A practical maintenance framework for production equipment manufactuers and users :"an analysis of maintenance strategies for SME's"

PhD ThesisThe work presented here concerns a Practical Maintenance Framework (PMF) for Small and Medium size Enterprises (SME's) aimed, ultimately, at implementing Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). Typically, the successful implementation of TPM requires large financial and human resource commitments, which are usually unrealistic in SME's. So it is usually the larger companies that are more willing and able to dedicate resources for TPM development. The PMF introduced in this work support SME's in four ways; the Model is simple and flexible for companies to implement, and typically it does not require a significant financial commitment during its implementation. Further improvements can be achieved shortly after implementation. Finally, the Model does not involve specialist TPM teams or committees; instead there is a single team to which every person in the company will be attached to. PMF is a framework that operates in an iterative and interactive process of improvement, review and analysis. The PMF is mainly built on a quantitative measure of performance basedo n data collection and subsequenta nalysiso f Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE) originally introduced by Nakajima (1988). In addition, in this research, we show how a simplified version of this OEE measure can be usefully adopted in certain circumstances to calculate the efficiency of a production line. To illustrate some of our work we present and discuss results from one of many case studies, which demonstrate the value of maintenance strategies such as PMF. Both PMF and the OEE measure are shown to be effective when used to improve equipment efficiency. Finally, the research suggests a way that can help both equipment manufactures and equipment users to cooperate with an aim to produce more efficient equipment and products.HRH General Mohammed Al-Faisal

Design Collocation Neural Network to Solve Singular Perturbation Problems for Partial Differential Equations

he aim of this paper is to design neural network to present a method to solve Singular perturbation problems (SPP) for Partial Differential Equations (PDE’s) with initial and boundary conditions by using network having one hidden layer with 5 hidden units (neurons) and one linear output unit, the sigmoid activation of each hidden units is tansigmoid. The neural network trained by the back propagation with different algorithms such as quasi-Newton, Levenberg-Marquardt, and Bayesian Regulation. Finally the results of numerical experiments are compared with the exact solution in illustrative examples to confirm the accuracy and efficiency of the presented scheme. Keywords: Singularly perturbed problems; Partial Differential Equations; Neural network; QuasiNewton; Levenberg-Marquardt, Bayesian  regulation

Serum leptin and its relation to anthropometric measures of obesity in pre-diabetic Saudis

Background: Little information is available on leptin concentrations in individuals with IGT. This study aims to determine and correlate leptin levels to anthropometric measures of obesity in prediabetic, (IFG and IGT), type 2 diabetic and normoglycaemic Saudis. Methods: 308 adult Saudis (healthy controls n = 80; pre-diabetes n = 86; Type 2 diabetes n = 142) participated. Anthropometric parameters were measured and fasting blood samples taken. Serum insulin was analysed, using a solid phase enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay and also leptin concentrations, using radio-immunoassay. The remaining blood parameters were determined using standard laboratory procedures. Results: Leptin levels of diabetic and pre-diabetic men were higher than in normoglycaemic men (12.4 [3.2–72] vs 3.9 [0.8–20.0] ng/mL, (median [interquartile range], p = 0.0001). In females, leptin levels were significantly higher in pre-diabetic subjects (14.09 [2.8–44.4] ng/mL) than in normoglycaemic subjects (10.2 [0.25–34.8] ng/mL) (p = 0.046). After adjustment for BMI and gender, hip circumference was associated with log leptin (p = 0.006 with R2 = 0.086) among all subjects. Conclusion: Leptin is associated with measures of adiposity, hip circumference in particular, in the non-diabetic state among Saudi subjects. The higher leptin level among diabetics and pre-diabetics is not related to differences in anthropometric measures of obesity

Selection of Suitable Sites for Water Harvesting Structures in a Flood Prone Area Using Remote Sensing and GIS – Case Study

