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Background: The destructive insect pest Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous species targeting many economically important plants. The extensive and arbitrary use of insecticides has resulted in the build-up of insecticide resistance and pesticide residues accumulating in food. Therefore, it is becoming evident that alternative pest management tools are needed to reduce risks to humans, the environment, and non-target organisms, and at the same time, they should be used in field application at the lowest cost. Methods: In view of this objective, the present study demonstrates the toxicity of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf) essential oil (EO), against the black cutworm A. ipsilon under controlled laboratory conditions in terms of measuring the activity of peroxidase and detoxification enzymes. The chemical components of the EO were analyzed using GC–MS. Results: The results show that after 96 h post treatment, the LC15 and LC50 values were 427.67 and 2623.06 mg/L, respectively, of C. citratus EO on second-instar larvae of A. ipsilon. A slight significance in elongation of the larval duration with LC15 and LC50 value was found with control. By GC–MS analysis, the main compounds identified in the EO were α-citral and β-citral with percentages of 35.91%, and 35%, respectively. The oxidative stress indicates a significant increase in CAT and lipid peroxidase enzyme activity after 96 h post treatment at the LC15 and LC50. Conversely, the detoxification enzyme activity shows an inhibition of CarE and GST enzymes of larvae exposed to LC15 and LC50 values in response to C. citratus EO. Conclusions: The present data show that lemongrass EO has insecticidal activity against the black cutworm, A. ipsilon.
Moataz A. M. Moustafa; Mona Awad; Alia Amer; Nancy N. Hassan; El-Desoky S. Ibrahim; Hayssam M. Ali; Mohammad Akrami; Mohamed Z. M. Salem. Insecticidal Activity of Lemongrass Essential Oil as an Eco-Friendly Agent against the Black Cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Insects 2021, 12, 737 .
AMA StyleMoataz A. M. Moustafa, Mona Awad, Alia Amer, Nancy N. Hassan, El-Desoky S. Ibrahim, Hayssam M. Ali, Mohammad Akrami, Mohamed Z. M. Salem. Insecticidal Activity of Lemongrass Essential Oil as an Eco-Friendly Agent against the Black Cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Insects. 2021; 12 (8):737.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMoataz A. M. Moustafa; Mona Awad; Alia Amer; Nancy N. Hassan; El-Desoky S. Ibrahim; Hayssam M. Ali; Mohammad Akrami; Mohamed Z. M. Salem. 2021. "Insecticidal Activity of Lemongrass Essential Oil as an Eco-Friendly Agent against the Black Cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)." Insects 12, no. 8: 737.
Africa is the second populous continent, and its population has the fastest growing rate. Some African countries are still plagued by poverty, poor sanitary conditions and limited resources, such as clean drinking water, food supply, electricity, and effective waste management systems. Underfunded healthcare systems, poor training and lack of awareness of policies and legislations on handling medical waste have led to increased improper handling of waste within hospitals, healthcare facilities and transportation and storage of medical waste. Some countries, including Ethiopia, Botswana, Nigeria and Algeria, do not have national guidelines in place to adhere to the correct disposal of such wastage. Incineration is often the favoured disposal method due to the rapid diminishment of up to 90% of waste, as well as production of heat for boilers or for energy production. This type of method – if not applying the right technologies – potentially creates hazardous risks of its own, such as harmful emissions and residuals. In this study, the sustainability aspects of medical waste management in Africa were reviewed to present resilient solutions for health and environment protection for the next generation in Africa. The findings of this research introduce policies, possible advices and solutions associated with sustainability and medical waste management that can support decision-makers in developing strategies for the sustainability by using the eco-friendly technologies for efficient medical waste treatment and disposal methods and also can serve as a link between the healthcare system, decision-makers, and stakeholders in developing health policies and programmes.
Jade Megan Chisholm; Reza Zamani; Abdelazim M Negm; Noha Said; Mahmoud M Abdel Daiem; Mahdieh Dibaj; Mohammad Akrami. Sustainable waste management of medical waste in African developing countries: A narrative review. Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleJade Megan Chisholm, Reza Zamani, Abdelazim M Negm, Noha Said, Mahmoud M Abdel Daiem, Mahdieh Dibaj, Mohammad Akrami. Sustainable waste management of medical waste in African developing countries: A narrative review. Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJade Megan Chisholm; Reza Zamani; Abdelazim M Negm; Noha Said; Mahmoud M Abdel Daiem; Mahdieh Dibaj; Mohammad Akrami. 2021. "Sustainable waste management of medical waste in African developing countries: A narrative review." Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy , no. : 1.
Cut flower production in the Bogotá savanna is one of Colombia’s main export products. Flower production is mainly carried out in greenhouses, as this type of production system has substantial advantages over crops grown in open fields. Protected agriculture provides timely climate management that improves crop yields. The objective of this work was to build and validate a 3D CFD numerical model to understand the spatial distribution of temperatures because of the air flow dynamics inside a typical greenhouse in the Bogotá savanna. Root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) were the statistical indicators used between experimental and simulated wind speed and temperature data. The simulations considered twelve evaluation scenarios that were established based on the climatic conditions characteristic of the study region. The results indicate that under regional conditions of temperature and wind for this type of passive greenhouse, there is a deficient ventilation rate. This rate does not exceed 35 exchanges h−1 compared to the recommended rates for crops, which is between 45 and 60 air exchanges h−1. This renewal rate contributes to the heterogeneity of the microclimatic dynamics of the greenhouse, presenting hot spots with temperature values above 32 °C in all examined scenarios. For the lower air speed scenarios (<1 ms−1), these areas of high temperature can reach up to 50% of the cultivated area. Therefore, it is suggested that future studies should seek technical solutions to optimize the microclimatic conditions of the greenhouse design used in the Colombian floriculture sector.
