Certain terms relating to Islamic observances : their meanings with reference to three translations of the Qur'an and a translation of Hadith

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

The Impact of Online Reviews on Brand Equity

The goal of this research is to see how online consumer reviews affect brand equity. Customers of Jordanian online clothing stores make up the study population. Due to the difficulty of reaching all members of the population, an appropriate sampling approach was used, which is often used in research conditions. Appropriate sampling is a non-random sampling method that uses people who are easily accessible. A structured online survey was used to gather primary data. This survey was conducted among Jordanian customers of online clothes retailers. Customers were thus encouraged to take part in the survey by text messages, official websites, and social media channels. The research hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. The study results showed that the majority of online review dimensions had an impact on brand equity except for reviews time. However, social impact had the highest impact on brand equity. According to the study’s conclusions, marketers must connect with internet marketing methods, particularly social media, and include them into their marketing strategy

A Case of Chronic Cough and Pneumonia Secondary to a Foreign Body

Foreign body aspiration occurs when a solid or semisolid object becomes lodged in the larynx or trachea. It can be a life-threatening emergency, especially if it is large enough to occlude the airway. However, small aspirated objects may go unnoticed until symptoms occur. Therefore, it is frequently misdiagnosed. A high level of clinical suspicion, patient\u27s risk factors, and thorough history and physical examination are essential in making the diagnosis. It should be considered in cases where there is unresolved chronic cough with or without associated recurrent pneumonia especially in patients with risks for aspiration

Methods of harvesting water from air for sustainable buildings in hot and tropical climates

A rapid rise in demand for fresh and potable water every day has impacted global water resources that become an international matter of significant concern in keeping with the global population's fast growth. Although tropical countries receive abundant rainfall levels throughout the year, the lack of access and supply of clean water in many rural areas in this region considers an environmental challenge of this century. Atmospheric air represents a reservoir of clean water with an estimated quantity of 12,900 km3, while the amount of renewable fresh water on the planet is approximately 12,500 km3. Therefore, there is a need for new sustainable methods to provide a supplementary water supply for buildings. This research aims to examine passive methods and mechanisms of extracting water from ambient air that can be used in tropical buildings compared to rainwater harvesting systems. The methodology is based on a comprehensive review to explore the potential methods, challenges and opportunities for collecting atmospheric water on-site in the tropics. Analytical evaluation of approaches, mechanisms, systems' productivity and performance was conducted. The research results revealed two technical ways that would be effective to extract water from humid air, namely: regenerative solar desiccant/collector and dew water condensation systems. This study would help to shape the application of Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) that is expected to be more cost-effective, sustainable and adaptable to tropical building applications

Performance evaluation of solar-powered atmospheric water harvesting using different glazing materials in the tropical built environment: an experimental study

Water scarcity is a global issue, and its severity is expected to worsen in the near future, prompting further efforts to find new sources of freshwater. Solar-Powered Atmospheric Water Harvesting (SPAWH) is a promising passive approach for atmospheric water generation. This study aims to examine the thermal performance of different glazing materials and water production in SPAWH. The research consists of two phases: a laboratory test of various glazing materials and an experimental study to assess system efficiency in producing water in the tropics. The preliminary results indicated that glass demonstrated better thermal performance than acrylic in the lab, with higher thermal conductivity and less heat loss. The experimental findings showed that the maximum water produced by the proposed SPAWH (60 cm length, 60 cm width and 30 cm height) placed on a 30° tilt angle using glass (3 mm) and acrylic (3 mm) was 0.61 L/m2/day and 0.44 L/m2/day, respectively. The cost analysis revealed that produced water costs $0.18/kg for glass and$0.40/kg for acrylic, respectively. Atmospheric water could be harvested using SPAWH in the tropics, which would help to provide new opportunities for sustainable water supplies and development in these regions

Exploring the environmental performance of liquid glass coating using Sol-Gel technology and responsive Venetian blinds in the tropics

