Employing Modern Teaching Strategies and Their Practices in the Light of Teaching Quality Standards of the Faculty Members at College of Science and Arts in Shroura

The present study aimed at knowing the modern teaching strategies used in the College of Science and Arts in Shroura Governorate; and identifying the right practices of selecting and implementing  those strategies. It also aimed at investigating  the extent of the faculty members adherence to those practices.  To achieve that aim, a questionnaire was prepared and administered on 64 faculty members (33 females and 31 males). The sample of the students consisted of 161. (64 males and 97 females). The results showed that many of modern teaching strategies are employed and there is a good amount of quality in using the proper teaching strategies with different degrees. The range of employing modern strategies was high and moderate respectively. The sample stated that the faculty  members use the traditional strategies (Lectures, dialogue and discussion) with high degree. Statistically significant differences were found between faculty  members and students in using modern teaching strategies and in the quality of using modern strategies and practices of teaching. Keywords: teaching strategies, quality standards, teaching practices, faculty members

Identification and Classification of Moving Vehicles on Road

It is important to know the road traffic density real time especially in cities for signal control and effective traffic management. In recent years, video monitoring and surveillance systems have been widely used in traffic management. Hence, traffic density estimation and vehicle classification can be achieved using video monitoring systems. The image sequences for traffic scenes are recorded by a stationary camera. The method is based on the establishment of correspondences between regions and vehicles, as the vehicles move through the image sequence. Background subtraction is used which improves the adaptive background mixture model and makes the system learn faster and more accurately, as well as adapt effectively to changing environments. The resulting system robustly identifies vehicles, rejecting background and tracks vehicles over a specific period of time. Once the (object) vehicle is tracked, the attributes of the vehicle like width, length, perimeter, area etc are extracted by image process feature extraction techniques. These features will be used in classification of vehicle as big or small using neural networks classification technique of data mining. In proposed system we use LABVIEW and Vision assistant module for image processing and feature extraction.  A feed-forward neural network is trained to classify vehicles using data mining WEKA toolbox. The system will solve major problems of human effort and errors in traffic monitoring and time consumption in conducting survey and analysis of data. The project will benefit to reduce cost of traffic monitoring system and complete automation of traffic monitoring system. Keywords: Image processing, Feature extraction, Segmentation, Threshold, Filter, Morphology, Blob, LABVIEW, NI, VI, Vision assistant, Data mining, Machine learning, Neural network, Back propagation, Multi layer perception, Classification, WEK

The Degree Of Availability of Skills Needed to Build and Employ Electronic Exams for Faculty Members at the University of Jeddah in Light of the Global Trend in E-Learning

This study aims at identifying the degree of availability of skills needed to build and employ electronic exams for faculty members at the University of Jeddah in light of the global trend in e-learning. The study used the descriptive and analytical approach and used a scale applied to a sample of (297) faculty members from the University of Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The results of the study concluded that the skills needed to build electronic exams for faculty members had a high degree, with a mean score of (3.45) and a standard deviation of (0.444). The results revealed that the necessary skills to employ electronic exams had a high degree of response, with a mean score of (3.45) and a standard deviation of (0.789). The study recommends conducting training courses for faculty members at the University of Jeddah on building electronic exams and attracting experts to train faculty members on the methods of employing electronic exams

LEADERSHIP STYLE AMONG MIDDLE MANAGERS IN SAUDI MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Background: Middle managers within ministry of health act under continuous pressure from board level to be successful leaders of today's and tomorrow's healthcare service. Leadership styles are important factors among middle managers to retain employees in organizations and to ensure a high quality of practice.Aims: Two main aims: to examine the leadership style(s) of middle managers as perceived by them as leader from different departments of the Saudi Ministry of Health, and to examine the leadership style(s) of the middle managers as perceived by their subordinates as raters from different departments of the Saudi Ministry of Health.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to answer the research questions. A convenience sample of 121 participants, 30 middle managers and 91 subordinates, who were recruited through different departments at Saudi Ministry of Health during the period of June 2010 through September 2010.Participants were subjected to Univariate and Multivariate analysis. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was used to collect data.Results: the mean ratings of all four components of transformational leadership for the subordinates and middle managers were between 2.90 to 3.29 .The mean ratings for contingent reward and management by exception active were 3.30 and 2.50 respectively and this was well within the optimum range as suggested by Bass. Management by exception passive and laissez-faire showed mean ratings of 1.67 and 1.25 respectively. The correlation coefficients among transformational leadership style and each variable of, satisfaction, effectiveness and extra effort for raters and leaders sample was high positively reached (r = .72, p< 0.05) , (r = .81, p< 0.05) , (r = .80, p< 0.05) respectively, The correlation coefficients among transactional leadership style and each variable of, satisfaction, effectiveness and extra effort for raters and leaders sample was high positively reached (r = .20, p<0.05) , (r = .44, p< 0.05) , (r = .35, p< 0.05) respectively, and The correlation coefficients among laissez -Faire leadership style and each variable of, satisfaction, effectiveness and extra effort for raters and leaders sample was high negatively reached (r = -.48, p< 0.05) , (r = -.46, p< 0.05) , (r = -.43, p< 0.05) respectively. There are agreement between leaders and raters on transformational, transactional and laissez-faire as distributive in Saudi Ministry of Health in kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The result showed there was no significant difference on the MLQ factors for raters and Leader due to gender, marital status, and age. Also , the analysis showed significant differences among raters’ opinions due to work experiences as contingent reward and extra effort in favor of raters who experience of them more than ˃ 6 Month, and finally, the analysis showed there significant differences among raters’ opinions due to period working with leaders as transformational, idealized Influence attributed, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, contingent reward, and effectiveness in favor of raters who working with leaders for a period between 6 months - ˂ 1 year, but significant differences among raters’ opinions due to period working with leaders as Laissez –Faire in favor of raters who working with leaders for a period between 1 year - 2 years.Conclusions: transformational leadership can contribute a lot to the effectiveness of organizations and that there is a need for further investigation of leadership at different levels

