Predicting concrete strength early age using a combination of machine learning and electromechanical impedance with nano-enhanced sensors.

To ensure the structural integrity of concrete and prevent unanticipated fracturing, real-time monitoring of early-age concrete's strength development is essential, mainly through advanced techniques such as nano-enhanced sensors. The piezoelectric-based electro-mechanical impedance (EMI) method with nano-enhanced sensors is emerging as a practical solution for such monitoring requirements. This study presents a strength estimation method based on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Techniques and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) as hybrid (NDT-LSTMs-ANN), including several types of concrete strength-related agents. Input data includes water-to-cement rate, temperature, curing time, and maturity based on interior temperature, allowing experimentally monitoring the development of concrete strength from the early steps of hydration and casting to the last stages of hardening 28 days after the casting. The study investigated the impact of various factors on concrete strength development, utilizing a cutting-edge approach that combines traditional models with nano-enhanced piezoelectric sensors and NDT-LSTMs-ANN enhanced with nanotechnology. The results demonstrate that the hybrid provides highly accurate concrete strength estimation for construction safety and efficiency. Adopting the piezoelectric-based EMI technique with these advanced sensors offers a viable and effective monitoring solution, presenting a significant leap forward for the construction industry's structural health monitoring practices.

Identification of Novel Molecular Network Expression in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: In the current study, we aimed to analyze the hypothesis that human myocardial-specific extracellular RNAs expression could be used for acute myocardial injury(AMI) diagnosis. METHODOLOGY: We used bioinformatics' analysis to identify RNAs linked to ubiquitin system and specific to AMI, named, (lncRNA-RP11-175K6.1), (LOC101927740), microRNA-106b-5p (miR-106b-5p) and Anaphase, promoting complex 11 (ANapc11mRNA). We measured the serum expression of the chosen RNAs in 69 individuals with acute coronary syndromes, 31 individuals with angina pectoris without MI and non-cardiac chest pain and 31 healthy control individuals by real-time reverse-transcription PCR. RESULTS: Our study revealed a significant decrease in both lncRNA-RP11-175K6.1 and ANapc11mRNA expression of in the sera samples of AMI patients compared to that of the two control groups alongside with significant upregulation of miR-106b-5p. CONCLUSION: Of note, the investigated serum RNAs decrease the false discovery rate of AMI to 3.2%.

Oral cancer: delays in referral and diagnosis persist.

Oral cancer accounts for around 1% of all new cancers diagnosed in the United Kingdom every year. Mortality rates remain relatively high and prognosis is worst in cases of more advanced disease at time of diagnosis. Early identification of malignant lesions and speedy referral to a specialist for treatment are therefore important. The reasons and extent of the delays at the different stages between a patient first noticing an oral lesion and attending a health care professional and then being referred for specialist care have previously been studied and consistently found to be longer than desired. The National Oral Cancer Awareness Week (NOCAW), first run in 1995, aimed to increase the awareness of oral cancer amongst health care professionals and the public. It has since been repeated and is now an annual event. Alongside publications by the British Dental Association and guidelines circulated by the Department of Health on oral cancer diagnosis and referral, it is hoped this will lead to a decrease in the delay between the onset of oral cancer and patients receiving appropriate treatment. We looked at the previously published data on referral delay in oral cancer both in the United Kingdom and overseas and then identified delays in referral of oral cancer patients in a region that had been studied before NOCAW was introduced, to see if this was having any effect on referral delays. We found that despite the great publicity raised by NOCAW and the other publications and courses on oral cancer since the original audit, patient delay and referral delay have not improved. We conclude that more needs to be done to transfer guidelines to everyday practice.

Computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle aspiration of lung abscesses in neonates and children.

Lung abscesses in children often respond to conservative treatment. This is unlikely in children less than 7 years of age and in these surgery is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We report a neonate and a 2.5 year old child successfully treated with percutaneous computed tomography guided aspiration of lung abscesses.

Damage to plants due to industrial pollution and their use as bioindicators in Egypt.

Effects of industrial air pollution on growth parameters of clover and Egyptian mallow were examined at three locations in the industrial area of Shoubra Elkheima, north of Cairo. Symptoms of plant damage appeared in the form of chlorosis and necrotic patterns. The decrease in chlorophyll reached more than 60% in plants cultivated in the industrial region. Plant growth and dry weights were reduced by more than 50%. The reduction in chlorophyll and growth parameters was correlated with the concentrations of air pollutants measured in the atmosphere of the locations examined. Moreover, clover and Egyptian mallow plants cultivated in the region of Shoubra Elkheima accumulated lead and cadmium, which can pass into the human food chain. It is concluded that these plants can be used as biomonitors for industrial air pollution.

The excretion of Salmonella typhimurium in the faeces of calves fed milk substitute.

A total of 495 calves in 16 batches were examined (117 calves in 4 batches in 1979 and 378 in 12 batches in 1982). They were purchased in markets, transported by road to a farm in Somerset and reared on a milk substitute diet for a period of up to five weeks. Salmonella typhimurium phage type DT 193 was endemic in 1979 and phage type DT 204c in 1982. The mortality rates in the two years were 9.4% and 1.9% respectively. The causes of death were not investigated although the majority were probably due to salmonellosis. The rate of isolation of S. typhimurium from the rectal faeces of calves in all groups was either zero or relatively low on arrival. It rose to a peak (which was higher in 1979) in the second or third weeks before declining to low levels by the end of the fourth week of residence on the farm. Data from 162 calves, examined twice weekly for four weeks in 1982, indicated that the distribution of infected calves, based on the number of times that S. typhimurium was isolated from each, was not random. The calves could be assigned to two main categories; those from which the organism was never isolated and those from which it was isolated at least twice. This suggested that salmonella infected calves actively excreted the organism. The association between salmonella excretion and medication of sick animals with antibacterial drugs was strongest during the second week. Over the four-week period nearly 40% of the calves found to be excreting S. typhimurium were not treated, indicating a high incidence of subclinical infection. Salmonella excretion by the calves followed a regular pattern and infection was self-limiting within five weeks. The peak in the salmonella excretion rate and the mortality rate were higher in 1979 when phage type DT 193 was the endemic strain. However, in 1982 the calves received 100 p.p.m. furazolidone in their milk ration during the first week of their stay on the farm, and this may have contributed to the differences noted between the two years.