Water harvesting structures are extremely important to conserve precious natural resource like soil and water which is deteriorating due to the uncontrolled flood flushes that caused damages, in time where it could be very useful if suitable technical methods were applied to keep it. Check dams are one of these structures that could be very useful if certain conditions were available in the flood area. In this study Ali Al Gharbi which is located in the southeast part of Iraq near to the Iraqi- Iranian borders, is chosen as an area that suffered from frequently flood flushes that come from the Iranian land. Those floods damaged all the infrastructures like bridges, roads and also the farms and villages in its way. Remote sensing and GIS technologies were the appropriate tools to choose the suitable sites for check dams in the area. The various thematic maps such as Land use, Drainage, HSG, Slope and DEM maps were prepared for selecting suitable sites for construction of check dams. Four check dams and four percolation tanks were proposed for the construction that may serve the purpose of soil and water conservation to help in sustainable development of the catchment area. The proposed check dams can be very useful to supply water for irrigation in dry seasons. Keywords: Water harvesting, Check dams, Ali Al Gharbi, Missan Governorate, GIS, Floods, Remote sensing

Infections in Patients with Multiple Myeloma in the Era of Novel Agents and Stem Cell Therapies

Multiple myeloma is a common hematologic malignancy that is associated with reduced cellular as well as humoral immunity ultimately causing various infectious complications. The recent advances in the management of myeloma have led not only to prolonged survival but also to shifts in the incidence as well as the spectrum of infections encountered. This book chapter will be an updated review on the infectious complications in patients with multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents, stem cell therapies, and monoclonal antibodies. It will cover causes of immunosuppression, timing, and types as well as management of the various infections reported with various therapeutic modalities that are currently utilized in the management of myeloma patients

Effects of probiotics in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 : study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Low grade chronic inflammation is observed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Endotoxin derived from gut bacteria may act as a potent inflammatory stimulant. Probiotics, which are believed to contain health promoting live microorganisms, may influence circulating endotoxin levels. Ingestion of live probiotic cultures may alter gut microbiota in a beneficial manner to reduce inflammation; no information is available whether or not they do so in patients with T2DM. Therefore, the aim of this study is to characterize the beneficial effects of probiotics on circulating endotoxin levels and other biomarkers related to systemic low-grade inflammation in patients with T2DM. Methods: One hundred and twenty consenting adult Saudi T2DM patients (naïve or newly diagnosed and without co-morbidities) will be enrolled in this clinical trial and randomized to receive daily placebo or probiotics (Ecologic®Barrier) for 26 weeks in a double-blind manner. Inflammatory and metabolic markers will be measured and fecal samples analyzed. Measurements/samples will be obtained at baseline and after 4, 8, 12/13 and 26 weeks of treatment. Discussion: It is expected that the probiotic product will induce beneficial changes in gut microbiota, reduce the systemic inflammatory state through altering systemic endotoxin levels and, as such, reduce the systemic inflammatory response observed in T2DM subjects. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0176551

The atherogenic and metabolic impact of non-HDL cholesterol versus other lipid sub-components among non-diabetic and diabetic Saudis

BACKGROUND: Several trials from different populations have reported that non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) has more predictive power than low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in detecting coronary heart disease (CHD) and none in any Arab community whose propensity to develop CHD is higher compared to other ethnicities. This study aims to determine and compare the impact of non-HDL-C versus other lipid parameters, in predicting coronary heart disease among diabetic versus non-diabetic adult Saudis and identify the lipid parameters which make a significant contribution in the development of coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. 733 adult Saudis were recruited and divided into groups of diabetics and non-diabetics. Each participant completed a questionnaire, underwent physical exam including 12-L ECG, and submitted a fasting blood sample where glucose and lipid parameters were analyzed using routine procedures. RESULTS: 462 subjects (age 45.03 ± 11.52; BMI 28.91 ± 6.07) were classified non-diabetics while the remaining 271 (age 52.73 ± 11.45, BMI 30.15 ± 6.62) were diabetics. 99 out of 465 (21.3%) of non-diabetics had CHD and 114 out of 271 (52.5%) in the diabetics. Non-HDL cholesterol was the best predictor among the non-diabetics (odds-ratio 2.89, CI 1.10–7.58, p-0.03). Total cholesterol was the highest single predictor for the development of CHD among the lipids (odds-ratio 1.36, CI 0.68–2.71, p-0.39) but HDL-cholesterol although small was significant (odds-ratio 0.52, CI 0.27–0.99, p-0.05). CONCLUSION: This study supports the use of non-HDL cholesterol as the more practical and reliable target for lipid lowering therapy among the Saudi population

