Factors Affecting Information Technology Studentsa Motivation; Case Study: Najran University, Saudi Arabia

The study of computer science and information systems requires commitment and dedication Students must learn above and beyond the standard requirements in order to compete in the job market Hence the motivation is the major driver to accomplish such requirements This paper investigates the possible factors affecting students motivation at Computer Science and Information System College in Najran University To find the best ways to improve student performance academic planning and improve college performance in general was behind the reason for the authors to study the motivation factors Fifty undergraduate students from a computer and information college participated in this research The students completed Academic Intrinsic Motivation Questionnaire MSLQ questionnaires In addition instructors answered interview questions related to factors affecting their students motivation Instructors who participated in seminars and interview believes the English language is the major barrier affecting motivation In addition instructors believes incentives and strict regulation may help improving students motivation Adding to incentives the sense of completion is missing beside no enough recognition from college and instructors The survey results shows students agreed that the Needs and Mastery factors motivate them Whilst the students wasn t able to decide on Power Fear Authority and Peers motivation factors The paper provides recommendations for college leaders and instructors on best ways to improve students motivation in order to reach better performanc

Pre-test cortisol levels in predicting short synacthen test outcome: A retrospective analysis

Objective: Short Synacthen tests (SSTs) are expensive, dependent on Synacthen availability, and need supervision. To reduce SST testing, we examined the utility of pre-test cortisol (Cort0) and related parameters in predicting outcome. Design and Measurements: We retrospectively examined the following in all SSTs; (i) Cort0 (ii) indications (iii) and time and place of testing. Receiver operated characteristic (ROC) curves were devised for Cort0 to obtain the best cut-off for outcome prediction in those who had SSTs between 8 and 10 am (Group 1) and at other times (Group 2). Results: Of 506 SSTs, 13 were unsuitable for analysis. 111/493 SSTs (22.5%) were abnormal. (1) ROC curves predicted – (a) SST failure with 100% specificity when Cort0 was ⩽124 nmol/L (Group 1), or ⩽47 (Group 2); (b) a normal SST with 100% sensitivity when Cort0 ⩾314 nmol/L (Group 1) and ⩾323 nmol/L (Group 2). (2) There was significant correlation between Cort0 and 30-minute cortisol ( rs = 0.65-0.78, P < .001). (3) Median Cort0 was lower in those who failed SSTs compared to those who passed (147 vs 298 nmol/L respectively, P < .001). (4) SST failure was commoner in Group 1 vs 2 ( P = .001). (5) There was no difference in outcome between out-patient and inpatient SSTs. (6) SST failure was most common for ‘steroid related’ indications (39.6%, P < .001). Conclusions: This study indicates that (1) Cort0 ⩾ 323 (Group1) and ⩾314 nmol/L (Group 2) predicted a normal SST with 100% sensitivity; (2) Using these cut offs 141/493 (28.6%) tests may have been avoided; (3) supporting evidence should be considered in those with a lower pre-test predictability of failure

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

A Retroperitoneal Leiomyosarcoma Presenting as an Adrenal Incidentaloma in a Subject on Warfarin

Adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) are mostly benign and nonsecretory. Management algorithms lack sensitivity when assessing malignant potential, although functional status is easier to assess. We present a subject whose AI was a retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma (RL). Case Presentation. A woman on warfarin with SLE and the antiphospholipid syndrome, presented with left loin pain. She was normotensive and clinically normal. Ultrasound scans demonstrated left kidney scarring, but CT scans revealed an AI. MRI scans later confirmed the AI without significant fat and no interval growth. Cortisol after 1 mg dexamethasone, urinary free cortisol and catecholamines, plasma aldosterone renin ratio, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone were within the reference range. Initially, adrenal haemorrhage was diagnosed because of warfarin therapy and the acute presentation. However, she underwent adrenalectomy because of interval growth of the AI. Histology confirmed an RL. The patient received adjuvant radiotherapy. Discussion. Our subject presented with an NSAI. However, we highlight the following: (a) the diagnosis of adrenal haemorrhage in this anticoagulated woman was revised because of interval growth; (b) the tumour, an RL, was relatively small at diagnosis; (c) this subject has survived well over 60 months despite an RL perhaps because of her acute presentation and early diagnosis of a small localised tumour

Effect of planting methods and drip irrigation intervals on onion (Allium cepa L.) yield under silt-loamy soil, Kassala State, Sudan

