Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CHROMOGRANIN-A AS A NEW SERUM MARKER FOR DIAGNOSIS OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the world's sixth most common cancer, and it usually complicates liver cirrhosis. Its prevalence is growing globally, with annual increases ranging from 3% to 9%. Despite the fact that the alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is the gold standard for HCC serodiagnosis, it has a high rate of false positive outcomes, which are associated with a bad diagnosis. Objective: To investigate the potential role of chromogranin-A (CgA) as a diagnostic non-invasive marker for HCC and to assess its sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of HCC compared to AFP. Material and Methods: This study was conducted from October 2017 till March 2020 at the Department of Tropical Medicine, Ain Shams University and Theodor Bilharz research institute. The study included 35 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma HCC and 35 patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD). The study also included 20 apparently healthy individual served as a healthy control group taken from the blood donors at the blood bank of Ain Shams University Hospital. AFP and CgA serum levels were detected for all groups using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The results of the study showed that the median of the of CgA in the HCC group was 53.40 and in CLD group was 22.55 while in the control group was 15.30; which indicates a significant elevation of CgA in HCC patients. Conclusion: CgA is one of the promising tumor markers in hepatic focal lesions for detection of HCC.
Mitigating Wind-Induced Fatigue in Steel Traffic Signal Support Structures

ii DEDICATION . iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . v TABLE OF CONTENTS . vi LIST OF FIGURES . xi LIST OF TABLES . xviii 1 INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background and Motivation . 1 1.2 Research Hypothesis and Questions . 3 1.3 Research Objectives . 8 1.4 New Contributions in Dissertation . 10 1.5 Research Significance . 11 1.6 Dissertation Organization . 15 2 LITERATURE REVIEW OF PREVIOUS WORK . 20 2.1 Vibration of Cantilevered Traffic Signal Structures . 20 2.1.1 Excitation Mechanisms . 20 2.1.2 Excitation Mechanism Identification and Fatigue Demand . 21 2.2 Fatigue Considerations . 26 2.2.1 Fatigue Design Approaches . 27 2.2.2 Causes for Reduced Fatigue Life . 35 2.3 Previous Work on Tube-to-Transverse Plate Connection Fatigue . 38 2.3. 1 Fatigue Resistance and Capacity . 38 2.3. 2 Summary of Observations . 48 2.4 Wind-Induced Fatigue Mitigation . 49 2.4. 1 Past Demand Reduction Strategies . 49 2.4. 2 Past Strategies to Improve Fatigue Capacity . 52 2.5 Damage Avoidance Design . 54 2.6 Quantitative Risk Assessment Techniques . 56 2.7 Manders’s Rapid Analysis Methods in Earthquake Engineering . 64
Clinical and biochemical response of treatment with anti-TNFα in Egyptian IBD patients: Zagazig University IBD Clinic experience

The aim is to evaluate the clinical and biochemical response of treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factorα (anti-TNFα) therapy used for induction and maintenance of remission in Egyptian inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients who attended an IBD Clinic of the Internal Medicine Department, Zagazig University over a one year. Methods A prospective cohort study included seventy-seven IBD patients; 40 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 37 Crohn’s disease (CD) indicated for biological therapy. Patients were randomly assigned into either two treatment subgroups: (a) received Infliximab, or (b) received Adalimumab. Results 51.95% (n=40/77) showed an initial significant improvement following induction of remission dose and completed the study. Clinical remission was maintained to week 52 in 37 patients. The reduction rate of fecal calprotectin from the baseline was higher for CD compared to UC patients (82.4% and 51.7%, respectively, p<0.001 for both). 14.29% of all patients were non-responders; 10.39% were referred for surgery, 15.59% discontinued treatment due to adverse effects, mostly infusion reactions as an anaphylactic reaction or late serum sickness-like symptoms. Conclusion anti-TNFα therapy seems to deliver a beneficial clinical and laboratory response in severe, steroid-dependent, or refractory patients. The effect was more noticed CD than UC patients; however, longer follow-up periods and mucosal healing assessment are needed in further studies for our populations.
Machine learning modelling of crop structure within the Maize Triangle of South Africa

