Implantable Biosensor Interface Platform for Monitoring of Atherosclerosis

The drug-eluting stents (DESs) have been considered as an effective technique to reduce the severity of atherosclerotic stenosis. Recent technological advances have opened the door for developing new and innovative smart cardiovascular stents by integrating various electronics components and sensors to improve health monitoring and diagnosis. Rupture of atherosclerotic plaque represents the major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as heart attacks due to blockages of the arterial lumen. Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is a novel localized inflammatory biomarker associated with the development of atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability. In this paper, we propose a biosensor interface platform for monitoring the plaque vulnerability via detection and prediction of the inflammatory biomarker (PTX3). We propose mathematical and stochastic models using molecular communication paradigm for detection of Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) molecules in the atherosclerotic arterial wall using biosensor attached to a vascular stent inside the artery. The proposed platform and models can help in the localized sensing of the atherosclerotic biomarkers for monitoring of the plaque progression and for early warning of certain disorders such as heart attack

The effect of transurethral resection of the prostate on erectile and ejaculatory functions in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TURP on erectile function (EF) and ejaculatory function (EJF). Methods: A total of 91 patients who underwent TURP were retrospectively assessed. Patients were divided into two groups based on International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5): group A included 41 patients with normal EF, and group B included 50 patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). All patients were evaluated for EF and EJF at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months after TURP by using IIEF-5, Ejaculatory Domain-Male Sexual-Health Inventory (Ej-MSHQ). Results: In group A, there were no significant statistical differences in mean IIEF-5 at baseline and after TURP 22.88 ± 0.81 versus 22.63 ± 2.63 (p = 0.065). However, in group B, there was significant improvement in IIEF-5 after TURP all over the follow-up time points in comparison to the baseline (p = <0.001). The loss of EJF was significant among patients in group A. There was significant improvement of IPSS and Qmax in group A after surgery compared to group B. Conclusion: The results confirmed that TURP has no significant negative influence on EF, and patients with preexisting ED were improved after TURP. On the contrary, the loss of EJF was significant

Local Density of States at Metal-Semiconductor Interfaces: An Atomic Scale Study

We investigate low temperature grown, abrupt, epitaxial, nonintermixed, defect-free n-type and p-type Fe/GaAs(110) interfaces by cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy with atomic resolution. The probed local density of states shows that a model of the ideal metal-semiconductor interface requires a combination of metal-induced gap states and bond polarization at the interface which is nicely corroborated by density functional calculations. A three-dimensional finite element model of the space charge region yields a precise value for the Schottky barrier height

Symptomatic dry eye disease among university students

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial condition often characterized by a reduction in tear film quantity or quality. This study aimed to determine the frequency of DED and its associated subjective symptoms among students of Mu’tah University. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted at Mu’tah University, Mu’tah, Jordan, from January to April 2022, 489 students completed an online patient-reported DED symptom questionnaire and the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire. Moreover, 106 participants underwent clinical examinations using the Schirmer test I and fluorescein tear breakup time (TBUT). Results: Approximately 74.6% of the students self-reported experiencing DED symptoms, and 72.6% had an OSDI score > 12, which is considered the threshold for an abnormal ocular surface. Clinical examinations revealed low Schirmer test scores (< 10 mm) in 26.4% (n = 28) and 25.5% (n = 27) of the right and left eyes, respectively. We observed low TBUT scores (< 5 s) in 19.8% (n = 21) and 18.9% (n = 20) of the right and left eyes, respectively. We noted significant differences between the self-reported DED symptoms and the Schirmer test scores (P = 0.003 for both right and left eyes), TBUT (P < 0.001 for both right and left eyes), and OSDI score (P < 0.001 for each self-reported DED symptom). We observed a weak significant positive correlation between Schirmer test scores and TBUT in the right (r = + 0.30; P = 0.002) and left (r = + 0.34; P < 0.001) eyes; a negligible significant inverse correlation between OSDI scores and Schirmer test scores in the right (r = - 0.24; P = 0.013) and left (r = - 0.23; P = 0.019) eyes; and a negligible significant inverse correlation between the OSDI score and TBUT of the left eye (r = - 0.25; P = 0.011) but not of the right eye (r = - 0.17; P = 0.077). Conclusions: The frequency of DED symptoms in this study was higher than that previously reported based on foreign statistics. The presence of self-reported DED symptoms was significantly associated with higher OSDI scores. Self-reported DED symptoms were more frequent than the abnormalities detected using objective methods. Therefore, a combination of subjective and objective measures may provide a higher diagnostic yield for DED. Further studies are required to confirm this hypothesis

Knowledge sharing maturity model for Jordanian construction sector

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a maturity model developed to assess knowledge sharing (KS) for the Jordanian construction sector. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted in three stages. The first stage consisted of the review of literature and documenting variables from the literature that highlight influence on KS in organizations. The second stage was designed for maturity model development by identifying the cultural factors that affect KS in the Jordanian construction sector through questionnaires and interviews. Factor analysis was used to find possible relationships between the cultural variables followed by semi-structured interviews. In the third stage the initial maturity model was refined through another set of semi-structured interviews. Findings The model presented in the paper includes three levels of maturity. The first level identifies whether the variable barely exists in company’s KS practices. The second level shows the occasional techniques which the company uses to increase KS activities. The final level demonstrates the importance of the variable in affecting KS as being fundamentally ingrained in the company’s vision, mission, strategy and operations. Originality/value The research has developed a model that can be used to measure the KS in an organization. Although the model has been applied to the construction industry, it can easily be modified to fit in the other sectors

