Dopaminergic System: Selected Advances and Emerging Potential Therapeutic Targets

Studies on different physiological and pathophysiological properties of the dopaminergic system have led to novel evidences and theories that suggest the possible targeting of such system in a variety of pathologies and disorders. Herein, we illustrate the applications and the therapeutic importance that such findings and advances might have. We hope that the content of this work will guide researches devoted to dopaminergic aspects that combine neurosciences with pharmacology

Tumors, Neurotransmitters and Pharmacology: Interactions and Implications

Tumors represent a challenge for the modern therapies, and divers studies have shown that different factors are involved in both tumorigenesis and processes of tumor development. Therefore, further investigations and descriptions of inter-influences and interactions between the nervous system, the tumoral process and pharmacotherapies might lead to novel advances and applications, not only in the therapeutical approaches but also in the experimental design

The Importance of the Governance Role in Achieving Stability and Sustainability in Family Business Companies Through Generations

Family businesses have continued to draw researchers' attention due to their strategies while making sustainable decisions. Notably, these business models deserve more recognition in this discourse, considering that they contribute up to 70% of the global Domestic Product. This article focuses on some drivers to sustainable decisions revolving around three pillars: environmental, social, and economic. The author's aim in this context is to provide a statistical model that could be used to forecast revenue trends to establish if family businesses are poised for sustainability or not. The models essentially allow for an analysis of the relationship between family businesses' internal drivers with corresponding financial objectives.However, these business models may fail to achieve their objectives if they do not embrace good governance, allowing them to react to challenges. Corporate governance is an essential framework that companies use to reconcile individual, community, business owners, and shareholders' interests in a dynamic global economy. Companies that align with the principles of good governance are more likely to remain sustainable, stable, and profitable. In retrospect, business enterprises that ignore the provisions of corporate governance risk facing uncertainties, most notably, dissolution and bankruptcy. The second, third, and subsequent generations fail to internalize and advance the founder's long-term organizational goals.This study adds to the existing literature on economic sustainability of family businesses characterized by market value and higher revenue generation

Designing a reading literacy curriculum for secondary school students in Egypt

The key contribution of this research is to produce a proposal for a reading literacy curriculum design (RLCD) for secondary school students (15-17 year-old) in Egypt. This proposal includes four major components: targets, assessment, instruction, and content. Two complementary dimensions are investigated: the theoretical analysis (the researcher’s perspective based upon analysis of reading literacy research) and the fieldwork (the empirical study using a questionnaire for teachers and supervisors and a semi-structured interview for other professionals). Those two dimensions are charted through seven chapters and introduction to and conclusion of these chapters. Following an introduction to the research problem, purposes, questions, structure, rationale, and parameters, the successive focus of these chapters is on: - Clarifying the Egyptian context in terms of education system, culture of learning, critical analysis of the actual reading situation and how all of these elements reveal the gap between 'what is' and 'what ought to be' in RLCD in the secondary school in Egypt (Chapter one);- Reading literacy theory: the concept of reading literacy, dimensions, and models and how these can be used a baseline for RLCD (Chapter two);- Theoretical analysis of reading literacy targets and assessment, the first two components of RLCD (Chapter three);- Theoretical analysis of reading literacy instruction and content, the other two components of RLCD (Chapter four);- Research methodology, where survey design was employed and mixed methods were used: a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. The major aim was to collect data to find out if the practitioners (i.e. secondary school teachers and supervisors) and other professionals (i.e. specialists in curriculum and instruction) in Egypt agree with the reading literacy research (chapter five);- Data analysis, where a descriptive statistical analysis was conducted for data provided by the questionnaire and a cross-sectional or code and retrieve analysis strategy was applied for data provided by the semi-structured interview. Results indicated that the practitioners' perceptions on the questionnaire and the professionals' answers in the semi-structured interview supported what was revealed by the theoretical analysis regarding RLCD. This suggests that the proposed RLCD is a practical proposition and it is timely to do it. It also raises the confidence in RLCD by triangulation of data by using the questionnaire for the practitioners and the semi-structured interview for other professionals and relating all of this to literature analysis (Chapter six);-Developing the proposal (RLCD): its scope, framework, and components: targets, assessment, instruction, and content. The researcher combines all sources of data: the theoretical analysis, the questionnaire data, and the semi-structured interview data (Chapter seven).The conclusion of the research is introduced. It presents a summary of the research and most importantly, it provides a summary of the contribution of the present research to reading literacy curriculum in theory and practice. Deriving from its results, some recommendations for practice and further research are made and a closing reflective epilogue on the research and the researcher is provided

