composites demonstrate improved thermal stability compared to unfilled FPU, reaching a peak value of 312.17°C for the FPU sample incorporating BC modified with 20 wt. % APTMS. Compression strength increased with 0.1 wt. % untreated BC but decreased at higher concentrations. Modifying BC with 20% APTMS resulted in an 8.23% increase in compressive strength compared to unfilled FPU. Acoustic analysis showed that the addition of BC improved absorption, and modified BC enhanced absorption characteristics of FPU, reaching Class D with a 20 mm thickness. BC modified with APTMS further improved acoustic properties compared to the unfilled FPU sample (Class E), with 20% modification showing the best results. These composites present promising materials for sound absorption applications and address environmental issues related to eggshell waste
Burden of migraine among Egyptian people: prevalence and comorbidities
No full textAbstract Introduction Migraine is a prevalent debilitating neurological illness that stands among the top causes of disability and significantly impacts the quality of life. Migraine-related functional impairment involves physical, emotional, and economic consequences that frequently impact occupational, academic, social, and familial aspects of life. Depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances are among the most common comorbid conditions associated with migraine. Objective This study aimed to assess the prevalence of migraine among the Egyptian population and associated comorbidities. Methods we conducted a cross-sectional study using a validated Arabic self-administered questionnaire distributed to the general population. The questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, migraine frequency, characteristic associated disability, insomnia, and psychological factors. Convenience snowball sampling method was utilized. Univariate and multivariate regression analyzes were applied. Results A total of 2,533 participants were included in the final analysis from five Egyptian regions. Females represent 57%. More than one-half of participants (59.1%) aged 20–30 years. The prevalence of migraine was 20.9%. The most common triggers were sleep disorders (76.9%), followed by perceived noise (65%), and anxiety (59%). Among the participants diagnosed with migraine, 46.7% had a severe disability, 22% had clinical insomnia of moderate severity, 20.5% had severe depression, 29% had severe anxiety, and 20.6% had severe stress. Females, older age, and urban residents were the key predictors of migraine. Lifestyle factors including regular physical activity and good hydration were linked to reduced migraine risk. Comorbid conditions including insomnia, stress, and anxiety significantly impacted migraine severity. Conclusion Our results showed a 20.9% prevalence of migraine, with nearly one-half of cases associated with severe disability, along with comorbidities like depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Female gender, older age, and urban residence are key predictors, while lifestyle factors such as physical exercise and good hydration reduce the risk of migraine
“Let’s Play a Game!” Serious Games for Arabic Children with Dictation Difficulties
No full textPart 1: GamesInternational audienceThe purpose of this paper is to present a gaming application (Mega Challenger) dedicated to students with dictation difficulties between seven and nine years old. The user interface of the game will be presented in this paper, as well as, design principles of the game. Also, experiments have been performed to test the effect of the Mega Challenger game on the performance achievement of students with dictation difficulties; a type of dysgraphia. A dictation achievement pre-assessment was held for the students based on learning difficulties standards, and all results were recorded for further analysis. After applying 48 training sessions using the “Mega Challenger” application for 16 weeks, we had a post-assessment, with the assistance of learning difficulties tutors and experts. According to the experiment, pre and post results of the students show a significant difference between the student’s performance in the pre-assessment and post-assessment. Usability evaluation of Mega Challenger based on ISO 25062:2006, for post-user study interviews with students’ teachers concluded that Mega Challenger decreases the assessment loads of teachers and is a promising tool for students who have dictation difficulty. Children with dictation difficulties achieve better academic results when they play the game and that they are more motivated in serious games
Mucosal Genes Expression in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: New Insights
No full textIndividual differences in IBD illness severity, behavior, progression, and therapy response are evident. Since a break in the intestinal epithelial barrier causes IBD to begin, mucosal gene expression in IBD is crucial. Due to its high sensitivity and dynamic nature, molecular analysis of biomarkers in intestinal biopsies is feasible and provides a reliable means of evaluating localized inflammation. The goal of this investigation was to discover alterations in gene expression in the inflamed mucosa of IBD patients undergoing treatment with 5-amino salicylic acid (5ASA) (N = 39) or anti-TNF drugs (N = 22). The mucosal expression of numerous IBD-related genes was evaluated using qPCR. We discovered that the levels of the proteins Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), Nitric Oxide Synthase 2 (NOS2), Mucin 2 (MUC2), Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC), and Trefoil factor 1 (TFF1), which are overexpressed in untreated IBD patients compared to non-IBD subjects, are decreased by both therapy regimens. On the other hand, anti-TNF medicine helped the levels of ABCB1 and E-cadherin return to normal in IBD patients who were not receiving treatment
Sonographic reference values of cranial nerve size:A systematic review and meta-analysis
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