Edwin Villagrán; Jorge Flores-Velazquez; Carlos Bojacá; Mohammad Akrami. Evaluation of the Microclimate in a Traditional Colombian Greenhouse Used for Cut Flower Production. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1330 .
AMA StyleEdwin Villagrán, Jorge Flores-Velazquez, Carlos Bojacá, Mohammad Akrami. Evaluation of the Microclimate in a Traditional Colombian Greenhouse Used for Cut Flower Production. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (7):1330.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEdwin Villagrán; Jorge Flores-Velazquez; Carlos Bojacá; Mohammad Akrami. 2021. "Evaluation of the Microclimate in a Traditional Colombian Greenhouse Used for Cut Flower Production." Agronomy 11, no. 7: 1330.
A coupled framework, linking subsurface flow and surface hydrodynamics, is developed and applied to a real-world case study of Pingtung coastal aquifer in southwest of Taiwan, in East Asia. FEFLOW is adopted to develop a 3-D variable density and transient groundwater model of the Pingtung shallow aquifer lying 250 m below mean sea level (MSL). This model is coupled with a 1-D river network model, comprised of the main river and its two tributaries, using MIKE 11 through the IFM MIKE 11 coupling interface. The model is capable of analysing the relationship between rainfall, surface water and groundwater recharge lag time. Also, the analysis of potential river inundation and maximum river discharge enable the model to choose the best location to apply artificial recharge as a management scenario to mitigate the effect of seawater intrusion (SWI). To the authors’ knowledge, the developed coupled model is the first detailed integrated framework analysing the interaction of surface and subsurface water, with the capability to contribute to the restoration, rehabilitation, and management of the river network. The rainfall ratio in the wet season to dry season is significant in this plain comparing with the rest of Taiwan. Also, southern Taiwan experiences the largest sea and river interaction, while Kaoping River playing as a pathway role for inland lead of seawater intrusion.
Mahdieh Dibaj; Akbar A. Javadi; Mohammad Akrami; Kai-Yuan Ke; Raziyeh Farmani; Yih-Chi Tan; Albert S. Chen. Coupled three-dimensional modelling of groundwater-surface water interactions for management of seawater intrusion in Pingtung Plain, Taiwan. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 2021, 36, 100850 .
AMA StyleMahdieh Dibaj, Akbar A. Javadi, Mohammad Akrami, Kai-Yuan Ke, Raziyeh Farmani, Yih-Chi Tan, Albert S. Chen. Coupled three-dimensional modelling of groundwater-surface water interactions for management of seawater intrusion in Pingtung Plain, Taiwan. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies. 2021; 36 ():100850.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMahdieh Dibaj; Akbar A. Javadi; Mohammad Akrami; Kai-Yuan Ke; Raziyeh Farmani; Yih-Chi Tan; Albert S. Chen. 2021. "Coupled three-dimensional modelling of groundwater-surface water interactions for management of seawater intrusion in Pingtung Plain, Taiwan." Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 36, no. : 100850.
Over the past decade, Finite Element (FE) modelling has been used as a method to understand the internal stresses within the diabetic foot. Foot deformities such as hammer toe have been associated with increased risk of foot ulcers in diabetic patients. Hence the aim of this study is to investigate the influence of hammer toe deformity on internal stresses during walking. A 3D finite element model of the human foot was constructed based on capturing Magentic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of a diabetic neuropathic volunteer exhibiting hammer toe. 3D gait measurements and a multi-body musculoskeletal model for the same participant were used to define muscle forces; FE simulations were run in five different phases of the stance phase of gait. Peak plantar pressure and pressure distribution results calculated from the model showed a good agreement with the experimental measurement having less than 11% errors. Maximum von Mises internal stresses in the forefoot hard tissue were observed at the 3rd and 5th metatarsals and 4th proximal phalanx. Moreover, presence of hammer toe deformity leads to the location of maximum internal stresses on the soft tissue to be shifted to the forefoot by changing the location of centre of pressure with internal stress more than 1.64 greater than plantar pressure. Hammer toe deformity also showed to reduce the involvement of the first phalanx in internal/external load-bearing during walking. The findings of this study support the association between changes in load-bearing pattern, deformity, and internal stresses in the tissue that lead to foot ulceration.
M. Moayedi; A.R. Arshi; M. Salehi; M. Akrami; R. Naemi. Associations between changes in loading pattern, deformity, and internal stresses at the foot with hammer toe during walking; a finite element approach. Computers in Biology and Medicine 2021, 135, 104598 .
AMA StyleM. Moayedi, A.R. Arshi, M. Salehi, M. Akrami, R. Naemi. Associations between changes in loading pattern, deformity, and internal stresses at the foot with hammer toe during walking; a finite element approach. Computers in Biology and Medicine. 2021; 135 ():104598.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Moayedi; A.R. Arshi; M. Salehi; M. Akrami; R. Naemi. 2021. "Associations between changes in loading pattern, deformity, and internal stresses at the foot with hammer toe during walking; a finite element approach." Computers in Biology and Medicine 135, no. : 104598.
