Crossflow Microfiltration of Tight Emulsions and Suspended Colloids by Ceramic Membranes

Produced water is known as the largest waste stream associated with the oil and gas extraction process from onshore and offshore fields; that is found in the form of either oil in water (o/w) or water in oil (o/w) emulsion. It is a very complex mixture composes of a variety of organic, and inorganic chemicals that can be found either suspended or dissolved in the water. During the oil and gas production many problems occur because of the formation of the emulsions. These emulsions can be very tight/stable and difficult to break it, and this is due to their heterogeneous composition. The presence of polar compounds such asphaltenes, surfactants and polymer used during the process and the presence of many types of fine solids such as crystallized wax, clays, and scales that participate in the formation of resistance films at the oil/water interface are known to produce unwanted stable emulsions that generate operational problems and are difficult to break. Therefore, produced water became a global concern and discharging this tremendous amount of water to the environment threatens the aquatic life and destroys the natural resources. The conventional methods in treating tight produced water emulsions and removal of suspended matters of micron size was found to have limitations, thus, there was a need to look for a robust method to solve such problems. The cross-flow ceramic microfiltration membrane is one of the promising solution for the micron-size oil droplets and colloids, yet no much work done using ceramic membrane. To this aim, a cross-flow ceramic microfiltration membrane was used to separate tight oil-in-water emulsions stabilized using Ethylene tetrakis surfactant. Diesel was used as oil source while, bentonite is used as the suspended matter source. The results showed that the cross-flow ceramic microfiltration membrane significantly removes the oil and colloidal suspended matters. It’s worthy to mention that the performance of the membrane was examined to remove the oil, bentonite, and mixture of both oil and bentonite, and it was found that the optimum pressure for the removal of both o/w emulsion-bentonite mixture, and o/w emulsion solution was at 0.5bar, where 90% of the oil content can be removed. On the other hand, the removal of suspended solids from o/w emulsion-bentonite solution was at its maximum under 0.2bar, where almost 99.97% of the suspended solids were removed. The 0.45m ceramic membrane showed that it is a promising technology for treating any wastewater contains tight emulsions and suspended maters

Appraisal of Egyptian Nursing Faculties in Light of Egyptian Accreditation Standards: Perception of Students, Staff Members and Employees

Accreditation has gained worldwide attention as an effective quality evaluation and management tool. Accreditation of educational institutions in Egypt is granted by "The National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education NAQAAE ".  To be accredited, the educational institution has to prove that it has the institutional capacity and the educational effectiveness in accordance with the minimum "National Academic Reference Standards", or any other international standards approved by "The National Authority for Quality Assurance and accreditation of education" and that it has advanced systems that assures continuous quality improvement and enhancement. This study aimed to identify perceptions of students, staff members and employees regarding the implementation of the Egyptian accreditation standards in accredited and non accredited nursing faculties. Design a descriptive comparative design was utilized. The sample included 2195 students, 322 post graduate students, 566 staff members, 41 academic leaders and 341employees. This study was conducted at 5 Egyptian nursing faculties two are accredited (Cairo& Alexandria) and three are not yet accredited (Zagzig, Ismailia &Banha).  Data were collected over a period of 10 months started in November 2012 till the end of August 2013. Methods: the researcher used 5 questionnaires as data collection methods; one for undergraduate students, one for graduate students, one for faculty staff, one for academic leaders and one for employees.  Each questionnaire consisted of two main parts; the first part assesses the socio demographic data of the respondents, the second part deals with the 16 domains of accreditation according to NAQAAE classification; 8 domains for institutional capacity and 8 domains for educational effectiveness. Results: of the study revealed that there were statistically significant differences between accredited and non accredited nursing faculties regarding total scores of institutional capacity. However there were no statistical differences between nursing faculties regarding total educational effectiveness. On the other hand, there were highly statistically significant relationship between total institutional capacity and total educational effectiveness and their total sub scales for accredited nursing faculty's staff members. There was highly statistically significant relationship between total institutional capacity and total educational effectiveness for non accredited faculties’ academic leaders. Finally there was statistically significant relationship between total institutional capacity and total educational effectiveness scores for accredited nursing faculty's employees. Conclusion: accredited nursing faculties showed more effective quality education than non accredited nursing faculties. Recommendation: the most important recommendation is to maintain strengths of the accredited nursing faculties and to encourage the non-accredited to fulfill requirements and seek accreditation. Keywords: Accreditation    Quality Assurance