ABSTRACT Maize has been identified as a strategic commodity for the reduction of poverty and enhancement of food security in the African continent. Climate variability and difficult economic conditions are pressuring farmers to produce higher (maize) yields with fewer inputs, per hectare. The remote sensing of crop specific structural parameters are essential in identifying the particular growth stages of the maize crop which require specific tasks from the farmer (e.g. weed control, top dressing, pesticide application for disease and borer control and critical moisture phase). This study sought to assess the performance of multiple linear regression (LR), Random Forest (RF) and Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) in the estimation of four maize crop structural parameters in a study area in the Vereeniging region of the Maize Triangle of South Africa. These parameters were leaf area index (LAI), stem height (HT), stem diameter (DIA) and stem density (SD). An additional aim was to investigate whether the combination of selected spectral vegetation indices (red-edge, chlorophyll, senescence and greenness) with Sentinel-2 reflectance bands as modelling predictors yielded improved results over the individual spectral bands alone. Combining reflectance bands and vegetation indices as modelling predictors yielded the highest validation accuracy, over other scenarios, for only one out of the four crop structural parameters (DAI). The reflectance bands only scenario yielded the highest validation accuracies for two crop structural parameters (HT and SD). The use of spectral vegetation indices alone as modelling predictors yielded the highest modelling accuracies for the LAI crop parameter than the other scenarios. These trends indicate that the combination of Sentinel-2 reflectance bands and derived vegetation indices do not always yield improved modelling results for the four crop structural parameters under investigation. As a result, reflectance bands (mostly) or indices alone could suffice for nearly all of the parameters. With respect to the modelling algorithms, LR yielded the highest accuracies for DIA and SD (Standard Error of Prediction or SEP values of 22.40%±4.65 and 34.15%±2.72 respectively). GPR yielded the highest accuracies for LAI and HT (SEP values of 28.69%±3.84 and 23.19%±2.27 respectively) while RF did not yield the highest validation accuracy for any of the crop structural parameters.
Assessment of Interleukin 1-β in Controlled and Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Background: Type 2 diabetes has been identified as an immune-mediated disease characterised by poor insulin signaling and selective death of insulin-producing cells, with cytokines playing a key role. Disturbance of the antiinflammatory response could be a key component of the type 2 diabetes-causing chronic inflammation. The cytokine family interleukin 1 (IL-1) plays a key function in endocrinology and the regulation of inflammatory stress responses. Objective: The aim of this work is to assess the role of interleukin 1β, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (controlled and uncontrolled) compared to healthy individuals. Patients and Methods: A case control study was conducted on 80 adults, ranging from 25-60 year old, attending the endocrine or internal medicine clinic in Ain Shams University Hospital. They were divided into 3 groups :Group (1): 30 controlled type 2 diabetic patients on oral hypoglycemic. Group (2): 30 recently uncontrolled type 2 diabetic patients over the last 6 months, on oral hypoglycemic. Group (3): 20 healthy individuals. Results: Serum IL-1β was significantly increased in recently uncontrolled diabetics than controlled diabetics and normal subjects. Serum IL-1β was positively correlated with fasting blood sugar (FBS), 2 hours post prandial (2 hrs PP), glycosylated Hemoglobin (HBA1C), triglycerides (TG) and HOMA IR and there was a negative correlation with high density lipoproteins (HDL). Conclusion: The significant difference in the level of interleukin 1β among the studied groups highlights an implication of interleukin 1β in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetic patients.
Effect of Oral Care Intervention and Safe-Swallowing Education on Dysphagia among ICU Patients Post Endotracheal Extubation

