1,122 research outputs found
Prediction of Compressive Strength of Fibrous Composites Using Two Different Approaches
This paper presents two different approaches to predict the compressive strength of fibrous composites using three-dimensional analysis. These approaches are based on the optimization of compressive stress resulting from the relationship between the compressive stress of the fibrous composite and the shear strength of the matrix material. The first approach is an estimation of compressive strength based on the actual initial misalignment of fibers in the rotated plane. The second approach is an approximation of compressive strength in accordance with the components of the initial fiber misalignment relative to the global axes of the fibrous composite material. The initial fiber misalignment is defined as a curve in the form of a cosine function that has components on the two planes containing the longitudinal axis and defined by initial misalignment angles. Equilibrium equations are then derived for an infinitesimal element along the axis of the fibers using the total potential energy principle. Maximum compressive strength is calculated using the corresponding shear stresses and shear deformations in the matrix, since shear is the dominant mode of failure. The compressive strength corresponding to the shear mode is found to be related to the tangent shear modulus of a fibrous composite material. The two different approaches are used to study the following composites: Carbon/epoxy XAS/914C saturated and dry, Carbon/Peek AS4/PEEK (APC-2), AS4/E7K8, Glass-Vinyl Ester, Glass-Polyester and unidirectional HTS40/977-2. The results obtained in this paper are found to agree well with experimental results and theoretical results available in literature
Building a SOA-Based Model for Purchase Order Management in E-Commerce Systems
Purchase Order Management (POM) is one of the most popular E-Commerce applications conducted between B2C and B2B systems. In many cases nowadays POM components use integration approaches that lack interoperability and manageability features. The purpose of this paper is to build a SOA based model for POM in E-Commerce system that achieves the goals of interoperability and manageability. In this paper a technical model of POM E-Commerce system is presented and analyzed. A new POM model based on SOA solution is proposed that overcomes the shortcoming of currently used model. The main contribution of this paper is to align a SOA-based model to the B2C and B2B E-Commerce domain
Risk Factors among Women with Gestational Diabetes at UNRWA Clinics in Gaza Strip
This study aimed to identify the risk factors of gestational diabetes. The sample consisted of 60 pregnant women with history of gestational diabetes selected by using non probability convenient sample. Questionnaire was developed by researchers and filled by the pregnant women during interview. Data was analyzed by using descriptive, frequency distribution and chi-square test to identify the risk factors of gestational diabetes. The results showed that there is a significant relationship between body mass index (BMI) before and during pregnancy and development of gestational diabetes as evidenced by (X278. 9 and p value. 05). In addition, there is a significant relationship between BMI and frequency of abortion in the presence of gestational diabetes. On the other hand there is no significant relationship between baby weight in previous deliveries and development of gestational diabetes. The results showed that obese pregnant women are at high risk for development of gestational diabetes. This study highlighted the importance of teaching the pregnant women about controlling their weight before pregnancy to avoid the complications for both pregnant woman and baby
The Most Significant Modifiable and non-Modifiable Factors Associated among Patients Whom Previously Diagnosed with Prediabetes and Developed to Type Two Diabetes Mellitus Attending to Endocrine Clinic in all Hail Governmental Hospitals
The purpose of study to evaluate the Most significant Modifiable Factor Associated With Patients Previously Diagnosed with Prediabetes and Developed to T2DM in all Hail region,, because 38% of Saudi people with or at risk of diabetes mellitus and the Saudi Arabia Kingdom occupied the first position in middle east and north Africa proportion of DM with and the number may extended. 43, 45 also Hail and Tabouk became the highest proportion of DM in KSA followed by Riyadh and Medina. Method: Quantitative, non-experimental descriptive corelational design, because the study wants to indentify empirical relationship between causal and effect on the time and describe the relationship without explains the mechanism. Result: The most significant modifiable factor develop prediabetes to T2DM is increasing the body mass index more than normal, physical activity and total cholesterol plays also an important role to develop also prediabetes, and finally large portion of obese patients and patient how is physically inactive; cannot control of blood glucose level which reflect my significant of study Hail City and Tabouk considered the highest two city of incidence of Type2 DM and these two city and others cities in same country make Saudi Arabia populations are the highest country with patient diagnosed of T2DM in middle east and north AfricaConclusion: our study found that support our hypothesis ( Modifiable factor -includes body mass index, cholesterol level and physical activity - for patients previously diagnosed with prediabetes increases the risk of type two diabetes mellitus) Keywords: type two diabetes, pre-diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, smoking, body mass index, physical activit
