Blockchain Technology Trends in Different Sectors: A Review

Purpose: Currency transactions between companies or people are often controlled and characterized by third- party organizations. To make any such transaction or set up any digital payment transaction, a credit card company or bank acts as a middleman who helps to complete the transaction. The service provider charges a fee for this. Such transaction systems tend to be centralized, as the information involved in the process is managed and controlled by a third party, not the transacting parties. Blockchain technology innovates upon the transaction mechanism because it helps decentralize the environment by eliminating the third party in the transaction process. This study focuses on the trend shift characterized by the adoption of blockchain technology and the revolution it brought to different sectors. Methodology: A systematic literature review was used in this study. A systematic literature review (SLR) identifies, selects, and critically appraises research in order to answer a clearly formulated question. Findings: Blockchain technology results in the decentralization of the transaction system by securing the transaction mechanism. It has also impacted the healthcare, aviation, and e-commerce sectors heavily. Systematic reviews clarify what blockchain offers as a supportive technological environment in four areas: creating the industrial ecosystem, technology usable for business, constructing the system, and regulatory concerns. Originality: This study determined blockchain has the potential to improve processes and policies in different sectors. Additionally, data were collected via systematic review through case-based analysis for each sector

Vitamins, omega-3, magnesium, manganese, and thyme can boost our immunity and protect against COVID-19

A new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has been recognized as a cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and COVID-19 disease. In the absence of stable treatments for COVID-19, the possibility that vitamins: B1, C, D, and E, omega-3, minerals (magnesium and manganese), and herb thyme may have unspecified effects on infection with COVID-19 would be considered. Various reports have revealed that vitamins B1, C, D, and E, omega-3, magnesium, manganese, and thyme may affect the human innate system, for example, thiamine may play beneficial roles in human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), treating megadose ascorbic acid can assist prevent cold and flu symptoms, vitamin D can decrease the risk of developing COVID-19, vitamin E has been evaluated against the influenza virus in mice, and omega-3 fatty acids supplementation has been efficient in reducing the severity and frequency of sickle cell rate. Magnesium may be effective in patients with a mutation in the interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase, as well as manganese associates with the metabolism of glucose and fats, vitamin C, and B, accelerating protein synthesis, endocrine regulation, stimulating hematopoiesis, improving innate function, and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Moreover, thyme extract can have beneficial antiviral effects against human papillomavirus (HPV) and influenza A (IAV). The possibility that the vitamins B1, C, D, E, omega-3, magnesium, manganese, and thyme appear to affect the human innate system warrants further study, especially in light of the recent COVID-19 epidemic. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.399065

‘This is my life style, Arabic and English’: students’ attitudes to (trans)languaging in a bilingual university context

© 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Translanguaging is defined by Canagarajah as ‘the ability of multilingual speakers to shuttle between languages, treating the diverse languages that form their repertoire as an integrated system’. University students in our own working context have grown up in a multilingual society and study courses in both Arabic (their first language) and English (the main language of instruction). They encounter new concepts and perspectives in both languages; and when they graduate, the intention is that they will be academically and professionally prepared to use both languages in their future career. However, it is not clear how they ‘make sense of their bilingual worlds’ or whether they feel able to ‘shuttle between languages’ in a way appropriate to their future working context. The study described here focuses on two students interacting around course-related content with a peer, with a simulated workplace audience and with a research interviewer. In this paper we focus on the participants’ awareness of and attitudes towards Arabic, English and translanguaging both while engaged in the tasks and in reflection afterwards, revealing contrasting and sometimes contradictory attitudes to the deployment of their communicative repertoire

Physiological responses to excess boron in wheat cultivars

This study investigates the response of two wheat cultivars to boron toxicity stress. Plants were cultivated in sand culture and boron was applied to the culture for 10-day. Symptoms, tiller number, boron concentration, soluble sugars, proteins and other free amino acids than proline were studied. The differences between the cultivars were apparent from higher boron and the chlorosis in tolerant cultivar was about 7% compared to the sensitive one 70%. Tiller number gradual decreased in tolerant-cultivar, while in sensitive one a dramatic reduction was exhibited by increasing boron level in culture media. In most boron levels, although the accumulation of soluble carbohydrates was significantly stimulated in shoot of B-sensitive cultivar (Gemmeza 9; S), there were no appreciable differences in the production of carbohydrates in shoot of B-tolerant cultivar (Sakha 93; T). However, the soluble proteins production did not affect by most boron levels in both cultivars. The presence of boron at various concentrations induced a production of free amino acids in shoots of each of the two test cultivars. Tiller number (yield index) decreased in the two test cultivars and was in range 50-59 and 84-92% less than control plants for tolerant and sensitive cultivar, respectively. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20037

