Sequence Stratigraphy and Rudist Facies Development of the Upper Barremian-Lower Cenomanian Platform, Northern Sinai, Egypt

The Lower Cretaceous sections in northern Sinai are composed of the Risan Aneiza （upper Barremian-middle Albian） and the Halal （middle Albian-lower Cenomanian） formations. The facies reflect subtle paleobathymetry from inner to outer ramp facies. The inner ramp facies are peritidal, protected to open marine lagoons, shoals and rudist biostrome facies. The inner ramp facies grade northward into outer ramp deposits. The upper Barremian-lower Cenomanian succession is subdivided into nine depositional sequences correlated with those recognized in the neighbouring Tethyan areas. These sequences are subdivided into 19 medium-scale sequences based on the facies evolution, the recorded hardgrounds and flooding surfaces, interpreted as the result of eustatic sea level changes and local tectonic activities of the early Syrian Arc rifting stage. Each sequence contains a lower retrogradational parasequence set that constituted the transgressive systems tracts and an upper progradational parasequence set that formed the highstand systems tracts. Nine rudist levels are recorded in the upper Barremian through lower Cenomanian succession at Gabal Raghawi. At Gabal Yelleg two rudist levels are found in the Albian. The rudist levels are associated with the highstand systems tract deposits because of the suitability of the trophic conditions in the rudist-dominated ramp.

Rudists(Bivalvia) from a Cretaceous Platform in Northern Egypt: Taxonomy and Paleobiogeography

New well-preserved rudist materials come from the Barremian–Turonian marine formations in the Yelleg, Minsherah, Maaza, and Raghawi sections in North Sinai, northern Egypt. There, 17 discovered rudist species belonging to 13 genera and seven taxonomic families are described in detail as follows: Eoradiolites plicatus(Conrad), Eoradiolites liratus(Conrad), Praeradiolites ponsianus(d'Archiac), Archaeoradiolites sp., Bournonia africana Douvillé, Bournonia fourtaui Douville, Biradiolites lombricalis(d'Orbigny), Biradiolites zumoffeni Douville, Radiolites lewyi lewyi Parnes, Radiolites sauvagesi(d'Hombres-Firmas), Durania arnaudi(Choffat), Toucasia carinata(Matheron), Toucasia sp., Neocaprina raghawiensis Steuber and Bachmann, Sellaea sp., Ichthyosarcolites sp. and Horoiopleura sp.. The Cenomanian deposits in the northern Eastern desert of Egypt only contain E. liratus. The domination of the Cenomanian rudist species in North Sinai, however, is attributed to changes in the platform, which passes mainly from carbonate in the north to siliciclastics in the south. The presence of Horiopleura sp. in the late Barremian-early Aptian deposits is documented for the first time, which suggests the expansion of taxa of the genus Horiopleura Douville to North Sinai during this interval. The age of the rudist species is documented from the late Barremian-Turonian formations, with their geographic distribution in the Mediterranean region considered..

Robotic versus open transversus abdominis release and incisional hernia repair: A case-control study

Objective:Transversus abdominus release(TAR)is often required to achieve apposition of the rectus muscles and achieve wide mesh reinforcement of the abdominal wall.Traditionally,TAR has been done with an open technique(oTAR),and the benefits of the newer robotic approach(rTAR)has not been well established in the Australian setting.The aim of this study was to compare the results of oTAR with rTAR to demonstrate its safety and efficacy.Methods:A retrospective review of patients who underwent rTAR and oTAR at two tertiary hospitals was conducted between January 2018 and January 2020 in New South Wales,Australia.Patient demographics,perioperative and postoperative outcomes were compared in both groups.Results:There were 26 patients identified to have undergone TAR(13 rTAR,13 oTAR).Both groups were comparable in regards to age,sex and defect size.oTAR was associated with a higher American Society of Anaesthesiologist score.rTAR was associated with significantly longer average operative time(260.0±78.9 min vs.185.7±64.5 min,p=0.017)but found to have a significantly shorter length of stay(3.6±2.1 d vs.6.9±3.6 d,p=0.007)with a comparable complication rate.Conclusions:rTAR is associated with shorter length of hospital stay with comparable postoperative outcomes when compared to oTAR.We are seeing increasing evidence supporting the safety and benefits of robotics,however larger scale studies are required to fully understand this approach.