Graphene-based terahertz reconfigurable printed ridge gap waveguide structure.

Graphene-based microwave devices have enabled reconfigurability, thus paving the way to the realization of flexible wireless terahertz systems with featured performances. Despite great progress in the development of graphene-based terahertz devices in the literature, high insertion loss and wide tunable range are still significant challenges at such high frequencies. In this work, we introduce the use of graphene to implement a reconfigurable printed ridge gap waveguide (RPRGW) structure over the terahertz frequency range for the first time. This guiding structure is suitable for both millimeter and terahertz wave applications due to its supporting quasi-TEM mode, which exhibits low dispersion compared to other traditional guiding structures. The presented solution is featured with low loss as the signal propagates in a lossless air gap, which is separated from the lossy graphene elements responsible for the reconfigurable behavior. In addition, this guiding structure is deployed to implement a tunable RPPGW power divider as an application example for the proposed structure.

Pediatric and adolescent transperineal anastomotic urethroplasty.

PURPOSE: Pediatric urethral stricture disease represents a significant surgical challenge because of smaller pelvic confines, decreased caliber and increased tissue fragility. Operative series of pediatric urethral reconstruction usually involve small numbers. In this study, we examined the outcome of open reconstructive techniques for pediatric and adolescent patients with posterior urethral distraction injuries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between February 2002 and September 2005, 15 patients from Kasr ElAini hospital presenting with posterior urethral distraction defects due to motor vehicle accidents were included in our study. Their age ranged between 5 and 17 years (mean 12.5). We used the progressive perineal approach to achieve a tension-free spatulated anastomosis. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 28.4 months. Initial and ultimate success rates were 80 and 86.6%, respectively. Other than re-stricture, one child had a bladder stone treated by cystolithotomy 6 months after surgery. No penile curvature, shortening or urethral diverticulae were noted during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Using the appropriate modern guidelines of urethroplasty, consistent success can be achieved in pediatric and adolescent patients with posterior urethral injuries. Open urethral reconstruction of adolescent and pediatric strictures provides excellent long-term results with minimal morbidity. Urethral reconstruction is strongly recommended as the primary treatment option, especially in the pediatric urethral stricture population, because of the repair durability.

Toxicological deteriorations of two volatile oils of Matricaria chamomilla and Clerodendron inerme on the adult house fly Musca domestica L.

The adult stage of the house fly Musca domestica L. was treated topically with the sublethal doses of LD25, LD50 and LD75 of chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla L. flowers and jasmine, Clerodendron inerme G. leaves oils. Various biological activities of adult stage as well as the amino acids of the treated adults ovaries were determined. Amino acids determinations were achieved on newly emerged flies and on the three and four days old flies. The LD50s. of 76 and 84 ug/fly of the two oils were used for Matricaria chamomilla and Clerodendron inerme oil, respectively. Treatment with the two volatile oils induced serious effects on the biology and biotic potential of Musca domestica. Treatment was significantly increased the acidic and the aromatic amino acids during oogenesis. In contrast the quantity of aliphatic amino acids was significantly decreased while the hydroxy amino acids have inconsistent results. The hydroxy amino acids were remarkably increased in the ovaries during three days of development, and then decreased in the fourth day. Moreover, the concentration of basic and the sulfur amino acids were varied with the two treatments and the amino acid was completely disappeared in the ovaries of the treated flies.

Simultaneous advanced extrauterine and intrauterine pregnancy.

A case of simultaneous extrauterine and intrauterine pregnancy with survival of both fetuses is reported. The management is discussed and the literature briefly reviewed. The necessity for immediate operative termination in such cases is emphasized.

Taxonomic studies of subfamily Phaoniinae (Muscidae, Diptera) in Egypt.

Subfamily Phaoniinae is represented in Egypt by 22 species under 9 genera. Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp.) and Ophyra leucostoma (Wied.) are identified and recorded for the first time in Egypt.

Detection of enteropathogens in fatal and potentially fatal diarrhea in Cairo, Egypt.

A 1-year study of the etiology of acute diarrhea complicated by severe (10%) dehydration, active bleeding, shock and cardiovascular collapse, pneumonia, acute renal failure, or seizures in infants under 18 months of age was performed in Cairo, Egypt. Of 145 infants, 19 (13%) died or left the hospital moribund; the remaining 126 patients were classified as having potentially fatal illness. A variety of enteropathogens were identified with approximately equal frequency in the fatal and nonfatal complicated cases as well as in 135 controls with severe uncomplicated diarrhea. The agents most frequently detected in infants with severe diarrhea in this population which were felt to be etiologically important were rotavirus (33%), heat-stable enterotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (20%), heat-labile enterotoxin-producing E. coli (11%), enteropathogenic E. coli (8%), and Salmonella spp. (5%). The high rate of occurrence of Giardia lamblia (35%) probably represented the high carriage rate of the protozoan in this population. Complicated (fatal and potentially fatal) cases differed from control cases in a number of ways: the onset of diarrhea was more sudden, the course was progressive and of greater initial intensity, vomiting occurred more frequently, the patients more often had visited another physician before coming to the hospital, the patients more often had respiratory symptoms and pulmonary abnormalities on auscultation, hypoactive bowel sounds and abdominal distention were more common, as was oliguria, and the patients showed lower mean body weights.

The relationship of oral rehydration solution to hypernatremia in infantile diarrhea.

PIP: A major criticism of the use of oral rehydration solution (ORS) in the treatment of diarrhea has been that the high sodium content of the solution might predispose the development of hypernatremia in infants not allowed access to additional free water and in whom glomerular filtration rate and urinary concentrating ability may be low. A study was undertaken in 1980 in Cairo, Egypt to assess the use of ORS. The study included 100 children under age 1, mean age 6.7 months, with dehydration secondary to diarrhea, and 17% were hypernatremic on admission, 27% hyponatremic and 56% isonatremic; the hypernatremic infants were found to be more dehydrated than the others. 24% of the hypernatremic infants had taken Rehydran whereas only 5% of the others had taken it and none had been given the medication in a proper fashion. Of the 17 with hypernatremia 16 completed the course of oral rehydration therapy and 63% had normal serum sodium values by 6 hours of therapy. It was found that the treatment of hypernatremic infants with ORS was successful while with the unsupervised use of Rehydran the risk of this condition was enhanced; errors made in the home included prolonged use of the solution and failure to use water. It is believed that because of widespread illiteracy sole reliance upon written instructions is potentially dangerous.^ieng

Role of uroflowmetry in the assessment of lower urinary tract obstruction in adult males.

A group of 173 prostatic patients were submitted to a prospective study to determine the respective value of symptoms, uroflowmetry, endoscopic and radiological findings in the assessment of the degree of urinary obstruction. Uroflowmetry proved to bring objective evidence of the degree of obstruction with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Maximum urinary flow appears to be more accurate than other flow parameters in the determination of lower urinary tract obstruction.