This work investigates an experimental study for using low-cost and eco-friendly oils to increase the shelf life of strawberry fruit. Three natural oils were used: (i) Eucalyptus camaldulensis var obtuse, (ii) Mentha piperita green aerial parts essential oils (EOs), and (iii) Moringa oleifera seeds n-hexane fixed oil (FO). Furthermore, a mixture of EOs from E. camaldulensis var obtusa and M. piperita (1/1 v/v) was used. The treated fruits were stored at 5 °C and 90% relative humidity (RH) for 18 days. HPLC was used to analyse the changes in phenolic compounds during the storage periods. The effects of biofumigation through a slow-release diffuser of EOs (E. camaldulensis var obtusa and M. piperita), or by coating with M. oleifera FO, were evaluated in terms of control of post-harvest visual and chemical quality of strawberry fruits. The post-harvest resistance of strawberry fruits to Botrytis cinerea fungal infection was also evaluated. As a result, the EO treatments significantly reduced the change in visual and chemical quality of strawberry fruit. Additionally, changes in the titratable acidity of moringa FO-coated strawberry fruits were delayed. EO treatments improved total soluble solids, total phenols, ascorbic acid, antioxidants and peroxidase. E. camaldulensis var obtusa and M. piperita (1/1 v/v) EO-vapour fruit exhibited a slower rate of deterioration, compared to other treatments in all tested, in two experiments. The lowest colour change (ΔE) was observed inthe fruit treated with E. camaldulensis var obtusa EO and M. oleifera FO. HPLC showed changes in phenolic compounds’ concentration, where p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid and ellagic acid were mostly identified in the fruits treated with the oils. SEM examination confirmed the potential decrease in fungal growth as the fruits were treated with EOs. In conclusion, the treatment of EOs during different storage periods showed promising characterisations for strawberry fruit quality.
Doaa Abd-Elkader; Mohamed Salem; Doaa Komeil; Asma Al-Huqail; Hayssam Ali; Alaa Salah; Mohammad Akrami; Hanaa Hassan. Post-Harvest Enhancing and Botrytis cinerea Control of Strawberry Fruits Using Low Cost and Eco-Friendly Natural Oils. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1246 .
AMA StyleDoaa Abd-Elkader, Mohamed Salem, Doaa Komeil, Asma Al-Huqail, Hayssam Ali, Alaa Salah, Mohammad Akrami, Hanaa Hassan. Post-Harvest Enhancing and Botrytis cinerea Control of Strawberry Fruits Using Low Cost and Eco-Friendly Natural Oils. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (6):1246.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDoaa Abd-Elkader; Mohamed Salem; Doaa Komeil; Asma Al-Huqail; Hayssam Ali; Alaa Salah; Mohammad Akrami; Hanaa Hassan. 2021. "Post-Harvest Enhancing and Botrytis cinerea Control of Strawberry Fruits Using Low Cost and Eco-Friendly Natural Oils." Agronomy 11, no. 6: 1246.
Countries around the world generate electricity from renewable resources to decarbonise their societies and reduce global warming. Some countries have already outlined their wishes to produce a part of their total energy consumption from renewable sources in the coming years and gradually reduce the use of nuclear energy and fossil fuel in favour of cleaner fuels. While renewable energies are significant factors in tackling climate change, the parameters that can influence their performance should be analysed in detail during the design process. One of these parameters is the foundation of an offshore wind turbine. Offshore wind turbines allow more energy to be produced than an onshore installation, and do not have any harmful effects on human beings, while their geotechnical aspects need to be clearly determined in advance. In this study, the influential parameters such as soil type, the number of bolts in the design, and the size of the structure were analysed using the finite element method for three different designs. The simulations showed that some soil properties, such as cohesion, do not influence the results, while Young’s modulus has a large influence on the designs. Additionally, the results of this study showed that the maximum stress concentrations are at the bolts and connection joints where they are too close to the steel’s yield stress. It also proves that the non-elastic behaviour of the soil does not require to be assigned for such analyses and it can be simplified only with its elastic behaviour. The embedded length affects the lateral displacement, while the number of bolts influences the structure’s resistance to external loads.
Adrien Jacomet; Ali Khosravifardshirazi; Iman Sahafnejad-Mohammadi; Mahdieh Dibaj; Akbar Javadi; Mohammad Akrami. Analysing the Influential Parameters on the Monopile Foundation of an Offshore Wind Turbine. Computation 2021, 9, 71 .
AMA StyleAdrien Jacomet, Ali Khosravifardshirazi, Iman Sahafnejad-Mohammadi, Mahdieh Dibaj, Akbar Javadi, Mohammad Akrami. Analysing the Influential Parameters on the Monopile Foundation of an Offshore Wind Turbine. Computation. 2021; 9 (6):71.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdrien Jacomet; Ali Khosravifardshirazi; Iman Sahafnejad-Mohammadi; Mahdieh Dibaj; Akbar Javadi; Mohammad Akrami. 2021. "Analysing the Influential Parameters on the Monopile Foundation of an Offshore Wind Turbine." Computation 9, no. 6: 71.
