Quercus Brantii Lindl. Vaginal Douche Versus Clotrimazole on Vaginal Candidiasis - A Randomized Clinical Trial -

Zeinab Moshfeghy,Khadegeh Asadi,Marzieh Akbarzadeh,Atefeh Zare,Tahereh Poordast,Masoumeh Emamghoreishi,Fatemeh S.Najib4,Mehrab Sayadi 대한약침학회 2018 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.21 No.3

Objectives: Vaginal Candidiasis with an approximate prevalence of 30% is the second cause of vaginal infections. Antifungal azole is the first treatment for Vaginal Candidiasis; however, some side effects have been reported for this chemical medicine. Based on the antifungal activity of Inner Stratum of Quercus Brantii (Q. Brantii), the aim of our study was to compare the effects of vaginal douche of Q. Brantii extract and clotrimazole on vaginal candidiasis symptoms before and after the treatments, in women. Methods: 89 non-pregnant women with positive KOH test which is capable of identifying the presence of hyphae and mycelium by adding KOH (10%), and a positive vaginal candidiasis culture were randomly divided into two experimental groups, using permuted block randomization method. One group received clotrimazole vaginal cream (1%) and the other group received vaginal douche of Q. Brantii extract. Groups were treated for 7 days and KOH tests and cultures were evaluated again. Data were analyzed via chi-square and independent t-test, using SPSS software. Results: According to the results, there were no significant differences between experimental groups for demographic characteristics like age (p=0.403), BMI (p=0.911), educational levels (p=0.862) and contraceptive methods (p=0.702). Moreover, significant differences were seen in vaginal discharge between the groups after the treatments (P=0.043). Conclusion: The results suggested that the therapeutic effect of vaginal douche of Q. Brantii extract was approximately similar to that of clotrimazole vaginal cream.

Experimental Study of the Shear Behavior of RC Beams Strengthened with High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Najib Gerges,Camille A. Issa,Elias Sleiman,Melissa Najjar,Ali Kattouf 한국콘크리트학회 2023 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.17 No.3

In this study, the efficacy of strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams in shear by utilizing high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) was explored. The shear strengthening was achieved by epoxy bonding of prefabricated HPFRC strips or plates onto the beams. The beams were strengthened utilizing two different strengthening schemes: (i) plates side strengthening (ii) vertical strips applied at shear critical sections. The behavior of the two configurations was compared to the behavior of non-shear reinforced and shear-reinforced RC beams. The high-performance concrete (HPC) utilized contains 1.5% of steel fibers per volume of HPC mortar and is known as HPFRC. Parameters determined were the flexural strength and compressive strength of HPFRC mortar. The obtained results revealed that HPFRC realized a 28-day flexural strength of 20 MPa and a compressive strength of 108 MPa. Moreover, HPFRC strengthened RC beams experienced an increased in strength capacity of about 50% for plates and 36% for vertical strips compared to the RC beams with no stirrups. The results for HPFRC strengthened beams with plates were superior compared to those of the stirrup-reinforced beams, whereas the results of HPFRC strips strengthened beams were almost identical to the stirrup-reinforced beams. Also observed, was an improvement in the ductility of the beams with the best results achieved when employing HPFRC plates and strips.

Effects of acetaminophen administration on liver histopathology, serum GOT/GPT levels and circulating microRNA-122 concentration in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Najib, Abdellaoui,Kim, Dong Soo,Kim, Ki Hong The Korean Society of Fish Pathology 2016 한국어병학회지 Vol.29 No.1

In human medicine, circulating microRNAs have been successfully utilized as early biomarkers for various abnormalities and disease states. Vertebrate miR-122 is a liver-specific microRNA which is expressed almost solely in hepatocytes and plays an important role in the regulation of hepatocyte function. In this study, to evaluate the potential utility of circulating miR-122 as a biomarker for liver injury in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), fish were orally intubated with two doses of acetaminophen (500 mg/kg or 1.000 mg/kg of body weight), and the expression of miR-122 in serum was quantified using real time-PCR. Histological change in liver, and the enzymatic activity of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were also analyzed. The results showed that miR-122 was higher in acetaminophen administered groups compared to control group. The histopathological effect of acetaminophen on olive flounder liver was not distinct. The serum level of GPT and GOT was increased within 2 folds compared to control group by acetaminophen administration. However, the serum miR-122 level was increased more than 3 or 4 folds compared to the control group by administration of 1000 mg/kg of acetaminophen. These results suggest the possible use of miR-122 as an indicator of liver injury in olive flounder, even when histopathological effects are not distinctive.

Finite element modeling of rolled steel shapes subjected to weak axis bending

Najib G. Saliba,Issam Tawk,Antoine N. Gergess 국제구조공학회 2018 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.29 No.2

Point bending is often used for cambering and curving structural steel girders. An analytical solution, applicable in the elasto-plastic range only, that relates applied loads to the desired curve was recently developed for inducing horizontal curves using four-point bending. This solution does not account for initial residual stresses and geometric imperfections built-in hotrolled sections. This paper presents results from a full-scale test on a hot-rolled steel section curved using four-point bending. In parallel, a numerical analysis, accounting for both initial geometric imperfections and initial residual stresses, was carried out. The models were validated against the experimental results and a good agreement for lateral offset and for strain in the elastoplastic and post-plastic ranges was achieved. The results show that the effect of initial residual stresses on deformation and strain is minimal. Finally, residual stresses due to cold bending calculated from the numerical analysis were assessed and a revised stress value for the service load design of the curved girder is proposed.

