Optimal Design of Reinforced Concrete Materials in Construction.

The structural design process is iterative and involves many design parameters. Thus, this paper presents a controlled framework for selecting the adequate structural floor system for reinforced concrete buildings and efficiently utilizing the corresponding construction materials. Optimization was performed using an evolutionary algorithm to minimize the total construction cost, considering the costs of concrete, steel reinforcement, formwork, and labor.

Nonlinear ABAQUS Simulations for Notched Concrete Beams.

The numerical simulation of concrete fracture is difficult because of the brittle, inelastic-nonlinear nature of concrete. In this study, notched plain and reinforced concrete beams were investigated numerically to study their flexural response using different crack simulation techniques in ABAQUS. The flexural response was expressed by hardening and softening regime, flexural capacity, failure ductility, damage initiation and propagation, fracture energy, crack path, and crack mouth opening displacement.

Enhanced antibacterial activity of Egyptian local insects' chitosan-based nanoparticles loaded with ciprofloxacin-HCl.

Chitosan (CS), possess enormous properties, being biodegradable, biocompatible, and antimicrobial. CS could be formulated and casted into different forms including 2D films, hydrogels, and nanoparticles. Chitosan-based nanoparticles (CSNPs) showed countless interest as polymeric drug delivery system (DDS) with its improved bioavailability, and stability when compared with traditional DDS.

Development of gold nanoparticles biosensor for ultrasensitive diagnosis of foot and mouth disease virus.

Background: Nano-PCR is a recent tool that is used in viral diseases diagnosis. The technique depends on the fundamental effects of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and is considered a very effective and sensitive tool in the diagnosis of different diseases including viral diseases. Although several techniques are currently available to diagnose foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV), a highly sensitive, highly specific technique is needed for specific diagnosis of the disease.

Isolation and characterization of chitosan from different local insects in Egypt.

Chitin was extracted from four different local sources: the shrimp (Penaeus monodon), the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria), the honey bee (Apis mellifera) and the beetles (Calosoma rugosa). Chitosan was then obtained by deacetylation of chitin and physicochemically characterized using the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction. The moisture content, water binding capacity, fats binding capacity, ash content were determined and chitosans morphology was visualized using the scanning electron microscope (SEM).