Background Coronary stents are routinely placed in the treatment and prophylaxis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Current coronary stent designs are prone to developing blockages: in-stent thrombosis (IST) and in-stent re-stenosis (ISR). This is a systematic review of the design of current coronary stent models, their structural properties and their modes of application, with a focus on their associated risks of IST and ISR. The primary aim of this review is to identify the best stent design features for reducing the risk of IST and ISR. To review the three major types of stents used in clinical settings today, determining best and relevant clinical practice by exploring which types and features of offer improved patient outcomes regarding coronary angioplasty. This information can potentially be used to increase the success rate of coronary angioplasty and stent technology in the future taking into account costs and benefits. Methods Scientific databases were searched to find studies concerning stents. After the exclusion criteria were applied, 19 of the 3192 searched literature were included in this review. Studies investigating three major types of stent design were found: bare-metal stents (BMS), drug-eluting stents (DES) and bioresorbable stents (BRS). The number of participants varied between 14 and 1264. On average 77.4% were male, with a mean age of 64 years. Results From the findings of these studies, it is clear that DES are superior in reducing the risk of ISR when compared to BMS. Conflicting results do not clarify whether BRS are superior to DES at reducing IST occurrence, although studies into newer BRS technologies show reducing events of IST to 0, creating a promising future for BRS showing them to be non-inferior. Thinner stents were shown to reduce IST rates, due to better re-endothelialisation. Scaffold material has also been shown to play a role with cobalt alloy stents reducing the risk of IST. This study found that thinner stents that release drugs were better at preventing re-blockages. Some dissolvable stents might be better at stopping blood clots blocking the arteries when compared to metal stents. The method and procedure of implanting the stent during coronary angioplasty influences success rate of these stents, meaning stent design is not the only significant factor to consider. Conclusions Positive developments in coronary angioplasty could be made by designing new stents that encompass all the most desirable properties of existing stent technology. Further work is needed to investigate the benefits of BRS in reducing the risk of IST compared to DES, as well as to investigate the effects of different scaffold materials on IST and ISR outcomes.
Joseph Robert Stevens; Ava Zamani; James Ian Atkins Osborne; Reza Zamani; Mohammad Akrami. Critical evaluation of stents in coronary angioplasty: a systematic review. BioMedical Engineering OnLine 2021, 20, 1 -21.
AMA StyleJoseph Robert Stevens, Ava Zamani, James Ian Atkins Osborne, Reza Zamani, Mohammad Akrami. Critical evaluation of stents in coronary angioplasty: a systematic review. BioMedical Engineering OnLine. 2021; 20 (1):1-21.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJoseph Robert Stevens; Ava Zamani; James Ian Atkins Osborne; Reza Zamani; Mohammad Akrami. 2021. "Critical evaluation of stents in coronary angioplasty: a systematic review." BioMedical Engineering OnLine 20, no. 1: 1-21.
The use of covered structures is an alternative increasingly used by farmers to increase crop yields per unit area compared to open field production. In Latin American countries such as Colombia, productive areas are located in with predominantly hillside soil conditions. In the last two decades, farmers have introduced cover structures adapted to these soil conditions, structures for which the behavior of factors that directly affect plant growth and development, such as microclimate, are still unknown. Therefore, in this research work, a CFD-3D model successfully validated with experimental data of temperature and air velocity was implemented. The numerical model was used to determine the behavior of air flow patterns and temperature distribution inside a Colombian passive greenhouse during daytime hours. The results showed that the slope of the terrain affects the behavior of the air flow patterns, generating thermal gradients inside the greenhouse with values between 1.26 and 16.93 °C for the hours evaluated. It was also found that the highest indoor temperature values at the same time were located in the highest region of the terrain. Based on the results of this study, future researches on how to optimize the microclimatic conditions of this type of sustainable productive system can be carried out.
Edwin Villagran; Carlos Bojacá; Mohammad Akrami. Contribution to the Sustainability of Agricultural Production in Greenhouses Built on Slope Soils: A Numerical Study of the Microclimatic Behavior of a Typical Colombian Structure. Sustainability 2021, 13, 4748 .
AMA StyleEdwin Villagran, Carlos Bojacá, Mohammad Akrami. Contribution to the Sustainability of Agricultural Production in Greenhouses Built on Slope Soils: A Numerical Study of the Microclimatic Behavior of a Typical Colombian Structure. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (9):4748.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEdwin Villagran; Carlos Bojacá; Mohammad Akrami. 2021. "Contribution to the Sustainability of Agricultural Production in Greenhouses Built on Slope Soils: A Numerical Study of the Microclimatic Behavior of a Typical Colombian Structure." Sustainability 13, no. 9: 4748.
Water shortage, human population increase, and lack of food resources have directed societies towards sustainable energy and water resources, especially for agriculture. While open agriculture requires a massive amount of water and energy, the requirements of horticultural systems can be controlled to provide standard conditions for the plants to grow, with significant decrease in water consumption. A greenhouse is a transparent indoor environment used for horticulture, as it allows for reasonable control of the microclimate conditions (e.g., temperature, air velocity, rate of ventilation, and humidity). While such systems create a controlled environment for the plants, the greenhouses need ventilation to provide fresh air. In order to have a sustainable venting mechanism, a novel solution has been proposed in this study providing a naturally ventilating system required for the plants, while at the same time reducing the energy requirements for cooling or other forced ventilation techniques. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to analyse the ventilation requirements for different vent opening scenarios, showing the importance of inlet locations for the proposed sustainable greenhouse system.
Mohammad Akrami; Can Mutlum; Akbar Javadi; Alaa Salah; Hassan Fath; Mahdieh Dibaj; Raziyeh Farmani; Ramy Mohammed; Abdelazim Negm. Analysis of Inlet Configurations on the Microclimate Conditions of a Novel Standalone Agricultural Greenhouse for Egypt Using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Sustainability 2021, 13, 1446 .
