The Importance of Character Education for Tweens as Consumers

Tweens is a term that denotes a market segment mentality that falls between children at the lower end and teens at the upper end. Tweens marketing strategies are considered critical for most global brands. Advocates against excessive consumerism and materialism polluting innocent childhood, specifically tweens, call for values implantation through character education in the school to breed more educated consumers. The effect of implanting character building programs in schools on the consumer behavior of the exposed children in the marketplace, however, has never been tested before. This research endeavor is, in essence, an overlap between consumer behavior and educational psychology, investigating the link between personality and behavior in the market. It falls under both positivist and interpretive consumer research, specifically the consumer socialization of children. The aim of this work is to develop a conceptual model linking character education to purchasing lifestyles and consumption patterns of the exposed children as consumers. Following, prospects for future research are highlighted.Educational psychology, character education, attitudes and lifestyles, opinion-leadership, humanitarianism, ethnocentrism, adolescents and middle schools

STR-837: PUNCHING SHEAR BEHAVIOUR OF HIGH STRENGTH CONCRETE SLAB-COLUMN CONNECTIONS REINFORCED WITH GFRP BARS

The catastrophic nature of punching shear failure exhibited by flat plate system requires a great attention and robust predictions of the behaviour of slab-column connections. This paper presents an experimental study carried out to investigate the punching shear behaviour of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforced concrete (RC) interior slab-column connections made of high strength concrete (HSC). Three full-scale HSC specimens were constructed and tested up to failure. The three connections were reinforced with GFRP sand-coated bars with reinforcement ratios of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% without any shear reinforcement. The typical dimensions of the test specimens were 2800 × 2800 × 200 mm with a 300 mm square column extending 1000 mm above and below the slab, representing the region of negative bending moment around an interior supporting column of a parking structure. All specimens were simply-supported along all four edges with the corners free to lift. The connections were subjected to vertical load and unbalanced moment that were monotonically applied through the column tips. The behaviour of the specimens in terms of the deformation and strength characteristics is discussed. Increasing the reinforcement ratio increased the punching shear capacity and decreased the reinforcement strains and deflections at the same load level. The test results were also compared to the predictions of the relevant North American codes where applicable

EVIDENCES FOR THE PROMISING THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF BOSWELLIA SERRATA AGAINST ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: PRE-CLINICAL STUDY

Objective: The current study was planned to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects of Boswellia serrata methanolic extract against neurodegeneration characterizing Alzheimer's disease (AD) in rat model. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were classified into five groups. Group (1) control group; group (2) AD group which was administered orally with AlCl3 daily for one month; group (3) AD group which was treated orally with rivastigmine daily for three months; group (4) AD group which was treated orally with B. serrata (137.5 mg/kg b. wt) daily for three months and group (5) AD group which was treated orally with B. serrata (68.75 mg/kg b. wt) daily for three months. Brain acetylcholine (Ach), brain and serum acetylcholine (AchE) activity, C-reactive protein (CRP), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-KB), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) levels were detected. Brain histological investigation of all studied groups was carried out. Results: The data of the current study showed that AlCl3 administration resulted in significant reduction in brain Ach and brain and serum Bcl-2 levels accompanied with significant elevation in brain and serum AchE, CRP, NF-KB, MCP-1 and LTB4 levels. Brain histological investigation of rats administered AlCl3 showed appearance of Aβ plaques characterizing AD. Treatment of rats with B. serrata methanolic extracts caused marked improvement in the measured biochemical parameters as well as in the histological feature of the brain. Conclusion: B. serrata possesses anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effect against neuroinflammation characterizing AD