The dynamic nature of tropical skies presents challenges for the built environment due to the momentous fluctuations and instability in solar irradiance and illuminance levels that cause limitations in responding to the needs of the indoor environment. The study aims to investigate the performance of daylighting strategies using liquid glass coating and responsive Venetian blinds in an office building in the tropics. The objective of this study is to systematically examine the impacts of proposed strategies on indoor environmental conditions. The study was experimentally investigated by utilising field measurements in full-scale cellular offices in a real environment and simulation using Radiance. The results indicated that responsive Venetian blinds provided steady daylight levels between 375 lx and 588 lx in the centre of the room, while a further integration with liquid glass coating provided a glare control with a maximum of 33.71% (Imperceptible) using Daylight Glare Probability. The indoor air temperature was reduced by 3.42 °C with liquid glass coating and 2.85 °C with responsive Venetian blinds. The outputs of assessing the performance of static and responsive strategies demonstrated new findings that are significant to developing these strategies in the tropics

Effect of Quercetin Nanoparticles on Hepatic and Intestinal Enzymes and Stress-Related Genes in Nile Tilapia Fish Exposed to Silver Nanoparticles

The current study investigated the potential mitigative effect of quercetin nanoparticles (QNPs) against silver nanoparticle-induced toxicity in Nile tilapia. Fish were grouped into the control, fish exposed to 1.98 mg L–1 silver nanoparticle (AgNPs), fish that received 400 mg L–1 24 QNPs, and fish that received both QNPs and AgNPs at the same concentrations for 60 days. The moisture and ash contents of the AgNP group were significantly higher than those of the other groups. In contrast, the crude lipid and protein were decreased in the whole body. AgNPs significantly increased serum levels of ALT, AST, total cholesterol, and triglycerides and decreased glycogen and growth hormone. The activities of antioxidants were significantly inhibited, and the levels of oxidative damage were increased in the liver of the AgNP group. AgNPs upregulated the expression of hepatic HSP70, caspase3, and p53 genes. AgNPs inhibited intestinal enzyme activities, increased intestinal bacterial, and Aeromonas counts, and increased Ag residues in the liver. These findings indicate the oxidative and hepatoxic effects of AgNPs. QNPs enhanced and restored physiological parameters and health status under normal conditions and after exposure to AgNPs

General practitioner practice-based pharmacist input to medicines optimisation in the UK: pragmatic, multicenter, randomised, controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Changing demographics across the UK has led to general practitioners (GPs) managing increasing numbers of older patients with multi-morbidity and resultant polypharmacy. Through government led initiatives within the National Health Service, an increasing number of GP practices employ pharmacist support. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a medicines optimisation intervention, delivered by GP practice-based pharmacists, to patients at risk of medication-related problems (MRPs), on patient outcomes and healthcare costs. METHODS: A multi-centre, randomised (normal care or pharmacist supplemented care) study in four regions of the UK, involving patients (n = 356) from eight GP practices, with a 6-month follow-up period. Participants were adult patients who were at risk of MRPs. RESULTS: Median number of MRPs per intervention patient were reduced at the third assessment, i.e. 3 to 0.5 (p < 0.001) in patients who received the full intervention schedule. Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) scores were reduced (medications more appropriate) for the intervention group, but not for control group patients (8 [4-13] to 5 [0-11] vs 8 [3-13] to 7 [3-12], respectively; p = 0.001). Using the intention-to-treat (ITT) approach, the number of telephone consultations in intervention group patients was reduced and different from the control group (1 [0-3] to 1 [0-2] vs 1 [0-2] to 1 [0-3], p = 0.020). No significant differences between groups were, however, found in unplanned hospital admissions, length of hospital stay, number of A&E attendances or outpatient visits. The mean overall healthcare cost per intervention patient fell from £1041.7 ± 1446.7 to £859.1 ± 1235.2 (p = 0.032). Cost utility analysis showed an incremental cost per patient of - £229.0 (95% CI - 594.6, 128.2) and a mean QALY gained of 0.024 (95% CI - 0.021 to 0.065), i.e. indicative of a health status gain at a reduced cost (2016/2017). CONCLUSION: The pharmacist service was effective in reducing MRPs, inappropriateness of medications and telephone consultations in general practice in a cost-effective manner. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.Gov, NCT03241498. Registered 7 August 2017-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03241498