Appraisal of Egyptian Nursing Faculties in Light of Egyptian Accreditation Standards: Perception of Students, Staff Members and Employees

Accreditation has gained worldwide attention as an effective quality evaluation and management tool. Accreditation of educational institutions in Egypt is granted by "The National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education NAQAAE ".  To be accredited, the educational institution has to prove that it has the institutional capacity and the educational effectiveness in accordance with the minimum "National Academic Reference Standards", or any other international standards approved by "The National Authority for Quality Assurance and accreditation of education" and that it has advanced systems that assures continuous quality improvement and enhancement. This study aimed to identify perceptions of students, staff members and employees regarding the implementation of the Egyptian accreditation standards in accredited and non accredited nursing faculties. Design a descriptive comparative design was utilized. The sample included 2195 students, 322 post graduate students, 566 staff members, 41 academic leaders and 341employees. This study was conducted at 5 Egyptian nursing faculties two are accredited (Cairo& Alexandria) and three are not yet accredited (Zagzig, Ismailia & Banha).  Data were collected over a period of 10 months started in November 2012 till the end of August 2013. Methods: the researcher used 5 questionnaires as data collection methods; one for undergraduate students, one for graduate students, one for faculty staff, one for academic leaders and one for employees.  Each questionnaire consisted of two main parts; the first part assesses the socio demographic data of the respondents, the second part deals with the 16 domains of accreditation according to NAQAAE classification; 8 domains for institutional capacity and 8 domains for educational effectiveness. Results: of the study revealed that there were statistically significant differences between accredited and non accredited nursing faculties regarding total scores of institutional capacity. However there were no statistical differences between nursing faculties regarding total educational effectiveness. On the other hand, there were highly statistically significant relationship between total institutional capacity and total educational effectiveness and their total sub scales for accredited nursing faculty's staff members. There was highly statistically significant relationship between total institutional capacity and total educational effectiveness for non accredited faculties’ academic leaders. Finally there was statistically significant relationship between total institutional capacity and total educational effectiveness scores for accredited nursing faculty's employees. Conclusion: accredited nursing faculties showed more effective quality education than non accredited nursing faculties. Recommendation: the most important recommendation is to maintain strengths of the accredited nursing faculties and to encourage the non-accredited to fulfill requirements and seek accreditation. Keywords: Accreditation Egyptian Nursing, Accreditation Standards, Perception of Students, Staff Members and Employee

Peace education in post-conflict societies : the case of the Young Peace Ambassador Program in Somalia and Kenya

Contributing to a fairly new discipline in the region, this study investigates the objectives, contents, design, approaches, strategies and methodologies involved in a Peace Education initiative called The Young Peace Ambassador Program (TYPAP), which is being implemented in East Africa and the Horn of Africa. The aim of the study is to outline the nature, causes and consequences of conflict and violence in northern Kenya and Somalia by looking at the way in which peace education can help build a culture of peace in northern Kenya and Somalia. Accordingly, the consistency of TYPAP with peace education principles, its impact according to interviewees and how far it has met its own objectives were assessed. Thus, using a qualitative case study methodology employing content analysis, interviews and observations, this dissertation shows that TYPAP a multifaceted peace education initiative working with local partners – has potential not just for creating awareness of peace issues, but also for cultivating the seeds of a culture of peace. Following Galtung’s theories, the dissertation also indicates that it is not just “structural violence”, but also the deeper symptoms of “cultural violence”, that we may need to address in taking the region forward in the coming years.Educational StudiesM. Ed. (Philosophy of Education

Assessment of Two Techniques for Diagnosis Pulmonary Tuberculosis in HIV Patient at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital Zanzibar.