Effects of vitamin D and the antimicrobial peptide in asthma

Background: Vitamin D modulates a variety of processes and regulatory systems including host defense, inflammation, and immunity. A connection between Vitamin D status and asthma has been considered. Vitamin D mediates innate immunity, particularly through enhanced expression of the human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (LL-37). Increased levels of high sensitive-C reactive protein (Hs-CRP) were found to be significantly associated with respiratory function impairment. Objective: to evaluate the relation between serum vitamin D, Hs-CRP and LL-37 levels and asthma. Study design: Thirty children (15 males and 15 females) with proven diagnosis of asthma (ages ranged from 3-13 years) were studied; they attended the pediatric department of Zagazig University Hospital in the year 2011. In addition, 30 age and sex matched apparently healthy children served as a control group. All children were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, laboratory investigations (CBC, CRP, ESR), determination of serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 OHD) and plasma LL-37. Results: The study revealed a highly significant decrease in 25 OHD, LL-37 and a highly significant increase in Hs-CRP in children with asthma than in control group. There were a highly significant positive correlation between vitamin D and LL37 in patients' and control groups and a significant negative correlation between both 25OHD and LL37 and Hs-CRP in patients' group. High WBC count (specially neutrophils and lymphocytes), Hs-CRP level and low levels of hemoglobin, 25OHD and LL 37 in patient group were considered risk factors of asthma. Conclusion: Inappropriate concentration of vitamin D decreases the ability of the immune system to defend against infection through lowering LL-37 and elevated Hs-CRP which leads to occurrence and precipitation of asthma.Keywords: Vitamin D- LL-37- asthmaEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2012;10(2):101-10

Expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Cytokeratin 18 and 19 in Placentas of Women with Severe Preeclampsia

BACKGROUND: Although the exact mechanism leading to preeclampsia is not fully understood, abnormal trophoblast invasion contributes to its pathogenesis. Keratins and cadherin are known to play roles in the regulation of trophoblast proliferation. However, studies describing the association between keratins, cadherin, and preeclampsia are limited. AIM: The current study was conducted to investigate the association of these proteins with severe preeclampsia in Sudanese women. METHODS: A case–control study was conducted at Madani Maternity Hospital, Sudan. The cases included women with severe preeclampsia (n = 56) and healthy pregnant women as controls (n = 56). The assessment of keratin and cadherin was performed using immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in their mean age or parity. We found no significant differences in the expression of the markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin, or cytokeratin 18 and 19 in the placentas from individuals with preeclampsia versus controls. The number of placentas with severe preeclampsia versus controls expressing the E-cadherin, N-cadherin, cytokeratin 18, and cytokeratin 19 markers was 46 (82.1%) versus 46 (82.1%) (p = 0.988), 54 (96.4%) versus 48 (85.7%) (p = 0.121), 4 (7.1%) versus 0 (0%) (p = 0.126), and 11 (19.6%) versus 11 (19.6%) (p = 0.532), respectively. There was also no significant difference in the intensity of staining of these four markers (Ecadherin, N-cadherin, and cytokeratin 18 and 19) between severe preeclampsia and control placentas. CONCLUSION: Together, these results indicate that in this setting, the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, CK18, and CK19 is not associated with severe preeclampsia

STR-886: EFFECT OF CONCRETE STRENGTH ON THE PUNCHING SHEAR BEHAVIOUR OF GFRP-RC SLAB-COLUMN EDGE CONNECTIONS

This paper presents the results of an experimental program carried out to investigate the effect of concrete strength on the punching shear behaviour of concrete slab-column edge connections reinforced with glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars. Six full-scale connections were constructed and tested to failure under gravity loads. Three connections were made of normal strength concrete (NSC), while the other three were made of high strength concrete (HSC). The dimensions of the slabs were 2,800×1,550×200 mm with a 300-mm square column extending 1,000 mm above and below the slab. All connections were reinforced with GFRP sand-coated bars without shear reinforcement. Three flexural reinforcement ratios were employed for each concrete strength; 0.90, 1.35 and 1.80% in the direction perpendicular to the free edge. All connections failed in a brittle punching mode. The HSC connections showed less deflections and strains in both reinforcement and concrete at the same load level than their NSC counterparts. Also, doubling the concrete strength (from 40 to 80 MPa) slightly increased the capacity by 10, 3 and 5% for connections with reinforcement ratios of 0.90, 1.35 and 1.80%, respectively. Moreover, the Canadian standard for FRP-reinforced concrete buildings provided reasonable predictions with an average experimental-to-predicted ratio of 1.29±0.05 and 1.22±0.05 for the NSC and HSC connections, respectively

Usefulness of atropine in patients with chronotropic incompetence and poor exercise capacity during treadmill stress testing

