The Holocene evaporite sequence in the Ras Shukeir area conformably overlies marine shell banks and cross-bedded to graded-bedded beach sands and gravels. The evaporite sequence is represented by ...gypsum-anhydrite layers that are interbedded with mudstone layers. Field and petrographic investigations of the evaporite deposits revealed two facies types, laminated evaporite facies (primary) and nodular to enterolithic anhydrite facies (diagenetic). The laminated evaporite facies is subdivided, from the bottom to top, into regular laminated evaporite, chevron gypsum-algal micrite laminations and wavy algal laminated evaporite. Based on their textures and fabrics, the regular and wavy laminated evaporite facies are interpreted as primary deposits in a coastal lagoon and salina environment. The chevron gypsum-algal micrite facies formed by the growth of chevron gypsum at the sediment-water interface within a shallow subtidal lagoonal environment that was characterized by extensive benthic algal mats. The nodular to enterolithic anhydrite facies is secondary and formed diagenetically within a siliciclastic supratidal sediment.
Some of the laminated evaporite facies have been diagenetically altered in a supratidal sabkha environment as evidenced by the following: (1) the partial formation of nodular evaporite instead of laminated evaporite; (2) disruption of gypsum laminations by plant roots and rootlets as well as by precipitation of lenticular gypsum on the root wall; and (3) partial dissolution of halite laminae and the formation of wavy anhydrite laminae.
Consequently, the Holocene evaporites in the Ras Shukeir area were deposited in a shallow semi-closed to closed basin that was separated from the Gulf of Suez trough. Changing sea level led to progradation of the evaporite facies from subtidal to intertidal lagoon and salina to a supratidal sabkha.
Abstract
Background
Dermoscopy is a non-invasive technique that allows the visualization of subtle clinical features of the skin surface and appendages details not visible to the naked eye, allowing ...magnifications of up to 200x. It is widely used for evaluating and diagnosing all nail diseases, as it provides important information. As any other examination, nail dermoscopy (onychoscopy) requires a good knowledge of nail anatomy & physiology and the pathogenesis of the nail diseases, and it is helpful for the diagnosis of numerous nail diseases and tumors. Nail disorders are defined according to their appearance and the part of the nail affected (from distal to proximal): hyponychium, onychodermal band (ODB), nail bed, nail plate, lateral nail folds (perionychium), lunula (distal part of the matrix), cuticle, nail matrix and proximal nail fold.
Objective
To study the dermoscopic findings of subtle nail changes in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and compare it with that nail changes in healthy controls by both polarized and non polarized mode of dermoscope, aiming to assist clinicians in correctly evaluating and diagnosing nail changes with the help of dermoscopy.
Methods
We conducted a comparative descriptive study on 50 patients having chronic plaque psoriasis, 26 were males (52.0%) and 24 were females (48.0%), as well as 50 normal healthy control subjects, 31 were males (62.0%) and 19 were females (38.0%). Patients and controls were randomly recruited from the outpatient clinic of dermatology department at Ain Shams University Hospitals, during the period from February 2018 till September 2018. And the age of both groups ranged from 14 to 70 years.
Results
Our study revealed that the most common fingernail changes found in psoriatic patients were nail plate thickening and crumbling followed by Dilated nailbed capillaries at the onychodermal band, Oncholysis, Subungual hyperkeratosis, Pitting, Longitudinal ridges, Scales, Salmon patch, Leukonychia, Splinter hemorrhage, Lunula red spot and Trachyonychia. And the most common toenail changes found in psoriatic patients were Subungual hyperkeratosis followed by Nail Plate Thickening &Crumbling, Oncholysis, Pitting, Longitudinal ridges, Scales, Salmon patch, Trachyonychia, Dilated nailbed capillaries at the onychodermal band, Splinter hemorrhage, Leukonychia and Lunula red spot. We found there was no difference between polarized and non polarized mode of dermoscope in examination of fingernails and toenails except that the non polarized mode showed the changes of the Dilated capillaries at the onychodermal band more obviously. And also, there was no difference between wet and dry method of polarized mode of dermoscope.
Conclusion
This study confirms that a handheld dermoscope is a very efficient and simple tool for detection of any nail abnormality.
Energy generation from new alternative resources is a dire need for sustainable energy development. Due to the adverse effect of carbon emissions, there are efforts to develop a non-carbon ...emissions-based sustainable energy generation system. This work describes the development of a Sustainable Energy Generating Pad (SEGP) for lightweight transportation. The SEGP is successfully designed and simulated with Proteus software. After that, A SEGP was successfully developed and fabricated in the Prairie View A&M University's Smart Center. The 5 feet long SEGP is made of a special type of thin-film PZT cells which is the power-generating source. Each cell is connected to a power collection unit. The main purpose of this power collection unit is to utilize the maximum produced electricity to store in the storage device. The developed SEGP was tested by lightweight transportation such as a bike. The total weight of the bike with a rider is around 148 lbs, and the tested load is \boldsymbol{10} \ \mathbf{k}\boldsymbol{\Omega.} Each PZT cell produces an average of 85 VDC, and the current is around 0.20 mA. So, the electricity produced from the 5 feet long SEGP is remarkable at around 0.61 W/sec/ride.