AMA StyleMohammad Akrami, Can Mutlum, Akbar Javadi, Alaa Salah, Hassan Fath, Mahdieh Dibaj, Raziyeh Farmani, Ramy Mohammed, Abdelazim Negm. Analysis of Inlet Configurations on the Microclimate Conditions of a Novel Standalone Agricultural Greenhouse for Egypt Using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (3):1446.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammad Akrami; Can Mutlum; Akbar Javadi; Alaa Salah; Hassan Fath; Mahdieh Dibaj; Raziyeh Farmani; Ramy Mohammed; Abdelazim Negm. 2021. "Analysis of Inlet Configurations on the Microclimate Conditions of a Novel Standalone Agricultural Greenhouse for Egypt Using Computational Fluid Dynamics." Sustainability 13, no. 3: 1446.
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication for people with diabetes. They result in increased morbidity and pressures on health system resources. Developments in machine learning (ML) offer an opportunity for improved care of individuals at risk of DFUs, to identify and synthesise evidence about the current uses and accuracy of ML in the interventional care and management of DFUs, and, to provide a reference for areas of future research. PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus were searched using the Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies (PRISMA-DTA) guidelines for papers involving ML and DFUs. In order to be included, studies needed to mention ML, DFUs, and report relevant outcome measures regarding ML algorithm accuracy. Bias in included studies was assessed using the quality assessment tool for diagnostic accuracy (QUADAS-2). 37 out of 3769 papers were included after applying eligibility criteria. Included papers reported accuracy measures for multiple types of ML algorithms in DFU studies. Whilst varying across the ML algorithm used, all studies reported at least 90% accuracy compared to gold standards using a minimum of one reported ML algorithm for processing or recording data. Applications where ML had positive effects on DFU data analysis and outcomes include image segmentation and classification, raw data analysis and risk assessment. ML offers an effective and accurate solution to guide analysis and procurement of data from interventions which are designed for the care of DFUs in small samples and study conditions. Current research is limited, and, for the development of more applicable ML algorithms, future research should address the following: direct comparison of ML applications with current standards of care, health economic analyses and large scale data collection. There is currently no evidence to confidently suggest that ML methods in DFU diagnosis are ready for implementation and use in healthcare settings.
Jack Tulloch; Reza Zamani; Mohammad Akrami. Machine Learning in the Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Systematic Review. IEEE Access 2020, 8, 198977 -199000.
AMA StyleJack Tulloch, Reza Zamani, Mohammad Akrami. Machine Learning in the Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Systematic Review. IEEE Access. 2020; 8 ():198977-199000.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJack Tulloch; Reza Zamani; Mohammad Akrami. 2020. "Machine Learning in the Prevention, Diagnosis and Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Systematic Review." IEEE Access 8, no. : 198977-199000.
Solar-powered desalination is a sustainable solution for countries experiencing water scarcity. Several studies have presented different solutions to provide cleaner production in desalination systems. Parabolic trough collector (PTC) is one of these solutions that has proven to be superior among solar concentrators. Furthermore, a number of studies have investigated the use of PTC for distillation of saline water in response to water scarcity. In this study, a modified PTC model was developed, in which the heat exchanger was replaced by a condensation tube to reduce the energy consumption, and a black layer was introduced to the surface of the receiver to enhance its absorptance. As a reference case, the system productivity according to average solar intensities in Zagazig, located at 30°34′N 31°30′E in the North East of Egypt, is estimated. The results indicated that the maximum production rate that can be attained is 1.72 kg/hr. Then, the structure of the system is evaluated with the aid of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling, in order to enhance its productivity. Many materials are examined and the results recognised copper as the most suitable material amongst marine grade metals (i.e., aluminium, galvanised steel and stainless steel) to construct the receiver tube. This is due to its superior thermal performance, satisfactory corrosion resistance, and acceptable cost. Afterwards, the selected receiver tube was employed to identify the optimal Concentration Ratio (CR). Consequently, a CR of 90.56 was determined to be the optimum value for Zagazig and regions with similar solar radiation. As a result, the system’s productivity was enhanced drastically, as it was estimated that a maximum production rate of 6.93 kg/hr can be achieved.
Mohammad Akrami; Husain Alsari; Akbar A. Javadi; Mahdieh Dibaj; Raziyeh Farmani; Hassan E.S. Fath; Alaa H. Salah; Abdelazim Negm. Analysing the Material Suitability and Concentration Ratio of a Solar-Powered Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) Using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Energies 2020, 13, 5479 .
AMA StyleMohammad Akrami, Husain Alsari, Akbar A. Javadi, Mahdieh Dibaj, Raziyeh Farmani, Hassan E.S. Fath, Alaa H. Salah, Abdelazim Negm. Analysing the Material Suitability and Concentration Ratio of a Solar-Powered Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) Using Computational Fluid Dynamics. Energies. 2020; 13 (20):5479.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammad Akrami; Husain Alsari; Akbar A. Javadi; Mahdieh Dibaj; Raziyeh Farmani; Hassan E.S. Fath; Alaa H. Salah; Abdelazim Negm. 2020. "Analysing the Material Suitability and Concentration Ratio of a Solar-Powered Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) Using Computational Fluid Dynamics." Energies 13, no. 20: 5479.