Numerical modeling of the impact of pump wavelength on Yb-doped fiber amplifier performance

Ytterbium-doped optical amplifiers have become common tools for industrial applications due to their high efficiency, relatively low cost and potentially very high output power level. The efficiency of an ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier depends mainly on the absorption of pump radiation, and, therefore, optimum pump wavelengths have been proposed such as 915 nm. However, the semiconductor pump diodes batch supplied by manufacturers may exhibit a spread in the output wavelength. This paper theoretically investigates the performance of Yb-doped amplifiers for different pump wavelengths and defines the pump power penalty when the pump source does not emit at the optimum wavelength. The penalty has been defined as normalized excess pump power required to achieve the desired gain

Can We Predict the Grade of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma from Houns-Field Unit of Renal Lesion on Computerized Tomography Scan, a Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Mohammad Al-Zubi,1 Khayry Al-Shami,2 Leen Sawalha,3 Heyam Mahmoud Alguzo,2 Saddam Al Demour,4 Asma’a Mohammad Al-Mnayyis,2 Rami Alazab,5 Samer Fathi Al-Rawashdah,6 Lana Talal Alzoubi,7 Sawsan Radi Al-khawaldeh2 1Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Yarmouk University MEdical SChool, Irbid, 21110, Jodan; 2Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, Yarmouk University Medical school, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Department of Special Surgery, Division of Urology, the University of Jordan medical School, Amman, 11972, Jordan; 5Department of Surgery & Urology, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid, 21110, Jordan; 6Department of Special Surgery, School of Medicine, Mutah University medical School, Karak, 61710, Jordan; 7Department of Dentistry, Private Sector, Amman, JordanCorrespondence: Mohammad Al-Zubi, Tel +962 789724264, Email [email protected]: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a type of urological malignancy that affects approximately 2% of the global population. Imaging modalities, especially computed tomography (CT) scanning, play a critical role in diagnosing RCC. In this study, we investigated whether there is a relationship between tumour grade of clear cell RCC and HU values of renal lesions on CT scan performed before operation.Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 123 patients who underwent radical or partial (open or laparoscopic) nephrectomy for clear cell RCC between January 2017 and January 2021. Post-operation histopathological grades were recorded according to World Health Organization (WHO)/International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) 2016 grading system and divided into low grade (includes grade 1 and 2) and high grade (grade 3 and 4), and their links to age, sex, smoking habits, tumour size, and HUs of renal lesions were evaluated.Results: The mean age of the patients studied was 63.02 years old. About 56.9% of the patients were low grade (grade 1 or grade 2), while 43.1% were high grade (grade 3 or 4). The mean tumour size was 6.31 cm. There were no significant differences in tumour grade according to age, sex, or smoking habits. We found a significant relation between tumour grade and HU in the pre-contrast and nephrogenic phases, with p values of 0.001 and 0.037, respectively. On the other hand, there was no significant relation linking the tumour grade to the difference in HU between these phases, where there was a p value of 0.641.Conclusion: HU in the pre-contrast and nephrogenic phases in addition to tumour size on CT scan have a significant relation to clear cell RCC grade.Keywords: renal cell carcinoma, grade, stage, Hounsfield unit, CT sca

The impact of organizational culture on knowledge sharing in the construction sector in Jordan

