The British University in Egypt

Several factors must be considered when choosing a bridge deck construction system, including geographical location, site conditions, span length, and available resources. The goal of this study is to optimize the selection decisions of bridge construction systems during the preliminary design stage. The suggested framework combines the integration of fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) techniques, a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) method. The Model allows decision-makers to select an appropriate construction system using a robust framework, employing FAHP to prioritize the criteria and VIKOR to rank the alternatives. Semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey were employed to gather data from a focus group of bridge engineers. When the proposed model was applied to two existing bridge construction projects in Egypt, it revealed that “Precast post-tension girder” and “Balanced cantilever precast” were more appropriate for cases one and two, respectively. This study adds to the body of knowledge by offering a hybrid framework that enables decision-makers to manage the intricacy of choosing the most convenient bridge-construction system.

Preclinical dental training requires extensive feedback and repetition, which traditional manikin exercises often lack. Adapt VR is a cost-effective, immersive system that delivers interactive, adaptive training with real-time feedback. This comparative study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Adapt VR system in preclinical training. A total of 126 third-year dental students were randomly assigned to an Adapt VR Group 1 (n = 63), acquiring VR learning experience before practicing on laboratory simulators, or a control group (n = 63) who started their training on simulators directly. After practising Class I and II cavity preparations, laboratory performance was scored with a standard rubric; VR participants also completed a post-training questionnaire. The VR group achieved a higher mean laboratory score (6.31) than controls (3.93; p < 0.001). Within the VR cohort no significant difference emerged between Class I and II scores (p = 0.16). Simulator averages were 81.5 for Class I and 79.4 for Class II. Most VR trainees reported increased confidence and an enhanced learning experience. Iintegrating the Adapt VR system into preclinical dental education significantly enhances students’ skill acquisition and self-confidence compared to conventional manikin-based training.

This study investigated the efficiency of thermal carbon chitosan (TCCS) sorbent for CO2 capture from vehicle exhaust emissions within a designed adsorption system. TCCS was synthesized and meticulously characterized using a series of analytical techniques, including Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The TCCS adsorbent showed high thermal stability and a heating value (HHV) of 23.5 MJ/kg. Adsorption isotherm study demonstrated that the maximum capacity of CO2 adsorption is 0.084 kg.CO2/kg.TCCS, as well as confirmation of the exothermic nature of the process with an enthalpy change (ΔH) of −26.42 kJ/mol. Kinetics study indicated that the adsorption mechanism was physical in nature, characterized by an activation energy (ED) of 4.27 kJ/mol, which is lower than the threshold of 8 kJ/mol. The experimental breakthrough curve revealed a breakpoint time (tb) of 1280 s, a saturation time (ts) of 2300 s and illustrated that about 70 % of the adsorption bed (Hb) was used during the CO2 adsorption process. To further validate the experimental results, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation was conducted, revealing a strong correlation with the experimental data. The low error values between the experimental and CFD predicted results underscore the reliability of the TCCS-based adsorption system for effective CO2 capture. This research contributes valuable insight into the potential of TCCS as a sustainable adsorbent for mitigating CO2 emissions from automotive sources.

تدور الدراسة حول المراجعات الطوعية المحلية كآلية لتوطين أهداف التنمية المستدامة في الخبرات الدولية مع الإشارة للحالة المصرية. ولقد انقسمت الدراسة إلى أربع نقاط أساسية: تدور النقطة الأولى حول تحليل الإطار المفاهيمي للدراسة، أما النقطة الثانية، فتدور حول دراسة حالة المراجعات الطوعية المحلية كآلية لتوطين أهداف التنمية المستدامة في الخبرات الدولية، أما النقطة الثالثة، فتدور حول تشخيص حالة المراجعات الطوعية المحلية كآلية لتوطين أهداف التنمية المستدامة في الحالة المصرية، وأخيرًا توضح النقطة الرابعة أهم الدروس المستفادة لتطوير الحالة المصرية من عرض الخبرات الدولية. ولقد توصلت الدراسة لعدة استنتاجات هامة معتمدة على الدمج بين أساليب التحليل الكيفي والكمي، والتي يمكن توضيح أهمها فيما يلي: تتوقف فاعلية المراجعات الطوعية المحلية على مدى تطبيق النظام المحلي للامركزية بأبعادها المختلفة، وعلى مدى توافر المعلومات المتخصصة في شؤون التنمية المستدامة. عانت الحالة المصرية من تحديات قانونية ومؤسسية وثقافية في إطار عملية توطين أهداف التنمية المستدامة على المستوى المحلي باستخدام المراجعات الطوعية المحلية. جاءت المراجعات الطوعية المحلية في الحالة المصرية أقرب لتنفيذ التزام دولى منها لتحقيق تنمية للمجتمعات المحلية. وتوصي الدراسة بالعمل على حل المشكلات والمعوقات المؤسسية والقانونية اللازمة لتبني المراجعات الطوعية المحلية كآلية لتوطين أهداف التنمية المستدامة، واستكمال إجراء المراجعات الطوعية المحلية لباقي المحافظات المصرية، وإعادة إنتاجها بصورة دورية للمحافظات التي قامت بإجرائها، وأن يتم تبنيها واعتمادها كآلية للتنسيق المحلي بين القطاعات التنموية المختلفة.

Glucosylsphingosine (Lyso-GL-1), a glycosphingolipid formed by glucosylceramide hydrolysis, is known to be increased in Gaucher disease. Recently, increased ceramides and sphingolipids have been implicated in obesity, insulin resistance, and atherogenesis. However, limited data exists on serum Lyso-GL-1 level in children with obesity and its relation with insulin resistance, lipid dysfunction, and atherogenesis. Hence, this study aimed to assess Lyso-GL-1 level among children with obesity and correlate it with biomarkers of insulin resistance and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). Sixty children with obesity with a mean age of 10.06 years (SDS ± 2.22) and 60 age- and sex-matched normal-weighed controls were assessed for anthropometric measures, mean blood pressure percentiles, serum Lyso-GL-1, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting insulin, triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) with calculation of the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the AIP. Children with obesity have significantly higher Lyso-GL-1 and AIP than controls. Lyso-GL-1 is significantly positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) z-score, waist/hip ratio z-score, systolic and diastolic blood pressure percentiles, LDL-C, HOMA-IR, and AIP (p < 0.05), being independently correlated with systolic blood pressure percentile, LDL-C, and AIP on multivariate regression analysis. Serum Lyso-GL-1 is elevated in children with obesity, being closely correlated with hypertension, insulin resistance, and atherogenesis. This could provide a mechanistic insight on the role of Lyso-GL-1 in obesity and atherogenesis. Further studies are warranted to explore the potential role of Lyso-GL-1 as a biomarker and target for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related atherogenesis and insulin resistance.