Many countries in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) are facing water scarcity, which poses a great challenge to agricultural production. Furthermore, water scarcity is projected to increase due to climate change, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The integration of solar power and water desalination systems in greenhouses to overcome water shortages is one of the preferred technologies in crop-growing areas. Crop growth control is done through sufficient management of environmental climatic variables as well as the quantity and quality of water and applied fertilisers with irrigation. Numerous crops such as cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuces, strawberries, flowers, and herbs can be grown under greenhouse conditions using desalinated water. This paper displays the state of the art in (i) solar-driven saltwater desalination to irrigate crops, (ii) the feasibility of water desalination for agriculture in the MENA region, (iii) the economics and environmental impacts of the desalination process, (iv) the quality of desalinated water compared with other non-conventional water resources and (v) recommendations for the future in the MENA region.
Hassan Awaad; Elsayed Mansour; Mohammad Akrami; Hassan Fath; Akbar Javadi; Abdelazim Negm. Availability and Feasibility of Water Desalination as a Non-Conventional Resource for Agricultural Irrigation in the MENA Region: A Review. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7592 .
AMA StyleHassan Awaad, Elsayed Mansour, Mohammad Akrami, Hassan Fath, Akbar Javadi, Abdelazim Negm. Availability and Feasibility of Water Desalination as a Non-Conventional Resource for Agricultural Irrigation in the MENA Region: A Review. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (18):7592.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHassan Awaad; Elsayed Mansour; Mohammad Akrami; Hassan Fath; Akbar Javadi; Abdelazim Negm. 2020. "Availability and Feasibility of Water Desalination as a Non-Conventional Resource for Agricultural Irrigation in the MENA Region: A Review." Sustainability 12, no. 18: 7592.
In this study, an analysis is carried out to determine the optimal application of multiple renewable energy resources, namely wind and solar, to provide electricity requirements for green smart cities and environments. This was done to determine the potential of renewable energy to provide clean, economically viable energy for the case study of Zagazig, located at 30°34′ N 31°30′ E in the North East of Egypt. The relevant data surrounding the production of energy were collected, including the meteorological data from NASA, and specifications regarding renewable resources including solar panels, wind turbines, and storage batteries. Then a hybrid model was constructed consisting of Photovoltaics (PV) panels, wind turbines, a converter, and storage batteries. Once the model was constructed, meteorological data were added alongside average daily demand and cost of electricity per kWh. The optimal solution for Zagazig consisted of 181,000 kW of solar panels feeding directly into the grid. This system had the lowest Net Present Cost (NPC) of the simulations run of US$1,361,029,000 and a net reduction of 156,355 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Mohammad Akrami; Samuel J. Gilbert; Mahdieh Dibaj; Akbar A. Javadi; Raziyeh Farmani; Alaa H. Salah; Hassan E. S. Fath; Abdelazim Negm. Decarbonisation Using Hybrid Energy Solution: Case Study of Zagazig, Egypt. Energies 2020, 13, 4680 .
AMA StyleMohammad Akrami, Samuel J. Gilbert, Mahdieh Dibaj, Akbar A. Javadi, Raziyeh Farmani, Alaa H. Salah, Hassan E. S. Fath, Abdelazim Negm. Decarbonisation Using Hybrid Energy Solution: Case Study of Zagazig, Egypt. Energies. 2020; 13 (18):4680.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammad Akrami; Samuel J. Gilbert; Mahdieh Dibaj; Akbar A. Javadi; Raziyeh Farmani; Alaa H. Salah; Hassan E. S. Fath; Abdelazim Negm. 2020. "Decarbonisation Using Hybrid Energy Solution: Case Study of Zagazig, Egypt." Energies 13, no. 18: 4680.
Second metatarsal stress fractures are a problematic injury for runners and are formed when the rate of repair of bone is outpaced by the damage accumulated during loading. Measuring the peak stresses on the bone during running gives an indication of damage accumulation but direct measurement is invasive. Finite element modelling is a viable alternative method of accurately estimating bone stresses but tends to be too computationally expensive for use in applied research. This study presents a novel and simple finite element model which can estimate bone stresses on the second metatarsal during the stance phase of walking and running, accounting for joint reaction forces and soft tissue effects. The influence of the forces and kinematic inputs to the model and the presence of the soft tissues was quantified using a sensitivity analysis. The magnitudes of maximum stress from the model are similar to existing finite element models and bone staple strain gauge values collected during walking and running. The model was found to be most sensitive to the pitch angle of the metatarsal and the joint reaction forces and was less sensitive to the ground reaction forces under the metatarsal head, suggesting that direct measurement of external forces should not be assumed to represent internal stresses.
M. A Ellison; M. Akrami; J. Fulford; A. A Javadi; H. M Rice. Three dimensional finite element modelling of metatarsal stresses during running. Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology 2020, 44, 368 -377.
AMA StyleM. A Ellison, M. Akrami, J. Fulford, A. A Javadi, H. M Rice. Three dimensional finite element modelling of metatarsal stresses during running. Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology. 2020; 44 (7):368-377.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. A Ellison; M. Akrami; J. Fulford; A. A Javadi; H. M Rice. 2020. "Three dimensional finite element modelling of metatarsal stresses during running." Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology 44, no. 7: 368-377.
