Effect of salinity degree of injected water on oil recovery from carbonate reservoir

32-37Water injection is considered the most successful and widespread secondary recovery method. Low salinity water injections is a well-established and proved technique for water flooding application in sandstone rocks to enhance the recovery efficiency; where the water salinity is adapted to a certain degree to extract the highest amount of oil from a reservoir. Reserve-estimation statistics show the significance of oil reserves in carbonate reservoirs, hence this work deals with the carbonate rocks where water flooding may fail due to many reasons, and the most common one is fractures existence in the carbonate rocks. This work applied the water injection for six carbonate (limestone) core samples from Belayim Formation of Middle Miocene age that extracted from an Egyptian offshore oil field in the Gulf of Suez. This carbonate facies is hard, vuggy, fragmented, dolomitic, and highly saturated with oil and considered a good reservoir. Relative permeability test was carried out to investigate the reservoir response in terms of recovery efficiency hence residual oil saturation, when flooding the reservoir with waters having different salinity ratios. Results showed an increase in recovery efficiency for all the tested samples, on applying the low salinity water injection, where all the relative permeability curves displayed wettability modification/alteration toward water wetness properties

Histopathology of Corneal Lenticules Obtained from Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) versus Microkeratome Excision

Purpose: To study the alterations on the lenticules extracted after femtosecond (Femto) small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) versus the corneal free cap removed using a microkeratome. Methods: The visuMax (500 kHz; laser energy: 180 nJ) was used for small-incision lenticule extraction. Free caps from human cadaveric corneas were excised by microkeratome. The collected lenticules were examined with the light and transmission electron microscope (TEM) for histological analysis, DNA fragmentation was assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA damage was evaluated using comet assay, and corneal proteins secondary structure was assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results: Light microscopic examination showed the presence of more edematous stroma under Femto SMILE than under free cap with a percentage change of 101.6%. In the Femto SMILE group, TEM examination showed pyknotic keratocytes, disruption, and cavitation of the collagen arrays stromal area under Femto SMILE. The DNA fragmentation for the Femto SMILE group revealed one undefined band with a size of 1.1 Kbp. The comet assay analysis indicated the presence of 3% and 8.0% tailed cells for the free cap and Femto SMILE groups, respectively. The tail lengths were 1.33 ± 0.16 and 1.67 ± 0.13 μm (P < 0.01), the percentage of tail DNA was 1.41 ± 0.18% (P < 0.01) and 1.72 ± 0.15%, and the tail moments were 1.88 ± 0.12 AU and 2.87 ± 0.14 AU (P < 0.001) for the free cap and Femto SMILE groups, respectively. FTIR spectroscopy of the Femto smile group revealed disorders in the secondary and tertiary structure of the proteins. Conclusion: Femto SMILE technique induced more structural changes, DNA fragmentation, DNA damage, and corneal proteins secondary structure alteration than those induced by a microkeratome cutting. These changes may be attributed to the deep penetration of high energy levels to the corneal layer. These findings may highlight the potential impact of the Femto SMILE on the cornea and the necessity for managing the laser parameters used

Effectiveness of Teaching English Unlimited Special Edition on Developing Speaking Skill: The case of Students of the Preparatory Year Program at Al-Baha University

The aim of the study is to investigate effectiveness of teaching the Book English Unlimited Special Edition 1 (EUSE) on Developing Speaking Skill for Students of Preparatory Year of Al-Baha University. In order to answer the questions of the study, the researcher adopted the experimental approach. The sample of the study consisted of (50) students of preparatory year of AlBaha University. The speaking skills integrated in the set book were used with the study group in the first term of the academic school year (2019 – 2020). A test of (20) items was designed to be used as a pre -posttest. The study indicated that there are statistically significant differences in mean scores of speaking skills test in favor of the post application. Speaking skills (request, suggestion and asking for directions) included in the taught course (EUSE 1) book are convenient to enhance those students’ understanding and language progress. They can be considered as a remedial program to what they lacked in secondary schools as well as upgrading preparatory year students’ levels. In the light of these results, the study recommended the suitability of using Unlimited Special Edition (EUSE) for developing Speaking Skill for Students of preparatory year of Al-Baha University. It also suggested that further research should be conducted on the role of teaching listening to enhance speaking skill for students of preparatory students at Al-Baha University