Background: Post Extubation Dysphagia (PED) can potentially cause life-threatening consequences, early detection of PED is essential to reduce complications. Understanding the treatment modalities of PED is essential to minimize complications and improve quality of treatment. Oral care intervention and safe-swallowing education are valuable to improve and prevent dysphagia in vulnerable patients’ post-extubation. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of oral care intervention and safe-swallowing education on dysphagia among ICU patients post endotracheal extubation. Subjects and Method: Design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized. Setting; Medical intensive care units (ICUs) in Emergency hospital affiliated to Tanta University hospitals. Sample: A purposive sample of 40 adult patients, who underwent emergency oral endotracheal intubation for at least 48 hours. Tool 1: Bio socio-demographic data questionnaire; Tool 2: Modified Standardized Swallow Assessment (MSSA). Data was collected through three phases; assessment, implementation and evaluation through 10 months. Results: there is a dramatic improvement in in MSSA score and in the satisfactory level of MSSA post intervention in the study group which are highly statistically significant, compared to a slight gradual improvement in MSSA score post intervention in addition; there are no significant differences in the satisfactory level of MSSA scores throughout the study period in the control group. Conclusion: oral care intervention along with safe-swallowing education for the patients and their family care giver reduces dysphagia of ICU patients post endotracheal extubation. Recommendation: Nurses can play an important role in reducing dysphagia among ICU patients post endotracheal extubation by include the oral care intervention and safe-swallowing education in the daily routine care provided for patients post endotracheal intubation. Key wards: Oral Care Intervention, Safe Swallowing Education, Post Extubation Dysphagia Tanta Scientific Nursing Journal ( Print ISSN 2314 – 5595 ) ( Online ISSN 2735 – 5519 ) 12 Vol. 23 No. 4 (Suppl) , November 202
SOCIAL MEDIA’S OFFICIAL DESTINATION PROMO VIDEOS AND COUNTRY IMAGE INFLUENCING VISITING INTENTION TO RISKY DESTINATIONS

Social media destination promo videos (DPVs), are among the most important information sources of travel decision-making for their interactive and sharing features, and outstanding destination promotion strategy. Country image is also another important factor for travel decision-making. This study’s purpose is to assess whether the social media DPVs like DMOs’ promo videos and country image have any impact on visiting intentions towards risky destinations. A quantitative method was used for this study. Data was collected by online questionnaires, and 609 valid responses were considered for the analysis of the study. The results showed that the country's image positively influences the attitude of young tourists towards the country and that attention towards the promo videos positively influences young tourists’ overall emotions, attitudes, social norms, interests, desires and behaviours toward visiting a risky destination. This study results would be beneficial for those who are interested in using social media DPVs as part of their destination-promotion strategy, and also can guide destination-marketers to monitor and create better destination promotional contents in social media platforms, to encourage tourism to the destinations, especially risky ones.
Neuroprotective Effect of Piracetam and Vincamine in a Rat Model of Haloperidol-induced Parkinson's Disease

To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of nootropic drugs, piracetam and vincamine, on Parkinsonʹs disease (PD) in rats, forty adult male Wistar albino rats were randomized into five equal groups: control, haloperidol-induced PD group, and PD groups orally given piracetam (300 mg/kg/day), vincamine (20 mg/kg/day) or both. Four weeks later, motor performance was assessed by stepping test. Y-maze, forced swimming and olfactory preference tests were done for cognitive and behavioral evaluation. Blood samples were collected for measuring serum glucose, calcium, creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Thereafter, rats were sacrificed and brains were dissected. Striatal tissue of left hemisphere was isolated and homogenized for assay of dopamine, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrite/nitrate, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß). Right hemisphere was used for histopathological examination of substantia nigra. Results: Rats of PD group showed bradykinesia, cognitive impairment, depressive-like behavior and hyposmia, reductions in serum calcium and GDNF, and in striatal dopamine, GSH, GPx and SOD, while serum glucose and CPK, and striatal MDA, nitrite/nitrate, IL-1ß and TNF-α were increased, as compared to control. Both drugs improved neurological dysfunction and biochemical parameters, as compared to PD group. The histopathological findings revealed neuro-degeneration and neuro-inflammation in PD group, that improved in treated groups. The piracetam effect was mainly anti-inflammatory, while vincamine was mainly antioxidant. Combined treatment resulted in a more potent amelioration of haloperidol-induced changes. Conclusion: Piracetam and vincamine exhibit neuroprotective activity in haloperidol-induced PD, that is more potent with their combination. Keywords
Correlation between Phlebotomy Blood Loss and Hospital- Acquired Anemia among Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients

Background:hospital-acquired anemia (HAA) is common, with an incidence that ranges from nearly25% to 74%for the period ofhospitalization. Phlebotomy blood loss is one ofthe etiologies and predictors of HAA in acute coronary syndrome patients. Aim of this Study: identify the correlation between Phlebotomy blood loss and HAA among acute coronary syndrome patients. Material and Method: Descriptive exploratory research design was used to performthe research on one hundred and eighty patients in Cardiac Care Units at Mahallah Cardiac Center. Patients' demographic, health-relevant laboratory investigations data, drug-related data, and estimation of blood loss volume toolswere utilized in the data collection process. Results: Around two-fifth (37.8%) of the studied patients have HAA.There was a statistically significant correlation between HAA and gender & length of hospital stay(X2: 5.229, P: 0.029&X2: 21.832, P:˂0.001 respectively). On the otherhand, there was no significant correlation between HAA and phlebotomy blood loss& patient’s age (X2: 1.307, P: 0.520& X2: 1.7763, P: 0.620114 respectively). Conclusion: Around two fifths (37.8%) of acute coronary syndrome patients had HAA compared to 62.2% who were non-anemic. There was a statistically significant correlation between HAA and gender & length of hospital stay. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between HAA and phlebotomy blood loss and patient’s age among acute coronary syndrome patients atMahallah Cardiac Center.Recommendations: Future HAA prevention efforts are recommended to be effective if they include multimodal interventions that both decrease unnecessary phlebotomy blood loss through puncturing and bleeding. Keywords, predictors, phlebotomy,hospital-acquired anemia, acute coronary syndrome
Strain Measurements of Concrete Piers in Expansive Soils

Foundation systems in expansive soils within the western US commonly utilize drilled concrete piers and grade beams. A field test site was established to investigate the behavior of full scale drilled concrete piers. Five concrete piers were instrumented and installed to depths ranging from 3 to 7.6 m in a known expansive soils deposit on the Colorado State University campus. Four reinforced concrete piers were instrumented with vibrating wire strain gauges at 1.8, 3, 4.3 and 5.5 m depths. One pier was not instrumented. Two of the piers were installed beneath a simulated slab-on-grade and three were placed in an uncovered area. The uncovered area was irrigated beginning a year after installation of the piers. A vibrating wire strain gauge was installed in a laboratory test cylinder. The laboratory cylinder was used to compare baseline readings with the field cylinders, and to monitor environmental factors (e.g. temperature and shrinkage) influencing strain. Strain in the concrete piers was monitored over a two year period and compared with soil water content changes, free field heave and displacement of the piers at the ground surface. Performance of the drilled concrete piers was compared with that of a patented helical pier system installed in the same environment. Skin friction mobilized in the heaving soil zones has not been sufficient to overcome the anchoring capacity of the deep piers, but the 3 m pier heaved approximately 30 mm over the 2 year period. Significant tensile strains have been measured, and have continued to increase. It is believed that strain in the concrete piers can be correlated with movement of the wetting front downward through the soil.
Effect of some nutrient, yeast spraying and girdling on yield and berry quality of Flame Seedless grape