A three-dimensional variable-density finite element model was developed to study the combined effects of overabstraction and seawater intrusion in the Pingtung Plain coastal aquifer system in Taiwan. The model was generated in different layers to represent the three aquifers and two aquitards. Twenty-five multilayer pumping wells were assigned to abstract the groundwater, in addition to 95 observation wells to monitor the groundwater level. The analysis was carried out for a period of 8 years (2008–2015 inclusive). Hydraulic head, soil permeability, and precipitation were assigned as input data together with the pumping records in different layers of the aquifer. The developed numerical model was calibrated against the observed head archives and the calibrated model was used to predict the inland encroachment of seawater in different layers of the aquifer. The effects of pumping rate, sea-level rise, and relocation of wells on seawater intrusion were examined. The results show that all layers of the aquifer system are affected by seawater intrusion; however, the lengths of inland encroachment in the top and bottom aquifers are greater compared with the middle layer. This is the first large-scale finite-element model of the Pingtung Plain, which can be used by decision-makers for sustainable management of groundwater resources and cognizance of seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers.
Mahdieh Dibaj; Akbar A. Javadi; Mohammad Akrami; Kai-Yuan Ke; Raziyeh Farmani; Yih-Chi Tan; Albert S. Chen. Modelling seawater intrusion in the Pingtung coastal aquifer in Taiwan, under the influence of sea-level rise and changing abstraction regime. Hydrogeology Journal 2020, 28, 2085 -2103.
AMA StyleMahdieh Dibaj, Akbar A. Javadi, Mohammad Akrami, Kai-Yuan Ke, Raziyeh Farmani, Yih-Chi Tan, Albert S. Chen. Modelling seawater intrusion in the Pingtung coastal aquifer in Taiwan, under the influence of sea-level rise and changing abstraction regime. Hydrogeology Journal. 2020; 28 (6):2085-2103.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMahdieh Dibaj; Akbar A. Javadi; Mohammad Akrami; Kai-Yuan Ke; Raziyeh Farmani; Yih-Chi Tan; Albert S. Chen. 2020. "Modelling seawater intrusion in the Pingtung coastal aquifer in Taiwan, under the influence of sea-level rise and changing abstraction regime." Hydrogeology Journal 28, no. 6: 2085-2103.
The need for sustainable desalination arises from fast-occurring global warming and intensifying droughts due to increasing temperatures, particularly in the Middle East and North African (MENA) regions. Lack of water resources has meant that the countries in these regions have had to desalinate seawater through different sustainable technologies for food supplies and agricultural products. Greenhouses (GH) are used to protect crops from harsh climates, creating a controlled environment requiring less water. In order to have a sustainable resilient GH, a zero-liquid-discharge system (ZLD) was developed by using solar still (SS) desalination techniques, humidification-dehumidification (HDH), and rainwater harvesting. An experiment was designed and carried out by designing and manufacturing a wick type solar still, together with an HDH system, implemented into a GH. Using a pyrometer, the solar intensity was recorded, while the microclimate conditions (temperature and relative humidity) of the GH were also monitored. The GH model was tested in the UK and was shown to be a successful standalone model, providing its water requirements. In the UK, for one solar still with a surface area of 0.72 m2, maximum amount of 58 mL of distilled water was achieved per day. In Egypt, a maximum amount of 1090 mL water was collected per day, from each solar still. This difference is mainly due to the differences in the solar radiation intensity and duration in addition to the temperature variance. While dehumidification generated 7 L of distilled water, rainwater harvesting was added as another solution to the greenhouse in the UK, harvested a maximum of 7 L per day from one side (half the area of the greenhouse roof). This helped to compensate for the less distilled water from the solar stills. The results for the developed greenhouses showed how GHs in countries with different weather conditions could be standalone systems for their agricultural water requirement.
Mohammad Akrami; Alaa H. Salah; Mahdieh Dibaj; Maxime Porcheron; Akbar A. Javadi; Raziyeh Farmani; Hassan E. S. Fath; Abdelazim Negm. A Zero-Liquid Discharge Model for a Transient Solar-Powered Desalination System for Greenhouse. Water 2020, 12, 1440 .
AMA StyleMohammad Akrami, Alaa H. Salah, Mahdieh Dibaj, Maxime Porcheron, Akbar A. Javadi, Raziyeh Farmani, Hassan E. S. Fath, Abdelazim Negm. A Zero-Liquid Discharge Model for a Transient Solar-Powered Desalination System for Greenhouse. Water. 2020; 12 (5):1440.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammad Akrami; Alaa H. Salah; Mahdieh Dibaj; Maxime Porcheron; Akbar A. Javadi; Raziyeh Farmani; Hassan E. S. Fath; Abdelazim Negm. 2020. "A Zero-Liquid Discharge Model for a Transient Solar-Powered Desalination System for Greenhouse." Water 12, no. 5: 1440.
Purpose Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common pathological conditions to affect the human knee joint. In order to analyse the biomechanical causes and effects of OA, accessing the internal structures such as cartilage or the menisci directly is not possible. Therefore, computational models can be used to study the effects of OA on the stresses and strains in the joint and the susceptibility to deformations within the knee joint. Methods In this study, a three-dimensional finite element model of a knee complex was constructed using MRI scans. Medical image processing software was used to create accurate geometries of bones, articular cartilages, menisci, patella, patella tendon and all the relevant ligaments. Finally, a 3D model of OA knee joint was created with a few changes to the cartilage. The cartilage was thinned, and the material properties were altered in order to simulate OA in the joint. 3D gait measurements were analysed to define loading and boundary conditions. Results The developed model analysed the possibility of osteoarthritis. It was shown that the medial regions of cartilage layers and menisci in the knee joint sustain higher values of stress for OA conditions, while for the healthy knee, the stresses are more evenly distributed across the cartilage in the medial and lateral regions. Conclusion The results suggest that any treatment for knee osteoarthritis should focus more on the medial region of the tibiofemoral cartilage in order not to cause degradation.