Apple Tree Responses to Deficit Irrigation Combined with Periodic Applications of Particle Film or Abscisic Acid

The objective of this study was to determine if the application of two antitranspirant compounds would moderate water deficit stress effects on physiological responses of “Granny Smith”, “Royal Gala” and “Golden Delicious” apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees on MM106 rootstock that occur during deficit irrigation. Uniform trees were grown in pots under water supply regimes of 30%, 60%, and 80% depletion of available water (DAW) before irrigation to runoff and received applications of kaolin particle film (PF) or abscisic acid (ABA) at 0, 30 and 60 days. At 120 days, genotype and deficit irrigation affected nearly all leaf traits, but antitranspirant treatment had no significant effects. As the % DAW increased, the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (T), stomatal conductance, leaf water and pressure potential, variable-to-maximal chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf number, and leaf N, P and K contents were reduced. A significant genotype by deficit irrigation interaction was evident on T, water use efficiency (WUE), and leaf osmotic pressure potential. A significant deficit irrigation by antitranspirant interaction was evident on only leaf Pn, with PF and ABA reducing it at 30% DAW and only PF reducing it at 80% DAW. However, the periodic use of PF or ABA during deficit irrigation did not alleviate most physiological effects of water deficit stress due to deficit irrigation

An Improved Solar Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (IS-LEACH) Technique

in the recent years, the Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) has grown dramatically in many fields such as military applications, environmental applications, and health assistant applications. However, there are numerous problems associated with applying the WSNs. Such problems are related to power consumption, performance, reliability, installation cost, and hardware cost. Thus, many algorithms in the WSNs context have been considered to propose an improved solar Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH) technique for maximizing the lifetime, increasing the performance, increasing the reliability, and decreasing the costs. This proposed technique improves the selecting Cluster Heads (CHs) process and powering it with a renewable energy (solar cell). The OMNeT++ tool has been employed to simulate such technique. After many scenarios have taken place with different data sets, this study finds that the lifetime of WSNs has been maximized, the performance has been improved, the reliability has also been improved, and finally the cost has been decreased

Vitamin D supplementation as an adjuvant therapy for patients with T2DM : an 18-month prospective interventional study

Background Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with impaired human insulin action, suggesting a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM). In this prospective interventional study we investigated the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on the metabolic profiles of Saudi T2DM subjects pre- and post-vitamin D supplementation over an 18-month period. Methods T2DM Saudi subjects (men, N = 34: Age: 56.6 ± 8.7 yr, BMI, 29.1 ± 3.3 kg/m2; women, N = 58: Age: 51.2 ± 10.6 yr, BMI 34.3 ± 4.9 kg/m2;) were recruited and given 2000 IU vitamin D3 daily for 18 months. Anthropometrics and fasting blood were collected (0, 6, 12, 18 months) to monitor serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D using specific ELISA, and to determine metabolic profiles by standard methods. Results In all subjects there was a significant increase in mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels from baseline (32.2 ± 1.5 nmol/L) to 18 months (54.7 ± 1.5 nmol/L; p < 0.001), as well as serum calcium (baseline = 2.3 ± 0.23 mmol/L vs. 18 months = 2.6 ± 0.1 mmol/L; p = 0.003). A significant decrease in LDL- (baseline = 4.4 ± 0.8 mmol/L vs. 18 months = 3.6 ± 0.8 mmol/L, p < 0.001] and total cholesterol (baseline = 5.4 ± 0.2 mmol/L vs. 18 months = 4.9 ± 0.3 mmol/L, p < 0.001) were noted, as well as a significant improvement in HOMA-β function ( p = 0.002). Majority of the improvements elicited were more prominent in women than men. Conclusion In the Saudi T2DM population receiving oral Vitamin D3 supplementation (2000 IU/day), circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels remained below normal 18 months after the onset of treatment. Yet, this “suboptimal” supplementation significantly improved lipid profile with a favorable change in HDL/LDL ratio, and HOMA-β function, which were more pronounced in T2DM females