To investigate the effect of sucrose, yeast and landamineZn spraying and girdling on yield and berry quality of Flame Seedless grapes. Twenty four uniformly vine was selected, as eight treatments with three replications one vine each. The study was carried out during 2019 and 2020 seasons. The experiment set up in a randomized complete block design, where, the study included The obtained results could be summarized as follows; Yield/vine and cluster weight were significantly increased due to spray either sucrose, yeast or landamineZn as well as arm girdling compared to untreated ones (control). Spraying 4 g/L landamineZn was very effective in increasing yield and cluster weight than other treatments. Moreover, all studied treatments significantly improved the berry quality in terms of increasing berry weight, total soluble solids and anthocyanin in skin of berries and decreasing berry firmness and total acidity compared to untreated ones. The greatest results were obtained due to spraying landamineZn at 2 or 4 cm/L where gave a high yield of good berry quality. No significant differences were obtained due to spray landamineZn at 2 or 4 cm/L, as well as yeast, sucrose or girdling. It could be concluded that spraying 2 to 4 cm/L landamineZn to get high yield with good cluster and berry quality of Flame Seedless grapes.
Pathophysiology and Clinical Features of Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Thyroid Disease

Abstract Thyroid hormones (TH) have a cardinal role in the development of the central nervous system during embryogenesis and early infancy. However, the TH-responsive genes in the developing brain cease to respond to TH in adulthood. Nevertheless, thyroid dysfunction in adults is commonly associated with a host of cognitive and psychiatric problems. Cognitive decline, dysphoria, and depression are common manifestations of overt hypothyroidism while hyperthyroidism can cause agitation, acute psychosis, and apathy, especially in older people. Whereas levothyroxine treatment can reverse dementia in the setting of hypothyroidism, the effect of levothyroxine on depressive symptoms in subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism is controversial. The use of supraphysiologic doses of TH to treat depression refractory to antidepressant remains a viable therapeutic tool with the caveat that excessive doses of thyroid hormone to treat depression may have potentially damaging effects on other organ systems. The present communication describes the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric manifestations of thyroid disease, including changes in neurotransmission, alterations in neuronal or glial cell gene expression, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, increased risk of cerebrovascular disease, and occasionally cerebral inflammatory disease in the context of autoimmune thyroid disease. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of TH effect on cerebral tissue will help identify novel therapeutic targets for managing people with neuropsychiatric disorders.
New insights into particle transport in karst conduits using comparative tracer tests with natural sediments and solutes during low‐flow and high‐flow conditions

Colloidal particles are an important vector for the transport of contaminants in karst aquifers, characterized by a high degree of hydrologic variability. Understanding this heterogeneity and hydrogeological functioning is of particular importance for water management strategies. Until now, transport parameters for particles were mostly determined by injection of solutes or surrogates for natural sediments. But suspended particles are easier to analyse, less expensive and better represent natural conditions. Therefore, tracer tests with sediments represent natural transport and a conservative solute dye were conducted simultaneously in an active and partly accessible cave system in Vietnam during constant high‐flow and low‐flow conditions. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) for 10 different particle sizes classes ranging from 1 to 15 μm and the solute were recorded in situ at the two main resurgences of the cave stream at high temporal resolution. This study gives new insights into the transport processes of suspended particles and the highly dynamic exchange between mobile and immobile regions. Major findings include: (1) at low‐flow conditions, inflow from the surrounding aquifer matrix and the velocity distribution inside the karst conduits themselves lead to hydrodynamic focusing, mainly affecting particles; (2) this highly advective, preferential transport of particles in the centre of the karst conduits results in narrow BTC. The more dispersive transport of solutes results in a longer tailing; (3) at high‐flow conditions a more homogeneous distribution of the particles indicates a reversal of the conduit‐matrix interaction; (4) by comparing the results at different hydraulic conditions, the activation of additional flow paths with increasing discharge could be identified. This study also presents the first tracer test in the field resulting in pronounced double peaks for the particulate tracer but only a single, right‐skewed BTC for the simultaneously injected solute, including a conceptual model for particle transport.