HIV associated TB is not easy to make diagnosis and is linked with extreme disease and death. The spread of MDR-TB, together with increasing harmful of HIV infection and inadequate availability of quick examination instrument have lead to cause disappointment of global TB control. The intention of the study was to evaluate Gene Xpert MTB/RIF technique and smear auramine LED FM technique for detection of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in people living with HIV at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital Zanzibar. The study was experimental type of design that involved laboratory analysis of sputum specimens for determination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as rifampicin resistance for HIV patients. The specimens were processed in Gene Xpert MTB/RIF and smear auramine LED FM. The sum of 246 patients sputum specimens were analyzed for the existence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by means of Gene Xpert MTB/RIF and LED FM techniques. The results showed that 169 (68.7%) spot samples (sample I) and 169 (68.7%) morning samples (sample II) were positive for Gene Xpert MTB/RIF technique. Then 112 (45.5%) spot samples (sample I) and 118 (48.0%) morning samples (sample II) were smear positive (LED FM). The sensitivity of LED FM in spot samples and morning samples were 66.3% and 69.8% respectively. Among 169 positive TB cases 2 patients were found with rifampicin resistance. The outcome of this study indicated that the performance of Gene Xpert MTB/RIF machine is more accuracy than LED FM in diagnosis of PTB in HIV patients suspected with TB. Gene Xpert MTB/RIF may be significant as a single quick method for PTB case finding in HIV patients suspected with active TB

Effect of Pricing Methods and Public Paying Fee on Cleaning & Sanitation Service in Zanzibar: A Case of West B Municipality

The main objective of the study was to assess the effect of pricing methods and public paying fee on cleaning and sanitation services in West B Municipality, Zanzibar. The survey questionnaire was distributed to the business owner with sample size of 150 and data were collected and analysed based on both descriptive and inferential statistics through Pearson correlation using SPSS version 23.  The study results through descriptive the study shows that about 98 respondents which made 65.3% replied that there is no  impact brought by pricing methods and public paying fee on cleaning and sanitation services. Although the result from person correlation state that there is no significant positive relationship between pricing methods and public paying fee on Cleaning Service & sanitation services. The study recommends that the municipality should establish a specific model for pricing municipality services including cleaning and sanitation services. Keywords: Pricing Methods, Public Paying Fee and Cleaning and Sanitation Service DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-29-04 Publication date:October 31st 202

Machinability of rapidly solidified aluminium alloy for optical applications

The production of metal mirrors and critical components for optical devices and aerospace application requires extreme high accuracy and outstanding surface quality. Thus, to achieve such high dimensional accuracies, they are being mainly produced through ultra-high precision machining. Aluminium alloys have been used in the production of components for optics application as well as spaceborne for so many years but with the advancement in technology and demands for a superior material, a new modified grade of aluminium was developed by a rapid solidification process. These grades exhibit a much better mechanical and physical properties while having a finer microstructure. The only downside is the limited research in the correlation of surface roughness and reflectance when single point diamond turned. In this study, rapidly solidified aluminium RSA 905 were used to investigate the effect of varying the cutting parameters on the machined surface finish and its corresponding surface reflectance. The cutting parameters were cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut. The surface roughness was measured using Taylor Hopson PGI Profilometer while the reflectance factor was measured by using VERTEX 80v Spectrometer. The results were used to develop two predictive models namely; response surface and artificial neural network which have indicated a very high accuracy to the experimental measurements. Finally, the results were very promising for the diamond turning of RSA 905 where it has achieved a very low values of surface roughness and high reflectance in the visual range without the need of any additional production/fabrication steps and to ensure that bi-metallic binding does not take place in extreme low temperatures. Therefore, RSA 905 is a very promising material for optical applications in the visual spectrum

