تصميم ركبة صناعية فعالة متكيفة مع الأراضي غير المستوية

تحاكي الركب الصناعية التجارية المتوافرة حالياً عمل الركبة البشرية من خلال أداء حركة دورانية واحدة (امتداد/انثناء)، كما وتركز الدراسات البحثية في هذا المجال على نفس الأمر، يهدف هذا البحث إلى الوصول لتصميم مفصل ركبة صناعي يقوم بحركتي دوران، ذلك بالإضافة لاقترابه قدر الإمكان من المواصفات الحركية والتحريكية للركبة الطبيعية السليمة. المفصل في هذا البحث هو من نوع U-Joint يؤمن حركتي دوران، يُتحكم بالحركة الدورانية الأولى (الامتداد/انثناء) عن طريق مشغل متسلسل مرنSeries Elastic Actuator SEA، ويُتحكم بالحركة الدورانية الثانية (الإبعاد/ اقتراب) عن طريق الميكانزم المسمى بنابض الغاز. تم التصميم على أساس المواصفات لشخص متوسط الطول والوزن، وتمت دراسة التصميم ستاتيكياً وديناميكياً باستخدام طريقة العناصر المنتهية للتأكد من قدرته على القيام بالوظيفة المطلوبة عند تعرضه للأحمال الممكنة

تقييم كفاءة تقانة التجويف الهيدروديناميكي لمعالجة الرشاحة الناتجة عن معمل وادي الهدة في طرطوس

تم في هذا البحث دراسة الرشاحة المتولدة عن الأسْمَدَة الهوائية في معمل فرز النفايات البلدية في معمل وادي الهدة في طرطوس. تخضع النفايات في المعمل إلى الفرز الميكانيكي، ويعالج القسم العضوي منها معالجة حيوية من خلال عملية الأسْمَدة الهوائية. تتولد خلال هذه العملية رشاحة تساهم الهطولات المطرية في زيادة كمياتها. تحتوي الرشاحة السابقة على تراكيز عالية جداً من المواد العضوية وغير العضوية إضافة إلى المعادن الثقيلة،  وبالنظر إلى خطورتها على التربة والمياه في المنطقة، وبهدف معالجتها، تم توصيفها من خلال عينات فصلية، وحددت بموجبها المؤشرات(COD، BOD5، NO3-، PO4-3، pH، TDS، EC)حيث بلغت القيمة العظمى لِـ COD والـ BOD5على التوالي mgO2/l44000،650000 وبالنظر إلى طبيعة الرشاحة وملوثاتها، فقد اختيرت تقنية التجويف الهيدروديناميكي (HDC) Hydrodynamic Cavitation وذلك بهدف تخفيض الحمل العضوي وتحطيم المركبات العضوية المعقدة فيها، بما يهيئها للمعالجات اللاحقة. تم تحقيق كفاءة إزالة بنسبة 33.33% بعد زمن تجويف 135 دقيقة بالنسبة للـ COD، في حين أنه لم يلاحظ أي تغير بالنسبة لمؤشر الـ BOD5. أظهرت النتائج أن طريقة (HDC) هي طريقة فعالة للمعالجة الأولية للرشاحة بما يؤدي إلى زيادة الكفاءة في المعالجات اللاحقة مع تخفيض في الزمن والكلف الاقتصادية

Exploring Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Towards Artificial Intelligence among Health Professions’ Students in Jordan

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medical education and practice is a significant development. This study examined the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of health professions' students in Jordan concerning AI, providing insights into their preparedness and perceptions. An online questionnaire was distributed to 483 Jordanian health professions' students via social media. Demographic data, AI-related KAP, and barriers were collected. Quantile regression models analyzed associations between variables and KAP scores. Moderate AI knowledge was observed among participants, with specific understanding of data requirements and barriers. Attitudes varied, combining skepticism about AI replacing human teachers with recognition of its value. While AI tools were used for specific tasks, broader integration in medical education and practice was limited. Barriers included lack of knowledge, access, time constraints, and curriculum gaps. This study highlights the need to enhance medical education with AI topics and address barriers. Students need to be better prepared for AI integration, in order to enable medical education to harness AI's potential for improved patient care and training. [Abstract copyright: © 2023. The Author(s).