Investigating Problems of Speaking Skill: A Case Study at Al-Baha University

The aim of the study is to explore the problems of speaking skill for students of preparatory year of Al-Baha University, Saudi Arabia. In order to answer the questions of the study, the researcher adopted the descriptive approach. The sample of the study consisted of (54) teachers of the university, most of them are MA and PhD holders. The questionnaire was prepared and refereed by specialized assistant professors then directed to teachers to answer (agree, strongly agree, neutral, disagree, and strongly disagree). The study indicated that there is a wide range of difficulties and problems facing those students. The demographics of the society around them is one of the most important obstacles. The gap between teaching speaking at secondary stage and university is one of the obstacles. Students of preparatory year are mostly shy while trying to speak. The study recommended reviewing the ways of assessing student’s speaking skill taking into granted the tribal nature of the students. The administration of the university should draw explicit goals at the local level of the university to help students develop the skill. The role of teacher is increasing constantly under these circumstances to help his students improve the skill as one of the most significant skills of English although they come from different cultural backgrounds. The study recommended further research to study the role of society structure in developing speaking skill

Effectiveness of Teaching English Unlimited Special Edition on Developing Speaking Skill: The case of Students of the Preparatory Year Program at Al-Baha University

The aim of the study is to investigate effectiveness of teaching the Book English Unlimited Special Edition 1 (EUSE) on Developing Speaking Skill for Students of Preparatory Year of Al-Baha University. In order to answer the questions of the study, the researcher adopted the experimental approach. The sample of the study consisted of (50) students of preparatory year of Al-Baha University. The speaking skills integrated in the set book were used with the study group in the first term of the academic school year (2019 – 2020). A test of (20) items was designed to be used as a pre -posttest. The study indicated that there are statistically significant differences in mean scores of speaking skills test in favor of the post application. Speaking skills (request, suggestion and asking for directions) included in the taught course (EUSE 1) book are convenient to enhance those students’ understanding and language progress. They can be considered as a remedial program to what they lacked in secondary schools as well as upgrading preparatory year students’ levels. In the light of these results, the study recommended the suitability of using Unlimited Special Edition (EUSE) for developing Speaking Skill for Students of preparatory year of Al-Baha University. It also suggested that further research should be conducted on the role of teaching listening to enhance speaking skill for students of preparatory students at Al-Baha University

Prevalence of Frailty in the Middle East: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

(1) We aimed to systematically search available data on the prevalence of frailty among community-dwelling elders in Middle Eastern countries. The results from available studies are cumulated to provide comprehensive evidence for the prevalence of frailty. (2) Methods: A meta-analysis was done. A literature search was carried out using PRISMA guidelines in PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS websites for studies up to 2020. Inclusion criteria entailed all primary studies conducted in Middle Eastern countries on frailty in community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and older. (3) Results: A total of 10 studies were selected for this study. Random-effects meta-analysis of nine studies indicated there was a pooled prevalence rate of 0.3924 with a standard error of 0.037. This pooled prevalence point estimate of 0.3924 was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The Egger’s regression test and the trim-fill method for detecting publication bias did not detect any evidence of publication bias in the sample of included studies. The Egger’s regression test was not statistically significant. The trim-fill method indicated zero studies were missing on either side; (4) Conclusions: The study’s findings indicate that the prevalence of frailty is higher in Middle Eastern nations. Despite indications that many of these nations’ populations are rapidly ageing, we presently lack information on the incidence of frailty in these populations; this information is essential to health, policymakers, and social care planning

Optimization of Postural Control, Balance, and Mobility in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Comparative Analysis of Independent and Integrated Effects of Pilates and Plyometrics

The paradigm of comprehensive treatment approaches for children with cerebral palsy has gained traction, prompting clinicians to deliberate between independent and integrated treatment delivery. However, this decision-making process is often hindered by the dearth of empirical evidence available to inform optimal therapeutic strategies. This study, therefore, sought to compare the effects of Pilates-based core strengthening (PsCS), plyometric-based muscle loading (PlyoML), and their combination on postural control, balance, and mobility in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (ULCP). Eighty-one children with ULCP (age: 12–18 years) were randomized to PsCS (n = 27), PlyoML (n = 27), or a combined intervention (n = 27; equated for total sets/repetitions) group. The three interventions were applied twice/week over 12 successive weeks. Postural control (directional and overall limits of stability—LoS), balance, and mobility (Community Balance and Mobility Scale—CB&M; Functional Walking Test—FWT; Timed Up and Down Stair test—TUDS) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. The combined group exhibited greater increases in directional LoS compared to PsCS and PlyoML including the backward (p = 0.006 and 0.033, respectively), forward (p = 0.015 and 0.036, respectively), paretic (p = 0.017 and 0.018, respectively), and non-paretic directions (p = 0.006 and 0.004, respectively)], and this was also the case for overall LoS (p p = 0.037 and p = 0.002, respectively), FWT (p = 0.012 and p = 0.038, respectively), and TUDS (p = 0.046 and p = 0.021, respectively). In conclusion, the combined PsCS and PlyoML exercise program promotes considerably greater improvements in postural control, balance, and mobility compared to unimodal training in children with ULCP