Visual Tracking Control of Aerial Robotic Systems with Adaptive Depth Estimation

Najib Metni,Tarek Hamel 대한전기학회 2007 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.5 No.1

This paper describes a visual tracking control law of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for monitoring of structures and maintenance of bridges. It presents a control law based on computer vision for quasi-stationary flights above a planar target. The first part of the UAV's mission is the navigation from an initial position to a final position to define a desired trajectory in an unknown 3D environment. The proposed method uses the homography matrix computed from the visual information and derives, using backstepping techniques, an adaptive nonlinear tracking control law allowing the effective tracking and depth estimation. The depth represents the desired distance separating the camera from the target.

Finite Element Modeling of Cold Curved Steel Rolled Beams Under Service Loads

Najib G. Saliba,Dola F. Nehmeh,Antoine H. Helal,Antoine N. Gergess 한국강구조학회 2021 International Journal of Steel Structures Vol.21 No.2

Cold bending is an effi cient method recommended by steel fabricators for curving structural steel beams. It relies solely on mechanical forces to curve the beam into the required shapes without heating. While extensive research has been conducted on fabrication processes, data on the structural performance of cold bent steel girders in service is scarce which limits its use specifi cally in bridge structure applications. This paper investigates the eff ects of cold bending on the service load capacity of steel rolled shapes. An experimental and analytical program was developed for this purpose. The experimental program consists of cold curving a rolled IPE section about its weak axis and then bending it about its strong axis by applying vertical static loads that simulate service loads. Numerically, fi nite element analysis was conducted and validated based on experimental results. A parametric study was then conducted to identify structural parameters that can adversely aff ect the resistance capacity of cold bent steel rolled beams. Results show that the reduction in resistance capacity of the cold curved steel beam depends on the confi guration of the applied loads and that its structural behavior can be improved by adding stiff eners, bearing plates, modifying the end boundary conditions and introducing load eccentricities. Recommendations are fi nally made to improve the effi ciency of cold curved steel beams in service.

Nonnil-$S$-coherent rings

Najib Mahdou,El Houssaine Oubouhou 대한수학회 2024 대한수학회논문집 Vol.39 No.1

Let $R$ be a commutative ring with identity. If the nilpotent radical $Nil(R)$ of $R$ is a divided prime ideal, then $R$ is called a $\phi$-ring. Let $R$ be a $\phi$-ring and $S$ be a multiplicative subset of $R$. In this paper, we introduce and study the class of nonnil-$S$-coherent rings, i.e., the rings in which all finitely generated nonnil ideals are $S$-finitely presented. Also, we define the concept of $\phi$-$S$-coherent rings. Among other results, we investigate the $S$-version of Chase's result and Chase Theorem characterization of nonnil-coherent rings. We next study the possible transfer of the nonnil-$S$-coherent ring property in the amalgamated algebra along an ideal and the trivial ring extension.

Direct and Indirect Robust Adaptive Fuzzy Controllers for a Class of Nonlinear Systems

Najib Essounbouli,Abdelaziz Hamzaoui 대한전기학회 2006 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.4 No.2

In this paper, we propose direct and indirect adaptive fuzzy sliding mode control approaches for a class of nonaffine nonlinear systems. ln the direct case, we use the implicit function theory to prove the existence of an ideal implicit feedback linearization controller, and hence approximate it to attain the desired performances. In the indirect case, we exploit the linear structure of a Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy system with constant conclusion to establish an affine-in-control model, and therefore design an indirect adaptive fuzzy controller. In both cases, the adaptation laws of the adjustable parameters are deduced from the stability analysis, in the sense of Lyapunov, to get a more accurate approximation level. In addition to their robustness, the design of the proposed approaches does not require the upper bounds of both external disturbances and approximation errors. To show the efficiency of the proposed controllers, a simulation example is presented.

Order of convergence for polynomial and analytical nodal methods

Najib Guessous,Fouzia Hadfat 한국전산응용수학회 2006 Journal of applied mathematics & informatics Vol.21 No.1-2

HOW DO MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES FARE UNDER AN INFLATION TARGETING REGIME

NAJIB KHAN 중앙대학교 경제연구소 2022 Journal of Economic Development Vol.47 No.4

Inflation-targeting regime, as a framework for monetary policy conduct, has been adopted by central banks in thirty countries. Some of these countries enjoy high incomes while others have middle incomes. In contrast to the development-based classification – often applied in the literature, thus ignoring income disparity – this study employs income-based classification. The objective is to investigate, using a panel of middle-income countries, whether inflation targeting is a good remedy for high inflation. In addition to the commonly used covariates in the literature, this study also includes in its covariate matrix the worldwide governance indicators as proxy for institutional quality. The findings exhibit a significant reduction of inflation among the inflation-targeting adopters compared to the non-adopting middle-income countries. The results are robust to the exclusion of high inflation episodes, and to using the alternative measures of inflation. The results are also robust to the post-estimation tests recommended for such empirical analysis.