Regenerative endodontic treatment in mature teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Regenerative endodontic treatment (RET) is an alternative treatment for immature teeth, however, its efficacy on mature teeth is still controversial. This review was aimed to assess the level of evidence of clinical and radiographical outcomes of RET in mature teeth and run a meta-analysis to compare its success rate to conventional root canal treatment (CRCT). The electronic databases PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science were used to search based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs), case series, and case reports studies of the RET in mature teeth published in the English language from January 2010 till December 2021 were selected. A meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model on the randomized clinical trials that compare the success rate based on clinical and radiographic outcomes of RET and CRCT. From sixteen articles included in the narrative analysis, two studies were subjected to meta-analysis. Different protocol aspects of RET including disinfection, size of apical preparation, intracanal medications, types of scaffolds, barriers and follow-up periods were described. The meta5analysis showed no significant differences in success rate between CRCT (89.47%) and RET (95.45%) at 12 months (P> 0.05), while it showed a significant increase in a positive response to the electrical pulp test of RET (P= 0.010). With the limitations, the adopted protocols of RET are comparable to CRCT and could be a potential approach to treat mature teeth with pulp necrosis and/or apical periodontitis. However, providing more evidence is essential to ascertain these findings

Challenges experienced by informal caregivers in cancer

Evidence from the literature highlights the significant negative impact of care giving on the physical, mental andfinancial aspects of caregivers’ lives. It also reinforces the importance of reducing the barriers to meeting the unmet needs of caregivers and that research priorities in intervention development need to focus on reducing the negative aspects of care giving. Increased assistance to caregivers needs to ensure that they have the knowledge, skills,income security, job protection and other supports to provide care, while maintaining their own health and well-being throughout the dying and grieving process. This is particularly important in light of the predicted shortfall in the number in caregivers and especially as caregivers are increasingly replacing skilled health workers in the delivery of unfamiliar, complex cancer care at home

The Information Content of Earnings Announcements in Regulated and Deregulated Markets: The Case of the Airline Industry

Most of the accounting research examining the information content of earnings assumes a competitive market framework. Little research has been devoted to the value relevance of earnings announcements in regulated markets. This paper examines the information content of earnings releases under two economic conditions facing the airline industry: regulation and deregulation (i.e., competition). We hypothesize that in a deregulated (competitive) environment, there is greater competition, causing more risk and uncertainty for the investor in setting security prices. Therefore, earnings\u27 releases provide more useful information in resolving uncertainties and in formulating and revising the investor\u27s beliefs regarding future earnings and prices in deregulated than for regulated markets. Three critical event periods are examined: the regulation period (1973 - 1975), the transition period (1976 - 1978), and the deregulation period (1979 - 1981). A revaluation index (RI) and a standardized revaluation index (SRI) are used to examine the extent of airline stock price revaluation in response to quarterly accounting earnings releases during the three critical event periods. The results indicate that earnings announcements have value relevance in setting security prices in both regulated and deregulated market conditions. However, the level of the market revaluation to earnings releases is dependent on market structure. The market revaluation to earnings releases is greater in a deregulated (competitive) period than in a regulated one. This result confirms the hypothesis that earnings have more value relevance in competitive markets than in regulated ones. The findings of this research have direct implications for the level of accounting disclosure and the extent of financial reporting in a given market structure. Since financial reporting is a costly process, it becomes important to identify the circumstances under which the level of financial disclosure should be expanded or reduce