The objective of this research work was to investigate the effects of planting methods and drip irrigation intervals on onion yield under silt-loamy soil. An experiment was conducted for two consecutive seasons (2014/15 and 2015/16). The experiment was composed of planting methods and drip irrigation intervals. The planting methods were flat, ridge and bed planting, whereas drip irrigation intervals were daily, every 3 days and every 5 days. The nine treatments were randomly laid out in a split-plot design with three replicates, the main plots were irrigation intervals and the subplots were allotted to planting methods. The calculated total water requirement for onion crop was 8113 and 7633 m3/ha in the first and second seasons, respectively. The results showed that the combination of flat planting and daily irrigation produced significantly the highest bulb weight (218.4g), marketable yield (43.8ton/ha) and highest total yield (46.6 ton/ha). The results revealed that flat planting and daily irrigation was the most economical combination for producing onion crop in Kassala state.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; الهدف الرئيسي من هذه الدراسة هو دراسة تأثير طرق الزراعة وفترات الري بالتنقيط على نمو وانتاجية البصل تحت التربة الطميية في كسلا لموسمين متتاليين &nbsp;( 2014/15و(16/2015. تتكون التجربة من عاملين هما طريقة الزراعة وفترات الري بالتنقيط. طرق الزراعة هي احواض مسطحة، سراب وزراعة في مساطب، في حين كانت فترات الري بالتنقيط يوميا و3 أيام و 5 أيام. التسع معاملات وزعت عشوائيا في تصميم القطع المنشقة بثلاث مكررات، حيث وضعت فترات الري في الأحواض الرئيسية وطرق الزراعة في الأحواض الفرعية.&nbsp; أظهرت النتائج أن طريقة الزراعة في احواض مسطحة مع الري اليومي اعطت أعلى وزن للبصلة مقارنة مع الزراعة في سراب ومساطب. تم الحصول على أعلى انتاجية تسويقية باستخدام الزراعة في احواض مسطحة والري اليومي. اثبتت النتائج ان الزراعة في احواض مسطحة والري بالتنقيط اليومي هي المعاملة الاقتصادية الاجدي لإنتاج محصول البصل في التربة الطميية في كسلا. وفقا للنتائج فإن أفضل طريقة لإنتاج البصل في كسلا هي باستخدام&nbsp; الزراعة في احواض مسطحة والري اليومي. &nbsp

Newer Dopaminergic Agents Cause Minimal Endocrine Effects in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease

Objective We studied the prevalence of endocrine dysfunction in subjects with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) on newer dopaminergic agents (DA). DA are also used in endocrine hypersecretory states in small doses and we hypothesized that endocrine dysfunction was likely in IPD where DA were used in comparatively much higher dosage. Patients and Methods Twenty-five subjects with IPD, established on DA, were recruited to this cross-sectional study. We measured insulin-like growth factor-1, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, thyroid function, oestradiol or testosterone and Cortisol levels following a short synacthen test. Results We studied 18 males and 7 females, whose median age was 72 years, and whose median time from diagnosis, and duration of treatment was 27 months (interquartile range 17-45 and 13-39 months, respectively). (1) Endocrine tests were normal in 19 of 25 subjects at recruitment. Minor abnormalities reverted to normal on repeat testing in three of six with initial abnormalities; two had persistent abnormalities and the third subject could not be further investigated. Therefore, 22 of 24 (92%) with IPD on DA therapy had normal endocrine profiles. (2) The Cortisol response to ACTH was normal in 24 of 25 subjects (96%). (3) Eleven subjects (44%) had isolated PRL suppression. There were no differences between the suppressed PRL and “normal” PRL groups. However, a higher number of them were on non-ergoline-derived DA (83% vs 31%; P < 0.05). Conclusions We have demonstrated that newer non-ergoline DA therapy caused only minimal endocrine perturbations in subjects with IPD. Their clinical significance can only be speculative currently. The Cortisol response to ACTH was normal in almost all but a significant minority had suppressed prolactin levels

<span style="font-size: 19.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Study on the anionic natural coagulant aid for heavy metals and turbidity removal in water at <i><span style="font-size:20.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">p</span></i><span style="font-size:20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-style: italic">H<i> </i><span style="font-size:19.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">7.5 and alum concentration 25 mglL-laboratory scale </span></span></span>

195-199<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">This aims to search for an alternative natural polymer, which could be used as coagulant aids in water and wastewater treatment. The use of this polymer may save the amount of Alum (aluminium sulphate) dosed in water and wastewater treatments. An initial study conducted in laboratory to look at suitability of using sago (Metroxylon spp) starch as an alter native of coagulant aid as compared to the commercially applied synthetic polymer. Artificial pollutants consist of selected heavy metals, i.e., nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd) and turbidity have been used to stimulate the general real water and wastewater. Initial concentration of metals is set at 5 mg/L. Turbidity value at 300 NTU which, corresponds to the presence of colloids or suspended solids in water is also used in the experiment. Experiment has been conducted at optimum alum and pH values, predetermined beforehand. Jar test is conducted and results are obtained in terms of the removal percentage of each constituent, before and after the experiment. It could be concluded from the experiments that, at Alum concentration of 25 mg/L, the presence of sago starch improves the removal of selected heavy metals, i.e., nickel, manganese, zinc, iron, and cadmium. The improvements are obvious for Zn and Fe. However, there is no significant effect of turbidity removal in the presence of sago starch. This shows that the sago behaves as negatively charge polymer, which enhances the coagulation process of heavy metals. The study indicates that the use of sago starch as natural polymer is potential in wastewater industries for removing heavy metals. </span

Revealing the diversity of values of nature and its benefits to people for a good quality of life: The IPBES approach

Nature and its benefits to people for a good quality of life is perceived and valued in starkly different and often conflicting ways, mainly due to different worldviews about the relationships between society and nature. This paper presents the rationale for an inclusive incorporation of this diversity of values in decision making, as well as approaches for doing so, as they co-exist and often compete in society. While developed within the context of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), this approach is more widely applicable to initiatives at the knowledge-policy interface, which inherently require a pluralistic approach to the multiple values of the natural world and its contribution to human societies. We argue that transformative practices aiming at sustainable futures would benefit from the recognition and orchestration of these multiple values in a wide range of policy and decision-making processes