Effect of simultaneous sodium oxalate and methionine feeding with and without Varuna (Crataeva nurvala hook & Frost) therapy on urolithogenesis in guinea pigs

The effect of sodium oxalate and methionine supplementation on stone-related constituents of urine was studied in 18 adult male guinea pigs. Their serum and tissue chemistry and histological changes in urinary tract and liver were also studied. The calciuretic effect of methionine was blocked by oxalate. The decrease in uric acid and citric acid, caused by oxalate, was offset by methionine. Oxalate-induced crystalluria and calcium and oxalate deposition in kidney tissue were lessened by methionine. Administration of Varuna, an indigenuous drug, to oxalate and methionine-supplemented animals prevented either totally or partially most of the urolithogenic effects of oxalate and methionine.     

Development of an instrument to measure Faculty’s information and communication technology access (FICTA)

The phenomenon of “digital divide” is complex and multidimensional, extending beyond issues of physical access. The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to measure a range of factors related to digital divide among higher education faculty and to evaluate its reliability and validity. Faculty’s Information and Communication Technology Access (FICTA) scale was tested and validated with 322 faculty teaching in public and private sector universities. Principal components analysis with varimax rotation confirmed an 8-factor solution corresponding to various dimensions of ICT access. The 57-item FICTA scale demonstrated good psychometric properties and offers researchers a tool to examine faculty’s access to ICT at four levels – motivational, physical, skills, and usage access.     

Stationary distribution and extinction of a stochastic predator–prey model with herd behavior

In this paper, we propose and study a stochastic predator–prey model with herd behavior. Firstly, by constructing a suitable stochastic Lyapunov function, we establish sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of an ergodic stationary distribution of the positive solutions to the model. Then we establish sufficient conditions for extinction of the predator population in two cases, that is, the first case is the prey population survival and the predator population extinction; the second case is all the prey and predator populations extinction. Finally, some examples together with numerical simulations are introduced to illustrate the theoretical results.     

Stationary distribution and extinction of a stochastic dengue epidemic model

In this paper, we investigate the dynamical behavior of a stochastic dengue epidemic model. First of all, by constructing a suitable stochastic Lyapunov function, we obtain sufficient conditions for the existence of an ergodic stationary distribution of the positive solutions to the model. Then we establish sufficient conditions for extinction of the diseases. The existence of stationary distribution implies stochastic weak stability.     

Filtering based parameter estimation for observer canonical state space systems with colored noise

This paper surveys the identification of observer canonical state space systems affected by colored noise. By means of the filtering technique, a filtering based recursive generalized extended least squares algorithm is proposed for enhancing the parameter identification accuracy. To ease the computational burden, the filtered regressive model is separated into two fictitious sub-models, and then a filtering based two-stage recursive generalized extended least squares algorithm is developed on the basis of the hierarchical identification. The stochastic martingale theory is applied to analyze the convergence of the proposed algorithms. An experimental example is provided to validate the proposed algorithms.     

A new approach for conservation treatment of a silk textile in Islamic Art Museum, Cairo

The paper presents strategies for the conservation of historical textiles in Egypt that have been in uncontrolled storage and display. The silk textile is highly decorated, multicoloured and dates to the Ottoman period, and was exhibited in case # 12014. The textile has various types of deterioration. An examination and analysis of the textile was undertaken in order to develop a plan of conservation treatment. FTIR was used to identify the kinds of dyes and organic stains, and XR-D was used to identify mordants and dust. Light microscope and SEM were used to identify the kind of fibers, their condition and surface morphology. The effects of cleaning materials on the natural dyes were tested. The researcher designed a new metallic frame support system which has advantages over the wooden frames commonly used in Egypt. This presentation will review the conservation treatment step by step. Poultices were used to remove all the sticking cardboard and adhesive. Old conservation repairs were removed. Separated parts were supported. Cleaning included mechanical and wet cleaning. New silk fabrics dyed with natural dyes were used to complete the missing parts. The textile was supported on new linen fabric which was stretched on a metal frame. The method of exhibition will be discussed. Photographs are included to document the conservation process.     

Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor and nitric oxide in patients with liver cirrhosis: A possible association with liver function impairment

Hemodynamic disorders of liver cirrhosis complicated with portal hypertension are associated with an increased angiogenesis in animal model of portal hypertension and cirrhosis which were linked to increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO). The aim of study was to evaluate the serum concentration of VEGF and total nitric oxide (NO) in liver cirrhosis and the possible association with the degree of liver insufficiency. VEGF and NO were measured in serum of 64 patients with liver cirrhosis by ELISA and spectrophotometry respectively. The significant increase of serum VEGF was observed in liver cirrhosis compared to healthy individuals as well as serum NO (106.1 ± 66.7 vs. 41.5 ± 6 pg/mL, P < 0.05; 113.5 ± 65.8 vs. 20.8 ± 3.8 μmol/l, P< 0.001, respectively). Serum VEGF and NO showed significant associations with biochemical indices of liver function and with Child-pugh score where they were increased respectively to the degree of liver insufficiency. A significant association of raised serum NO in early stage of portal hypertension reflect its benefit in early expect of portal hypertension but, high serum VEGF in late stage may reflect its prognostic value in liver cirrhosis.     

Consensus of fractional-order multiagent system via sampled-data event-triggered control

This paper investigates the consensus of fractional-order multiagent systems via sampled-data event-triggered control. Firstly, an event-triggered algorithm is defined using sampled states. Thus, Zeno behaviors can be naturally avoided. Then, a distributed control protocol is proposed to ensure the consensus of fractional-order multiagent systems, where each agent updates its current state based on its neighbors’ states at event-triggered instants. Furthermore, the pinning control technology is taken into account to ensure all agents in multiagent systems reach the specified reference state. With the aid of linear matrix inequalities (LMI), some sufficient conditions are obtained to guarantee the consensus of fractional-order multiagent system. Finally, numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the theoretical analysis.