Retrospective study of endoscopic nasal septoplasty

Abstract This is a retrospective review of data of 70 patients who underwent endoscopic nasal septoplasty . The case records of 70 patients who underwent endoscopic septoplasty during the period from January 2009 to December 2011 at the Saudi German Hospital, Aseer Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were reviewed. Patients had septal deviation and symptomatic nasal obstruction for at least 3 months, and medical management had failed. Preoperatively, nasal endoscopic findings were septum deviations (34 patients, 48.6%), spurs (30 patients, 42.9%) and septum deviations + spurs (6 patients, 8.6%). The most common presenting symptoms were nasal obstruction (55 patients, 78.6%), headache (42, 60%) and posterior nasal discharge (34, 48.6%), which improved significantly postoperatively. After the end of the follow up period of 6 months, there were no recorded immediate or late postoperative complications among all patients. Endoscopic nasal septoplasty is an effective technique that can be performed safely with a significant postoperative improvement in patient's symptoms and minimal or no postoperative complications

Cantharidin Poisoning due to Blister Beetle Ingestion in Children : Two case reports and a review of clinical presentations

Cantharidin is an intoxicant found in beetles in the Meloidae (Coleoptera) family. Ingestion may result in haematemesis, impaired level of consciousness, electrolyte disturbance, haematurea and renal impairment. Here, we report two paediatric cases of meloid beetle ingestion resulting in cantharidin poisoning and the clinical presentation of the ensuing intoxication

3-(Adamantan-1-yl)-4-(prop-2-en-1-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione

The title mol­ecule, C15H21N3S, exists as the thione tautomer in the solid state. The 1,2,4-triazole ring is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.004 Å) and the prop-2-en-1-yl chain is close to being perpendicular to this plane [C—N—C—C torsion angle = 77.1 (5)°]. In the crystal, centrosymmetric dimeric aggregates are formed by pairs of N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds as parts of eight-membered (⋯HNCS)2 synthons. These are connected into layers parallel to (101) via C—H⋯π inter­actions, where the π-system is the triazole ring. The investigated sample was a nonmerohedral twin; the refined domain ratio was 0.655 (4):0.345 (4)

Pediatric diaphragmatic pacing

Diaphragmatic pacing has been shown to play a significant role in adult patients with diaphragmatic paralysis and facilitates mechanical ventilation weaning. However, reports on its use in paediatric patients are scarce. This report is about a 4-year-old child with a spinal cord injury secondary to a motor vehicle accident that led to quadriplegia and diaphragm paralysis. The patient underwent a diaphragmatic pacing procedure, which helped start gradual weaning from mechanical ventilation. We reviewed the concept of the diaphragmatic pacer and its types depending on the site of the implantation. In addition, we reviewed who can benefit from using a diaphragmatic pacer and compared its use in adults versus paediatric patients. Our case showed that diaphragmatic pacing appears to be effective, as it facilitates mechanical ventilation weaning and improves the quality of life outcome in paediatric patients with diaphragmatic paralysis

Knowledge and Attitude of Saudi Arabian School Teachers with Regards to Emergency Management of Dental Trauma

Injury to both the primary and the permanent dentitions and their supporting structures is one of the most common dental problems seen in children.  School is one of the locations with greatest prevalence of occurrence of traumatic dental injuries.  School teachers play important role in prevention of dental trauma and improving its prognosis. The present study was undertaken to assess knowledge and attitudes regarding emergency management of dental trauma, first aid for avulsed tooth and influence of dental education among school teachers in Abha city. METHODS: The participants were 100 school teachers from Abha city and were interviewed using a questionnaire regarding management of dental trauma.  The completed proformas was collected and the result was statistically analyzed to know the knowledge and attitudes regarding emergency management of dental trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Majority of school staff had little knowledge related to handling of traumatic dental injuries and emergency management of avulsed permanent teeth in school children. Majority of school teachers were eager to have knowledge regarding dental trauma through continues dental education programs and workshops.  First aid training increases knowledge about dental trauma and should be included in the course curriculum of teachers training program