Violence Against Nurses’ in Critical Units at Governmental Hospitals in Jordan
The propose of this study was to explore the prevalence of work place violence against nurses’ committed by patient, family member or other health care provider in Jordanian hospitals. Method: Descriptive correlation study will be conducted in Jordan. The data will collect through (self-administered questionnaires). Result: 62 subject involved in the study, 26 (41.9%) person were male, 36(58.1%) were female. The most respondent age located between 20 to 24 years old, The majority of sample were single 80.6%, most of the sample experience in practice in between 6 months to five years 56(90.3%), the most subject work in ICU 26(41.9%), emergency 19 (30.6%) & CCU 17(27.4%). Most of the participant marked that violence against nurse is important issues were whom working in the ICU’s 26(45.6%), most of violated participant nurses in the critical units were whom working in emergency departement14 (43.8%), also ER participant stated that the violence against nurses increase in the last year 13 (39.4%) , the ICU participants have the most experience about witnessed violence against nurses 23(40.4%), ER nurses 19 (100%) that participate in this study marked that there is one or more violence per week toward nurses. Conclusion: As appeared from this study, there is violence against nurses male or female in all critical care area (ICU, CCU, ER) in hospitals settings, therefore, it should be national policy & laws to protect the nurses from the violence and reserve their dignity. Nursing students considered one of violence subjects, it is (from point of view of the researchers) very beneficial for educational purposes to study the prevalence and effects of violence on nursing students during their training periods. From all the statistical analysis that done in this study the researcher stated that increasing age among nurses who working in critical care give him experience how to deal with stressful situations because minimal nurses above 30 exposure to violence whatever physically or verbally according these result. Keywords: Violence against nurse, physical violence, psychological violence and critical care nurse
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
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
JORDANIAN STUDENTS LEARNING ENGLISH: STRATEGY DEPLOYMENT
Gender and language proficiency are among the key factors that may impact learning strategy use. Thus, this study explored the impact of gender, perceived language proficiency, and academic level on learning strategy use by 111 English-major EFL students whose native language is Arabic. Using Oxford’s Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL), the study revealed that females opt to use strategies more frequently than do males. The results also showed that the higher the proficiency level of the students was, the more frequent strategy use was. The most prevalent among the different strategy types was metacognitive ones when the least was memory. These findings are discussed and implications are set accordingly
Effectiveness of Person Fit Indices in Item Response Models with Different Degrees of Item Local Dependence
This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of person fit indices (Wright’s weighted index, Drasgow index and Almehrizi’s weighted index) in item response models with different degrees of item local dependence (0.0, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9) using simulated item parameters. Item responses for 40 samples each with 10000 subjects (a total of 400000 subjects) were simulated on a test of 60 items. Item discrimination parameters ranged between 0.19 and 1.79 and item difficulty parameters ranged between -2 and +2. 20% of test items were manipulated to show local dependence for each level of local dependence degrees. Student ability was generated to follow a standard normal distribution. Assumptions of item response theory were examined in all data sets using exploratory factor analysis and residual analysis using NOHARM platform for unidimensionality and Q3 index for local independence. Results showed that there was an increase in the percentages of non-conforming persons when increasing the degree of items local dependence for the three person fit indices (Wright’s weighted index, Drasgow index and Almehrizi’s weighted index). Results showed also that the percentages of non-conforming persons were larger with Wright’s weighted index than with Drasgow index and Almehrizi’s weighted index. The distributional properties of the three indices showed relatively consistent in distributional properties. Drasgow index and Almehrizi’s weighted index were very similar distributional properties. Also, there was a larger agreement index between Wright’s weighted index and Drasgow index
RELATIONSHIP OF GROWTH HORMONE RECEPTOR GENE WITH SOME OF PRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF COMMON CARP Cyprinus carpio
This study was aimed of determining the relationship of polymorphism of the growth hormone receptor gene with some of growth traits (daily growth rate, relative and specific growth, ratio and efficiency of feed conversion) in 45 samples of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The following are the most important results obtained: The results of DNA sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) showed there are of three mutations in the following sites C24074T, A24375G and G24485A. No genetic makeup was significantly associated with the studied growth characteristics. It is concluded from this study that there is no significant effect of the difference in the genotypes of the growth hormone receptor gene on the growth characteristics of common carp fish
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