Access and Uses of Free Maternal Health Care Services Among Women in Urban West Zanzibar

The main objective of this study was to examine the access ad uses of free maternal health care services among women in Zanzibar Urban West Region. A quantitative approach adopted in this study and data was analyzed through descriptive statistical analysis. Simple Random and purposive sampling were used to select 262 Respondents. The data were collected through closed ended questionnaires. The findings of the study revealed that, Most of hospitals and clinics visited by maternal mothers were government clinics since  196 respondents which is equal to (74.8%) visited Government clinic, 66 respondents equal to (25.1%) visited private clinics and. In addition the study found that more than 80% of the total respondents were having access and uses of the service provided by the health centers during their pregnancy period. The government of Zanzibar through Ministry of Health should take the special measure to emphasis on the improvement of free maternal health care services in health centres. This may help maternal mother and infants’ to get good treatment. Keywords: Access and Uses, Free Maternal Health Care Services, Descriptive Statistics, Urban west Zanzibar DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/85-07 Publication date: January 31st 202

Discovery of Pathologic GPCR Aggregation

The family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is one of the most important drug targets. Mechanisms underlying GPCR activation and signaling are therefore of great pharmacologic interest. It was long thought that GPCRs exist and function as monomers. This feature was considered to distinguish GPCRs from other membrane receptors such as receptor tyrosine kinases or cytokine receptors, which signal from dimeric receptor complexes. But during the last two decades it was increasingly recognized that GPCRs can undergo aggregation to form dimers and higher order oligomers, resulting in homomeric and/or heteromeric protein complexes with different stoichiometries. Moreover, this protein complex formation could modify GPCR signaling and function. We contributed to this paradigm shift in GPCR pharmacology by the discovery of the first pathologic GPCR aggregation, which is the protein complex formation between the angiotensin II AT1 receptor and the bradykinin B2 receptor. Increased AT1-B2 heteromerization accounts for the angiotensin II hypersensitivity of pregnant women with preeclampsia hypertension. Since the discovery of AT1-B2, other pathologic GPCR aggregates were found, which contribute to atherosclerosis, neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease. As a result of our findings, pathologic GPCR aggregation appears as an independent and disease-specific process, which is increasingly considered as a novel target for pharmacologic intervention

Up-Regulation of the Cardiac Lipid Metabolism at the Onset of Heart Failure

Chronic pressure overload and atherosclerosis are primary etiologic factors for cardiac hypertrophy and failure. However, mechanisms underlying the transition from hypertrophy to heart failure are incompletely understood. We analyzed the development of heart failure in mice with chronic pressure overload induced by aortic constriction and compared the results with aged apolipoprotein E-deficient mice suffering from advanced atherosclerosis. We combined cardiac function analysis by echocardiography and invasive hemodynamics with a comprehensive microarray gene expression study (GSE25765-8). The microarray data showed that the onset of heart failure induced by pressure overload or advanced atherosclerosis was accompanied by a strong up-regulation of key lipid metabolizing enzymes involved in fat synthesis, storage and oxidation. Cardiac lipid overload may be involved in the progression of heart failure by enhancing cardiomyocyte death. Up-regulation of the cardiac lipid metabolism was related to oxygen and ATP depletion of failing hearts because anti-ischemic treatment with ranolazine normalized the cardiac lipid metabolism and improved cardiac function. Vice versa, inhibition of cellular respiration and ATP generation by mild thiol-blocking with cystamine triggered the cardiac lipid metabolism and caused signs of heart failure. Cardiac tissue specimens of patients with heart failure also showed high protein levels of key fat metabolizing enzymes as well as lipid accumulation. Taken together, our data strongly indicate that up-regulation of the cardiac lipid metabolism and myocardial lipid overload are underlying the development of heart failure