A methodology has been proposed for predicting the fatigue life of fibre-composite components and structures which combines relatively short-term fracture mechanics data, obtained from experimental ...measurements, with a finite-element analysis (FEA) of the component or structure. The approach has been used to study the growth of damage in, and the cyclic fatigue life of I-beams. The beams were manufactured using carbon-fibre-reinforced-plastic (CFRP) and contained a 60 mm diameter notch in the web. Experimental work has shown that the development of significant damage was limited to the region of material in the web around the 60 mm diameter notch. A significant amount of matrix micro-cracking damage occurred within the first 0.5×10
6 fatigue cycles, mainly in the +45° plies and 0° plies, in which the fibres are orientated at 90° and at 45°, respectively, to the local tensile stress. This matrix cracking eventually led to some limited delamination after about 0.5×10
6 cycles had elapsed and this occurred mainly along the global +45°/−45° ply interfaces, with some delamination also occurring along the +45°/0° ply interface. The growth of these two types of damage eventually led to fibre fracture which was the final cause of structural failure of the web material, and hence of the I-beam. Thus, the model has concentrated upon modelling these types of damage mechanisms. The agreement between the results from the theoretical model and the experiments is good, especially when it is considered that there are no ‘adjustable factors’ involved in the modelling studies. For example, the theoretical model predicts the number of cycles,
N
f, for the I-beam to fail structurally to be about 4.9×10
6 cycles. The experimentally measured value was 4.78×10
6 cycles.
Integrating digital with sensitive analog circuitry has created concerns. The fast switching digital signal creates noise that injects through the doped silicon substrate and travels through it due ...to its low resistivity and causes damages and bandwidth reduction. In this research work, COMSOL multiphysics was used to extract the substrate coupling parameters subsequently determining the amount of coupling in the substrate and controlling it. Several model configurations were created; such as dual and multiple contacts, which varied the separation between aggressor and victims. Also, the size of the aggressor was increased and a guard ring was added. The results show that spacing can reduce coupling between the aggressor and victim while increasing the area of the aggressor would increase coupling. Also, guard ring can be more efficient than spacing in minimizing coupling.
Power MOSFETs have important applications in space systems, particularly in dc/dc power conversion. Transistors used in the space environment are subject to the effects of exposure to the natural ...radiation environment in space. Among the effects of ionizing radiation are shifts in threshold voltage and reduction of carrier mobility. In this work, the total-ionizing-dose-induced degradation of two switching power converters is examined. The MOSFETs for two switching converters were irradiated with a
60Co source and their performance was evaluated in buck and boost converters. The experimental results agree well with values obtained from SPICE simulations.
Background and Objective: In vitro propagation of fig ( Ficus carica L.) is one of the possible approaches that may be used to maximize the diversity of plant species. The current work was carried ...out to evaluate genetic stability of micropropagated fig plantlets and to determine the effect of in vitro propagation on genomic content of Saudi fig. Materials and Methods: The start codon-targeted (SCoT), DNA-barcoding chloroplast gene RNA polymerase1 ( rpoC1 sequencing) and total protein profiling assays (SDS-PAGE) techniques were used to detect genetic stability in micropropagated fig plantlets. Results: The Scorable PCR bands were produced with 10 SCoT primers used, where the total number of bands was 135 bands. Twenty polymorphic bands were generated with 18.4% of a polymorphism percentage. According to the result, no visual unique bands were generated which confirmed the genetic homogeneity of micropropagated plantlets samples compared to the control sample (mother plant). Sequence analysis and phylogenetic tree generated using fig rpoC1 sequence showed high similarity between control and plantlets samples of fig plant. The protein profiling results revealed no remarkable changes between micropropagated plantlets and the mother plant. Conclusion: The results indicate that using SCoT, DNA barcoding and protein profiling have demonstrated their utility to detect genetic homogeneity in micropropagated fig plantlets, which suggests using of micropropagation protocol of plants applied on the plantlets in the current study as a reliable protocol for in vitro culture and conservation of fig plant.
TOI-849b is one of the few planets populating the hot-Neptune desert and it is the densest Neptune-sized one discovered so far. Its extraordinary proximity to the host star, together with the absence ...of a massive H/He envelope on top of the \(40.8 ~M_{\oplus}\) rocky core calls into question the role played by the host star in the evolution of the system. We aim to study the impact of the host star's rotational history on the evolution of TOI-849b, focussing on the planetary migration due to dynamical tides dissipated in the stellar convective envelope and on the high-energy emission. Rotating stellar models of TOI-849 are coupled to our orbital evolution code to study the evolution of the planetary orbit. The evolution of the planetary atmosphere is studied by means of the JADE code, which uses realistic XUV-fluxes provided by our rotating stellar models. Assuming that the planet was at its present day position (\(a=0.01598 \rm AU\)) at the protoplanetary disc dispersal, with mass \(40.8~ M_{\oplus}\), and considering a broad range of host star initial surface rotation rates (\(\Omega_{\rm in}\)) in the range \( 3.2, 18~ \Omega_{\odot}\), we find that only for \(\Omega_{\rm in} \leq 5 \Omega_{\odot}\) do we reproduce the current position of the planet, given that for \(\Omega_{\rm in}\) larger than \(5 \Omega_{\odot}\) its orbit is efficiently deflected by dynamical tides. We tested the impact of increasing the initial mass of the planet on the efficiency of tides, finding that a higher initial mass (\(1~M_{\rm Jup}\)) does not change the results reported above. Based on these results we computed the evolution of the planetary atmospheres with the JADE code for a large range of initial masses above a core mass of \(40.8~M_{\oplus}\), finding that the strong XUV-flux received by the planet is able to remove the entirety of the envelope within the first 50 Myr, even if it formed as a Jupiter-mass planet.
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