Nanoparticle-labeled stem cells: a novel therapeutic vehicle

Nanotechnology has been described as a general purpose technology. It has already generated a range of inventions and innovations. Development of nanotechnology will provide clinical medicine with a range of new diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities such as medical imaging, medical diagnosis, drug delivery, and cancer detection and management. Nanoparticles such as manganese, polystyrene, silica, titanium oxide, gold, silver, carbon, quantum dots, and iron oxide have received enormous attention in the creation of new types of analytical tools for biotechnology and life sciences. Labeling of stem cells with nanoparticles overcame the problems in homing and fixing stem cells to their desired site and guiding extension of stem cells to specific directions. Although the biologic effects of some nanoparticles have already been assessed, information on toxicity and possible mechanisms of various particle types remains inadequate. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the mechanisms of internalization and distribution of nanoparticles inside stem cells, as well as the influence of different types of nanoparticles on stem cell viability, proliferation, differentiation, and cytotoxicity, and to assess the role of nanoparticles in tracking the fate of stem cells used in tissue regeneration

Improve Knowledge, Beliefs and Behavior of Undergraduate Female Nursing Students in Al-Alzhar University toward Breast Self-Examination Practice

Breast cancer is a public health problem that is most common form of cancer among females in both developed and developing world, The Health Belief Model (HBM) has been used as a theoretical framework to study Breast Self-Examination and other breast cancer detection behaviors. The aim of this study: Was to improve knowledge, beliefs and behavior of undergraduate female nursing students in Al-Alzhar University toward breast self examination practice. Design: A quasi-experimental design was used in this study. Setting: The study was conducted in Health Technical Institute for female students at Al-Alzhar University for 113female student nurse. Tools: data was collected using self administered questionnaires prepared by researchers and Health Belief Model Scale Data. Results: The participants in the study showed more deficiency on screening knowledge, and poor practice of BSE at pre education. Also, the results of this study highlight the positive impact of the educational training on nursing students’ breast cancer and breast self exam  knowledge, practice and health beliefs which there was statistically significant differences were found between students' pretest and posttest BSE Knowledge, practice and  beliefs. Conclusion and recommendation: the results of this study concluded that this program could be instrumental in increasing nursing students’ perception of susceptibility may serve to improve not only their own health status but may empower them to teach women about the importance of early diagnosis and to seek early medical advice. This study emphasizes that the need to teach nursing students breast cancer awareness and early detection of breast cancer in their undergraduate courses. In addition, the provision of regular interventions is necessary to increase and build up the confidence and skills of nursing students in teaching preventive health behaviors including BSE to society and other students as colleagues. Keywords: Breast Self Exam (BSE), Breast Cancer, Nursing Students, Health Beliefs Mode

Effect of Stretching Versus Aerobic Exercises on Pregnant Diabetic Women

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the effect of stretching versus aerobic exercises on pregnant diabetic women. Subjects: Sixty primigravidae and multigravidae women shared in this study. They were selected from Benha University Hospital in Benha. Their ages were ranged from 25-35 years. Their BMI was ranged from 30-35 kg/m2. Their gestational ages were between 20-24 weeks’ gestation. All pregnant women were complaining of gestational diabetes mellitus. Design: Design of this study was randomized controlled study. They were randomly assigned into two equal groups: Group A (stretching exercises group); It consisted of thirty pregnant diabetic women. They were treated by medical treatment, diet control and stretching exercises for 40 minutes, 3 times per week, after one hour of the main meal and insulin injection, for 12 weeks. Group B (aerobic exercises group); It consisted of thirty pregnant diabetic women. They were treated by medical treatment, diet control and aerobic exercise program in the form of walking on treadmill, at moderate intensity (60% of the maximum heart rate), for 45 minutes, 3 times per week, after one hour of the main meal and insulin injection, for 12 weeks. Methods: Body mass index (BMI) was assessed by weight and height scale. Fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels were assessed by using blood glucose monitoring system; fasting insulin level and HbA1C were assessed by blood analysis for each woman in both groups A and B before and after treatment. Results: Results of this study revealed that there was significant decrease in fasting blood glucose level, post-prandial blood glucose level, fasting insulin level and HbA1C level in both groups A and B after treatment. Pretreatment, there was no significant difference between both groups A and B in fasting blood glucose level, post-prandial blood glucose level, fasting insulin level and HbA1C level. Post treatment, there was significant difference between both groups A and B in fasting blood glucose level, post-prandial blood glucose level, fasting insulin level and HbA1C level (more decrease in group A). Conclusion: It can be concluded that both stretching and aerobic exercises during pregnancy can improve gestational diabetes mellitus by decreasing fasting blood glucose level, post-prandial blood glucose level, fasting insulin level and HbA1C level, but stretching exercises are more effective than aerobic exercises