This research is devoted to investigate the effect of structural geometry on the crushing behaviour, energy absorption, failure mechanism, and failure mode of radial corrugated composite shells. A multi-discipline literature review on the use of composite materials in the field of crashworthiness was carried out. Based on the literature review findings, new composite structure (Radial Corrugated Composite Tube RCCT) was proposed to be fabricated and investigated experimentally.

- Teaching language skills with the support of ICT: Libyan teachers’ perspectives and practice. Journal of Total Science, V (1), issue (3), March 2017

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Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common diabetic complications, and is a major cause of new blindness in the working-age population of developed countries. Progression of vascular abnormalities, including the selective loss of pericytes, formation of acellular capillaries, thickening of the basement membrane, and increased vascular permeability characterizes early nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Capillary occlusion, as shown on fluorescein angiograms, is also one of the earliest clinically recognizable lesion of NPDR. In response to capillary non-perfusion, there is dilation of neighbouring capillaries, leading to early blood-retinal barrier breakdown, capillary non-perfusion, and endothelial cell injury and death. The resulting ischemia leads to increased production of growth factors, and the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), which is characterized by growth of new vessels and potential severe and irreversible visual loss. The exact pathogenic mechanism by which capillary non-perfusion occurs is still unclear but growing evidence now suggests that increased leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and entrapment (retinal leukostasis) in retinal capillaries is an early event associated with areas of vascular non-perfusion and the development of diabetic retinopathy. The leukocytes in diabetic patients are less deformable more activated, and demonstrate increased adhesion to the vascular endothelium. This review summarizes the current literature on the role of leukocytes in the pathogenesis of capillary occlusion, and discusses the potential of leukostasis as a new promising target in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

In this article an investigation was conducted to evaluate the level of conformity of reinforcing steel rods produced from recycled scraps by Zliten Steel Factory (ZSF) with relevant to Libyan specifications and international standards. A series of experimental tests were conducted to find ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and hardness. Bending test has been conducted too. Reinforcing steel rods samples of 12 and 14 mm diameter were subjected to mechanical properties investigations. The tests were carried out for samples selected randomly through three batches at different time. Obtained results were compared with Libyan specifications (LNS-75) and ASTM standard (A-615). Results showed that the locally produced reinforcing steel were conform with the Libyan and international standards in terms of yield stress, ultimate tensile stress, and hardness.

Sustainable development is not a new concept to Islam, sustainable

development principles have existed for centuries in the Holy Qur'an and the Hadith.

However, sustainable development concept may have been recently adopted for

government and civic society in Islamic world. The Islamic perspective embraces that

everything on earth is created for humanity and God's award to people. Islam allows the

consumption of the natural environment without involving unnecessary destruction. Shariah

views that human activities should support environment, and protection of people’s rights,

and needs ensuring that human activities do not compromise the essentials of social,

economic and natural systems either now or in the future. The aim of this study is to

discover the application of Islam in sustainable development debate. Sustainable

development in the context of Islamic concept is taken as an opportunity to refresh the

relationship between human being and environment. This paper is focusing on literature

review.

Aims/hypothesis: Increasing evidence suggests that chronic, subclinical inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. We recently reported that a glycosylating enzyme, core 2 beta-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (core 2 GlcNAc-T), is implicated in increased leucocyte-endothelial cell adhesion in diabetic retinopathy via an upregulation mechanism controlled by TNF-alpha.

Subjects, materials and methods: We examined the functional link between circulating TNF-alpha and the activity and phosphorylation of core 2 GlcNAc-T in polymorphonuclear leucocytes of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Results: Plasma levels of TNF-alpha, although similar in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, were significantly higher than in age-matched healthy controls, and correlated well with the severity of retinopathy. Core 2 GlcNAc-T activity followed the same trend and was associated with the phosphorylation of the enzyme. Finally, the observation that TNF-alpha levels are also linked to glycaemic values suggests that in patients, as well as in vitro, the glycosylation-mediated cell adhesion process that plays a role in diabetic retinopathy may involve glucose- and TNF-alpha-induced protein kinase beta2 activation, and subsequently raise the activity of core 2 GlcNAc-T through increased enzyme phosphorylation.

Conclusions/interpretation: Our results reveal a novel rationale towards a specific treatment of diabetic retinopathy, based on the inhibition of core 2 GlcNAc-T activity and/or the blockage of cognate glycans.

Abstract:

A detailed experimental investigation of the quasi-static lateral crushing of composite cylindrical tubes between flat platens has been carried out. Tubes employed were made of glass fibre reinforced with epoxy. Behaviour of tubes as regards the peak crushing load, post collapse load, energy absorbed and mode of crushing has been discussed. The load displacement response is plotted graphically.