Organic fouling in forward osmosis: A comprehensive review

Organic fouling in the forward osmosis process is complex and influenced by different parameters in the forward osmosis such as type of feed and draw solution, operating conditions, and type of membrane. In this article, we reviewed organic fouling in the forward osmosis by focusing on wastewater treatment applications. Model organic foulants used in the forward osmosis literature were highlighted, which were followed by the characteristics of organic foulants when real wastewater was used as feed solution. The various physical and chemical cleaning protocols for the organic fouled membrane are also discussed. The study also highlighted the effective pre-treatment strategies that are effective in reducing the impact of organic fouling on the forward osmosis (FO) membrane. The efficiency of cleaning methods for the removal of organic fouling in the FO process was investigated, including recommendations on future cleaning technologies such as Ultraviolet and Ultrasound. Generally, a combination of physical and chemical cleaning is the best for restoring the water flux in the FO process. 2020 by the authors.This research was funded by an NPRP grant (NPRP10-0117-170176) from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). This is the format recommended by the funding organization. Candidate S.Y. would like to acknowledge scholarship support from the University of Technology Sydney under UTS President's Scholarship and International Research Scholarship (IRP). In addition, this publication was possible by an NPRP grant (NPRP10-0117-170176) from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The findings achieved herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.Scopu

The Burden of Mental Disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990-2013

Charara R, Forouzanfar M, Naghavi M, et al. The Burden of Mental Disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990-2013. PLOS ONE. 2017;12(1): e0169575.The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is witnessing an increase in chronic disorders, including mental illness. With ongoing unrest, this is expected to rise. This is the first study to quantify the burden of mental disorders in the EMR. We used data from the Global Burden of Disease study (GBD) 2013. DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) allow assessment of both premature mortality (years of life lost-YLLs) and nonfatal outcomes (years lived with disability-YLDs). DALYs are computed by adding YLLs and YLDs for each age-sex-country group. In 2013, mental disorders contributed to 5.6% of the total disease burden in the EMR (1894 DALYS/100,000 population): 2519 DALYS/100,000 (2590/100,000 males, 2426/100,000 females) in high-income countries, 1884 DALYS/100,000 (1618/100,000 males, 2157/100,000 females) in middle-income countries, 1607 DALYS/100,000 (1500/100,000 males, 1717/100,000 females) in low-income countries. Females had a greater proportion of burden due to mental disorders than did males of equivalent ages, except for those under 15 years of age. The highest proportion of DALYs occurred in the 25-49 age group, with a peak in the 35-39 years age group (5344 DALYs/100,000). The burden of mental disorders in EMR increased from 1726 DALYs/100,000 in 1990 to 1912 DALYs/100,000 in 2013 (10.8% increase). Within the mental disorders group in EMR, depressive disorders accounted for most DALYs, followed by anxiety disorders. Among EMR countries, Palestine had the largest burden of mental disorders. Nearly all EMR countries had a higher mental disorder burden compared to the global level. Our findings call for EMR ministries of health to increase provision of mental health services and to address the stigma of mental illness. Moreover, our results showing the accelerating burden of mental health are alarming as the region is seeing an increased level of instability. Indeed, mental health problems, if not properly addressed, will lead to an increased burden of diseases in the region

Burden of musculoskeletal disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990–2013: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

Moradi-Lakeh M, Forouzanfar MH, Vollset SE, et al. Burden of musculoskeletal disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990–2013: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2017;76(8):annrheumdis-2016-210146

Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017

Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2—to end preventable child deaths by 2030—we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends. Here we quantified, for the period 2000–2017, the subnational variation in mortality rates and number of deaths of neonates, infants and children under 5 years of age within 99 low- and middle-income countries using a geostatistical survival model. We estimated that 32% of children under 5 in these countries lived in districts that had attained rates of 25 or fewer child deaths per 1,000 live births by 2017, and that 58% of child deaths between 2000 and 2017 in these countries could have been averted in the absence of geographical inequality. This study enables the identification of high-mortality clusters, patterns of progress and geographical inequalities to inform appropriate investments and implementations that will help to improve the health of all populations

Mapping child growth failure across low- and middle-income countries

Child growth failure (CGF), manifested as stunting, wasting, and underweight, is associated with high 5 mortality and increased risks of cognitive, physical, and metabolic impairments. Children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face the highest levels of CGF globally. Here we illustrate national and subnational variation of under-5 CGF indicators across LMICs, providing 2000–2017 annual estimates mapped at a high spatial resolution and aggregated to policy-relevant administrative units and national levels. Despite remarkable declines over the study period, many LMICs remain far from the World Health 10 Organization’s ambitious Global Nutrition Targets to reduce stunting by 40% and wasting to less than 5% by 2025. Large disparities in prevalence and rates of progress exist across regions, countries, and within countries; our maps identify areas where high prevalence persists even within nations otherwise succeeding in reducing overall CGF prevalence. By highlighting where subnational disparities exist and the highest-need populations reside, these geospatial estimates can support policy-makers in planning locally 15 tailored interventions and efficient directing of resources to accelerate progress in reducing CGF and its health implications