Organisations today increasingly recognise the need to support sharing knowledge amongmembers in one way or another to gain competitive advantage. To increase knowledgesharing within organisations and to manage the process of knowledge sharing better, it isnecessary to have a better understanding of the mechanism of knowledge sharing as well asthe factors that influence this process. The impact of culture on knowledge sharing in theconstruction sector has recently gained more attention among scholars, and the aim of thisresearch is to expand this understanding of the cultural factors that affect knowledge sharingpractices, but within the Jordanian construction context, and assess that impact by developinga framework able to assess the cultural impact within organisations, so that they may adapttheir business operations, improve knowledge sharing, and ultimately gain competitiveadvantage. This study is a follow-up to the findings of recent research investigating thecultural impact on knowledge sharing activities in the construction sector. This researchadopts an epistemological position of interpretivism, and ontological position of subjectivismas the research philosophy. The research is undertaken in the Jordanian context, the data areobtained from construction companies operating in Jordan, and the researcher targets middleand high level managers to gather appropriate data. The research divides the data collectionphase into three stages using quantitative and qualitative data collection analysis methods.Fourteen cultural factors affecting knowledge sharing in the construction sector in Jordan areidentified, made up of organisational and national culture factors. They are developedaccording to the literature, through semi-structured interviews and self-administeredquestionnaires. In terms of organisational culture (OC) factors, nine cultural factors areidentified including leadership behaviour style, motivation, organisational commitment,organisational structure, organisational form (family business), communication technology,social networking, trust, and relationships between employees. The five national culture (NC)factors include power distance, uncertainty avoidance, gender differences, collectiveachievements and autonomy. The data are analysed by adopting descriptive statistical andfactor analysis methods using SPSS/PASW 17 to determine the minimum number of latentx ctors that can account adequately for the research, also to find similarities between factorsxiich helped in grouping them. Semi-structured interviews give a better understanding of thecultural impact on knowledge sharing (KS) and support the quantitative findings obtainedfrom the questionnaire data, as well as generating three maturity levels for each factor to assess that impact. The first level identifies whether the factor affects company KS or not byasking closed questions. The second level shows the occasional techniques which thecompany uses to increase KS activities. The final level demonstrates the importance of thefactor in affecting KS as being fundamentally ingrained in the company's vision, mission,strategy and operations. Consequently, the researcher is able to develop a framework able toassess the cultural impact on KS in the Jordanian construction sector. The proposedframework is further refined through semi-structured interviews, and validated by adoptingmultiple case studies in three construction firms operating in Jordan.The research findings show a number of cultural factors which affect KS in the Jordanianconstruction sector. Organisational form (family business), communication technology, socialnetworking, and gender differences have a significant impact on KS in the Jordanianconstruction sector. Meanwhile, cultural factors including the relationships betweenemployees, mutual trust and collective achievements have a low impact on the Jordanianconstruction sector. This sector is still behind in terms of social networking andcommunication technology, and there is a general lack of KS practices currently beingundertaken in the Jordanian firms sampled. However, it is recommended for constructionfirms in Jordan to be aware of the cultural impact on KS, and give more attention on factorsincluding organisational form (family business), communication technology, socialnetworking, gender differences, and leadership behaviour. Moreover, the Jordanianconstruction sector should be up to date with communication technology and try to link itwith social networking to make more efficient and convenient for employees for successfulKS implementation. Furthermore, it is recommended to apply the proposed framework withinconstruction companies in Jordan to overcome the cultural impact on KS and increases itsknowledge. Based on the findings of this research, it is recommended for construction firmsin Jordan to be aware of the cultural impact on KS, and to give more attention on factorsincluding organisational form (family business), communication technology, socialnetworking, gender differences, and leadership behaviour. Moreover, the Jordanianconstruction sector should be up to date with communication technology and try to link itwith social networking to make more efficient and convenient for employees for successfulKS implementation. It is imperative that the organisations develop a culture of trust amongemployees to facilitate KS. The trust factor goes to the heart of the whole KS culture.Furthermore, it is recommended to apply the proposed framework within constructioncompanies in Jordan to overcome the cultural impact on KS and increases its knowledge)

The Ability of Accounting Departments at Jordanian universities for Graduating Qualified Graduates: Graduates Perspectives

The Ability of Accounting Departments at  Jordanian universities for  Graduating Qualified Graduates: Graduates Perspectives Abstract: This study aims to illustrate the Ability of Teaching Process in Accounting Departments ofJordanUniversitiesto graduate Qualified Accounting Cadre, whereas the independent variable that represented with Teaching Process has been distributed to: Teaching Plans, Teaching Methods and University Environment. As well as, the subsequent variable represented with Qualified Accounting Cadre has been distributed to: theoretical aspects, practical aspects, reinforcing the graduate understanding of the major, building scientifically and educationally balanced personality; a 33 paragraph questionnaire has been prepared  to achieve the purpose of the study, whereas the 300 questionnaires have been distributed to accounting department graduates who have Bachelor Degree and work in different institutions, companies and hospitals in Amman; 269 valid questionnaires have been recovered to be analyzed with 89.67% response,  and summarized to:a.     The Curriculums are able to provide the graduate with what theoretical aspects need with 67.00%. b.     Teaching Process in Accounting Departments of Jordan Universities  isn’t able to graduate qualified and appropriate Accounting Cadre with market labour needs, as a result of:1.     Teaching Plans aren’t able to prepare a graduate in respect of practical aspect to meet the actual.2.     Current Teaching Methods aren’t able to reinforce the understanding of graduate for his major.3.     Universities Environment (Systems, Rules, Teaching Staff, lectures and Seminars) isn’t able to build balanced personality of the graduate gathered between learning and education.      The research recommends the followings: a.     Focusing on the suitability of teaching outcomes with market labour needs.1.     Reevaluate curriculums and teaching plans related to accounting departments in the Jordan universities and prepare plans contain theoretical and practical aspects and unifying the plans for all universities. 2.     Performing Courses to qualify the graduates practically in respect of manual (Manual Accounting Book) and electronic (Accounting Software).  3.     The accounting departments in the Jordan Universities should study the curriculums and what suit of teaching methods with providing the abilities related to these methods.b.     Forcing universities to held seminars, lectures to reinforce religious and ethical restraint and illustrating the importance of university environment in building the personality and reinforce the proper understanding of university life that became for most students the place for prohibited relationships and decay environment.