Increasing the productivity and quality of cucumber crop by improving the performance of the evaporative cooling system.

Evaporative cooling in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the most important cooling systems used inside greenhouses to obtain an acceptable temperature change in hot, dry climates. It is considered insufficient during very hot summer periods, when temperatures outside the greenhouse reach approximately 48 °C, which affects the efficiency of cooling, and thus, creates stress on the plants, leading to wilting and a decrease in the production rate. The cooling system is developed by making an insulated rectangular tunnel.

ZnO/CuSe composite-mediated bandgap modulation for enhanced photocatalytic performance against methyl blue dye.

The removal of toxic dye pigments from the environment is of utmost importance since even trace amounts of these pollutants can lead to harmful impacts on ecosystems. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a potential technique for eliminating microbiological, inorganic, and organic pollutants from wastewater. Here, we report the band gap alteration of ZnO by making its composites with CuSe to enhance photocatalytic activity.

Influence of tomato waste composts on dry matter and heavy metals content in cucumber and summer squash seedlings.

Huge quantities of agricultural waste are available annually in Saudi Arabia, which are not well exploited, leading to large environmental pollution and health problems. The use of different proportions of tomato waste compost (TWC) mixed with commercial peat-moss as a natural, economical, cheap and environmentally friendly fertilizer for fertilizing vegetables is very important, therefore, this study is concerned with investigating and evaluating the dry matter content (DM) and the accumulated heavy metal contents (HMs) in the root and leaf seedlings tissues of cucumber and summer squash plants as a result of using this fertilizer. Five ratios of mixtures (vermiculite: peat moss: TWC by weight) used in the experiment, and the TWC in the mixture represents 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% (by wieght).

Geochemical and remote sensing integrated with satellite gravity data of Darhib and Atshan talc deposits, South Eastern Desert, Egypt.

The current contribution conducted new geochemical, remote sensing integrated with gravity detailed studies of talc deposits to identify the talc protolith as well as its extension, depth, and structures. There are two examined areas, distributed from north to south, Atshan and Darhib and both belong to the southern sector of the Egyptian Eastern Desert. They occur as individual lenses or pocket bodies in ultramafic-metavolcanics following NNW-SSE and E-W shear zones.

Upper airway multilevel radiofrequency under local anesthesia can improve CPAP adherence for severe OSA patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of upper airway radiofrequency (RF) tissue reduction under local anesthesia (LA) in severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in order to improve their compliance and adherence.

Design: Thirty (30) patients were included in this randomized clinical trial, suffering from severe OSA seeking medical advice for better upper airway management while using CPAP. Multilevel RF tissue reduction at tongue base, soft palate and inferior nasal turbinates was done under LA in multiple sessions.

Digenic inheritance of IL-36RA and SEC61A1 mutations underlies generalized pustular psoriasis with hypogammaglobulinemia.

We report a female patient presenting with generalized pustular psoriasis and hypogammaglobulinemia due to digenic mutations in IL-36RA and SEC61A1. The patient presented with recurrent fevers, elevated inflammatory markers, hepatosplenomegaly, and recurrent sinopulmonary infections in the context of hypogammaglobulinemia which improved on immunoglobulin replacement. This report demonstrates how digenic inheritance leads to complex phenotypes, and illustrates the importance of following an unbiased approach to identifying variants, especially in patients with atypical clinical presentations.

Efficient Use of Graphene Oxide and Silica Fume in Cement-Based Composites.

Incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) and silica fume (SF) to cement composites enhances their mechanical properties if suitable proportional amounts of GO and SF are used. This study presents a simplified approach to determine experimentally the optimum GO and SF contents that should be added to the cementitious mixture to obtain a proper and stable dispersion of GO sheets within the cement matrix. Composite mortar specimens with different GO and SF contents were designed and tested under flexural and compression loading.

Influence of tomato waste compost ratios on plant growth and fruit quality of cucumber and summer squash.

Peat-moss (Sphagnum spp.), is currently an expensive material and a nonrenewable resource with variable properties. Therefore, its use should be gradually reduced.

Maturity and stability assessment of composted tomato residues and chicken manure using a rotary drum bioreactor.

The efficiency of the composting process for tomato residues and chicken manure was estimated after monitoring of the rotary composting system. Physicochemical parameters and Compost Quality Index were evaluated. The tomato residues (leaves, stems, and some green and damaged fruits) were collected, cut into small pieces, moistened approximately (60-65%), and mixed with 20% chicken manure then distributed into three rotary drum bioreactors.

Experimental Behavior of Cracked Reinforced Concrete Columns Strengthened with Reinforced Concrete Jacketing.

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns often need to be strengthened or rehabilitated to allow them to carry the loads applied to them. In previous studies, RC columns have been strengthened by jacketing, without considering the occurrence of cracking. In this study, the behavior of RC columns strengthened externally by jacketing after cracking is analyzed.

Barbed Reposition Pharyngoplasty in Indian Population: A New Palatal Surgery for OSAS.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common problem affecting almost 4% of the population. Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is considered the standard of care, the patient compliance for long term use is poor. Clinicians have explored surgical options for cure with varying success.

Ramadan Fasting in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study.

Background: Fasting during the lunar month of Ramadan is mandatory to all healthy adult Muslims. Renal transplant recipients are often worried about the impact of fluid and electrolyte deprivation during fasting on the function of their allograft. We aimed to examine the effect of fasting Ramadan on the graft function in renal transplant recipients.

Comparison of survival between dialysis patients with incident high-flux hemodialysis versus on-line hemodiafiltration: A single center experience in Saudi Arabia.

Conventional hemodialysis (HD) is the most common treatment modality used for renal replacement therapy. The concept of HD is based on the diffusion of solutes across a semipermeable membrane. Hemofiltration (HF) is based on convective transport of solutes; hemodiafiltration (HDF) is based on combined convective and diffusive therapies.

Evolution of soft palate surgery techniques for obstructive sleep apnea patients: A comparative study for single-level palatal surgeries.

Objectives: To compare the results of tissue preservation techniques of soft palate surgeries including expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty (ESP) and barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) with the traditional uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).

Design: Interventional comparative study.

Setting: Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital.

Let's know from our patients: PPOPS score for palate surgery evaluation/a pilot study.

Aim: To introduce a questionnaire that can be used to assess the post-operative perception of the patients after palatal surgery. The questionnaire was named: Palate Post-Operative Problems Score (PPOPS).

Study Design: Pilot study.

Acute hepatitis C infection in a renal transplant recipient: primacy of the liver or kidney?

We present a case where a renal transplant recipient contracted chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection post-transplantation. The disease progressed and deteriorated leading to fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis that mandated treatment. Treatment with pegylated interferon α-2a and ribavirin was successful in salvaging the liver and eradicating the virus but as a consequence lead to treatment-resistant acute rejection and loss of the renal allograft.