Kulchamai Thienkarochanakul; Akbar A. Javadi; Mohammad Akrami; Joseph Robert Charnley; Abdelmalek Benattayallah. Stress Distribution of the Tibiofemoral Joint in a Healthy Versus Osteoarthritis Knee Model Using Image-Based Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis. Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering 2020, 40, 409 -418.
AMA StyleKulchamai Thienkarochanakul, Akbar A. Javadi, Mohammad Akrami, Joseph Robert Charnley, Abdelmalek Benattayallah. Stress Distribution of the Tibiofemoral Joint in a Healthy Versus Osteoarthritis Knee Model Using Image-Based Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis. Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering. 2020; 40 (3):409-418.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKulchamai Thienkarochanakul; Akbar A. Javadi; Mohammad Akrami; Joseph Robert Charnley; Abdelmalek Benattayallah. 2020. "Stress Distribution of the Tibiofemoral Joint in a Healthy Versus Osteoarthritis Knee Model Using Image-Based Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis." Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering 40, no. 3: 409-418.
Cultivation in open fields mainly depends on the location and time of farming, which itself highly depends on the quality and quantity of water for irrigation, weather conditions and soil characteristics. Water resources are highly dependent on the limited freshwater resources from the groundwater system, or rainwater. Countries in MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) rely mostly on desalination technologies for agriculture, due to water scarcity. Therefore, greenhouse (GH) agriculture can be developed to succeed in dealing with the water scarcity and provide sufficient sources of agricultural products as a sustainable solution. These indoor agriculture facilities, which are enclosed by transparent covers, can produce different sources of fruits and vegetables, using a controlled amount of water. By reducing the exchange rate of air with the outside environment, which is known as the confinement effects, greenhouses generate a suitable environment for the plants to grow under transparent covers to trap the sunlight. This raises the inside temperature above the maximum threshold levels, especially within the warm season, due to the high solar radiation intensity, having an adverse influence on the microclimate conditions and consequently the crop growth. In order to sustain maximum agricultural yield, greenhouse ventilation is an important parameter in which its trends and emerging practices were reviewed in this study.
Mohammad Akrami; Alaa H. Salah; Akbar A. Javadi; Hassan E.S. Fath; Matthew J. Hassanein; Raziyeh Farmani; Mahdieh Dibaj; Abdelazim Negm. Towards a Sustainable Greenhouse: Review of Trends and Emerging Practices in Analysing Greenhouse Ventilation Requirements to Sustain Maximum Agricultural Yield. Sustainability 2020, 12, 2794 .
AMA StyleMohammad Akrami, Alaa H. Salah, Akbar A. Javadi, Hassan E.S. Fath, Matthew J. Hassanein, Raziyeh Farmani, Mahdieh Dibaj, Abdelazim Negm. Towards a Sustainable Greenhouse: Review of Trends and Emerging Practices in Analysing Greenhouse Ventilation Requirements to Sustain Maximum Agricultural Yield. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (7):2794.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMohammad Akrami; Alaa H. Salah; Akbar A. Javadi; Hassan E.S. Fath; Matthew J. Hassanein; Raziyeh Farmani; Mahdieh Dibaj; Abdelazim Negm. 2020. "Towards a Sustainable Greenhouse: Review of Trends and Emerging Practices in Analysing Greenhouse Ventilation Requirements to Sustain Maximum Agricultural Yield." Sustainability 12, no. 7: 2794.
The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and is responsible for maintaining balance in humans. Bilateral vestibular dysfunction (BVD) is a disorder that adversely affects vestibular function. This results in symptoms such as postural imbalance and vertigo, increasing the incidence of falls and worsening quality of life. Current therapeutic options are often ineffective, with a focus on symptom management. Artificial stimulation of the vestibular system, via a vestibular prosthesis, is a technique being explored to restore vestibular function. This review systematically searched for literature that reported the effect of artificial vestibular stimulation on human behaviours related to balance, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) technique. A total of 21 papers matched the inclusion criteria of the literature search conducted using the PubMed and Web of Science databases (February 2019). The populations for these studies included both healthy adults and patients with BVD. In every paper, artificial vestibular stimulation caused an improvement in certain behaviours related to balance, although the extent of the effect varied greatly. Various behaviours were measured such as the vestibulo-ocular reflex, postural sway and certain gait characteristics. Two classes of prosthesis were evaluated and both showed a significant improvement in at least one aspect of balance-related behaviour in every paper included. No adverse effects were reported for prostheses using noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation, however, prosthetic implantation sometimes caused hearing or vestibular loss. Significant heterogeneity in methodology, study population and disease aetiology were observed. The present study confirms the feasibility of vestibular implants in humans for restoring balance in controlled conditions, but more research needs to be conducted to determine their effects on balance in non-clinical settings.
Felix Haxby; Mohammad Akrami; Reza Zamani. Finding a Balance: A Systematic Review of the Biomechanical Effects of Vestibular Prostheses on Stability in Humans. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 2020, 5, 23 .
AMA StyleFelix Haxby, Mohammad Akrami, Reza Zamani. Finding a Balance: A Systematic Review of the Biomechanical Effects of Vestibular Prostheses on Stability in Humans. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2020; 5 (2):23.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFelix Haxby; Mohammad Akrami; Reza Zamani. 2020. "Finding a Balance: A Systematic Review of the Biomechanical Effects of Vestibular Prostheses on Stability in Humans." Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 5, no. 2: 23.