AbstractBackgroundAtropine, an anticholinergic agent, has been shown to increase heart rate and enhance the sensitivity of dobutamine stress echocardiography in the detection of CAD in patients with chronotropic incompetence; however, the addition of atropine to exercise stress testing EST, in these types of patients has not been well studied previously.ObjectiveInvestigating the usefulness and accuracy of atropine in decreasing the number of inconclusive results of EST in patients with chronotropic incompetence and poor exercise capacity.MethodsThirty patients (16 males and 14 females with the age range of 40:73years with mean of 55±8) out of 180 patients who preformed EST were chosen as having chronotropic incompetence or poor exercise capacity by Borg scale. Atropine was administered during the exercise phase in doses of 0.5mg per minute until test conclusion or the maximum dose of 2mg was reached. All patients were subjected to stress myocardial perfusion imaging SMPI to confirm accuracy.ResultsConclusive test results were achieved in 29 patients (97%). Heart rate and blood pressure were markedly increased with statically highly significant difference (P value <0.001), patients on b-blocker treatment had lower maximum heart rate compared to other patients with significant difference. Twenty-three (79%) patients had negative test results and six (21%) patients had positive test results, and if compared to SMPT results, EST was considered better positive than negative test, with higher specificity than sensitivity and accuracy.ConclusionsAtropine injection during EST significantly reduced the inconclusive test results in patients with chronotropic incompetence and poor exercise capacity

Usefulness of atropine in patients with chronotropic incompetence and poor exercise capacity during treadmill stress testing

AbstractBackgroundAtropine, an anticholinergic agent, has been shown to increase heart rate and enhance the sensitivity of dobutamine stress echocardiography in the detection of CAD in patients with chronotropic incompetence; however, the addition of atropine to exercise stress testing EST, in these types of patients has not been well studied previously.ObjectiveInvestigating the usefulness and accuracy of atropine in decreasing the number of inconclusive results of EST in patients with chronotropic incompetence and poor exercise capacity.MethodsThirty patients (16 males and 14 females with the age range of 40:73years with mean of 55±8) out of 180 patients who preformed EST were chosen as having chronotropic incompetence or poor exercise capacity by Borg scale. Atropine was administered during the exercise phase in doses of 0.5mg per minute until test conclusion or the maximum dose of 2mg was reached. All patients were subjected to stress myocardial perfusion imaging SMPI to confirm accuracy.ResultsConclusive test results were achieved in 29 patients (97%). Heart rate and blood pressure were markedly increased with statically highly significant difference (P value <0.001), patients on b-blocker treatment had lower maximum heart rate compared to other patients with significant difference. Twenty-three (79%) patients had negative test results and six (21%) patients had positive test results, and if compared to SMPT results, EST was considered better positive than negative test, with higher specificity than sensitivity and accuracy.ConclusionsAtropine injection during EST significantly reduced the inconclusive test results in patients with chronotropic incompetence and poor exercise capacity

Single Level Lumbar Disk Herniation: Conventional Discectomy versus Interbody Fusion with Bilateral Pedicular Fixation

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare between the conventional discectomy and the interbody fusion with bilateral pedicular screw fixation in the management of single level lumbar disk herniation. METHODS: This is a prospective study done on 50 patients (25 in each group) at Cairo University Hospitals in the period between October 2018 and June 2019 fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Diagnosis was made clinically with history (low back pain and sciatica),examination (motor power assessment, straight leg raising test), and radiological findings (MRI, CT and X-ray lumbar spine). The pain status (VAS) was pre and postoperatively evaluated and followed up every 3 months for 1 year. RESULTS: The study included 50 patients (25 in each group) (mean age 40.4 years old) with slight female predominance. The most common clinical findings presented at diagnosis were low back pain followed by lower limb pain in the form of claudication and sciatica. L5-S1 disk prolapse was the most common level affected in both groups followed by L4-5 level. Regarding the clinical outcome, there was statistical significance in the VAS of low back pain at 9 months and 1-year follow-up favoring the fusion group with mean VAS 0.40 and 1.32 (p &lt; 0.05). CONCLUSION: Clinical outcome was excellent in both groups. However, the reduction in low back pain after surgery was greater in the fusion group (p &lt; 0.05). The rate of recurrent disk herniation at the surgical level in the nonfusion group was higher, but intraoperative blood loss, operation time, length of hospital stay, and total cost of procedure were all less in the patients undergoing discectomy alone. Although there is still controversy regarding the pros and cons of fusion in association with disk excision without instability, fusion results were highly favorable