Familial Facial Palsy: A Case Series of Six Families from the Northern State, Sudan

Familial facial palsy is uncommon, accounting only for 4–14% of Bell’s palsy cases. We report six families with single or recurrent episodes of familial facial palsy from Northern State, Sudan. The first family had two brothers with single episodes of Bell’s palsy. The index case of the second family was a 19-year-old female who and nine other members of her family had a single or recurrent episodes of Bell’s palsy. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth families had eight, five, four, and five members, respectively, who developed either single or recurrent episodes of Bell’s palsy. None of the index cases or other members of the six families who were examined showed evidence of facial swelling or fissured tongue suggestive of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. Literature review revealed two studies on Bell’s palsy from Sudan but no studies on familial facial palsy. The mode of inheritance was either autosomal dominant with variable penetrance or autosomal recessive. In the second family, there could be a possibility of autosomal recessive  inheritance due to increased number of cases after consanguineous marriage. Steroids remain the mainstay of treatment together with protective eye regimens. The role of physiotherapy, although widely used, is controversial. Genetic analysis is recommended and family history should be considered in patients with Bell’s palsy. Keywords: Bell’s palsy, familial facial palsy, Northern State, Suda

Graphic Adaptive Transformation Of Islamic Motifs A Case Study Of Kedah Traditional House

This study attempts to identify, analyse and transform selected motifs found in several traditional houses in Kedah. The aim of this study is to explore the potential of trans forming local Islamic motifs into a digital format, enabling them to be used widely in other fields of design. This study is qualitative in nature. It began with the identification of architectural Islamic motifs, which followed by drawing and computing processes. In addition, certain procedures were carried to modify the motifs' designs. The study revealed the unity concept and understanding of Islamic art and its diversity that related to local factors. It found that the geometrical shapes and calligraphic forms were not widely used in Malaysia. Furthermore the calligraphic motifs needed certain ways of modification and changes. It is hoped that this study would encourage more Muslim artists and designers in Malaysia to use Malaysian-based Islamic motif in their work

FEM-based study of precision hard turning of stainless steel 316L

This study aims to investigate chip formation and surface generation during the precision turning of stainless steel 316L samples. A Finite Element Method (FEM) was used to simulate the chipping process of the stainless steel but with only a restricted number of process parameters. A set of turning tests was carried out using tungsten carbide tools under similar cutting conditions to validate the results obtained from the FEM for the chipping process and at the same time to experimentally examine the generated surface roughness. These results helped in the analysis and understanding the chip formation process and the surface generation phenomena during the cutting process, especially on micro scale. Good agreement between experiments and FEM results was found, which confirmed that the cutting process was accurately simulated by the FEM and allowed the identification of the optimum process parameters to ensure high performance. Results obtained from the simulation revealed that, an applied feed equals to 0.75 of edge radius of new cutting tool is the optimal cutting conditions for stainless steel 316L. Moreover, the experimental results demonstrated that in contrast to conventional turning processes, a nonlinear relationship was found between the feed rate and obtainable surface roughness, with a minimum surface roughness obtained when the feed rate laid between 0.75 and 1.25 times the original cutting edge radius, for new and worn tools, respectively

Dynamics of an acoustically trapped sphere in beating sound waves

A focused acoustic standing wave creates a Hookean potential well for a small sphere and can levitate it stably against gravity. Exposing the trapped sphere to a second transverse traveling sound wave imposes an additional acoustical force that drives the sphere away from its mechanical equilibrium. The driving force is shaped by interference between the standing trapping wave and the traveling driving. If, furthermore, the traveling wave is detuned from the standing wave, the driving force oscillates at the difference frequency. Far from behaving like a textbook driven harmonic oscillator, however, the wave-driven harmonic oscillator instead exhibits a remarkably rich variety of dynamical behaviors arising from the spatial dependence of the driving force. These include oscillations at both harmonics and subharmonics of the driving frequency, period-doubling routes to chaos and Fibonacci cascades. This model system therefore illustrates opportunities for dynamic acoustical manipulation based on spectral control of the sound field, rather than spatial control.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure