Inclusion of Muslim Students in Ontario Public Education: A Qualitative Inquiry of Elementary School Principals

In order to include Muslim students in Ontario schools, inclusive principals are expected work to understand the inclusion of Muslim students in order to grant them with equal recognition and opportunities as other students in schools. In Ontario, school principals can influence students’ learning and achievement through their leadership role and through their routine duties for leading schools, enacting policies, and ensuing quality of instruction at schools. As leaders, principals can enhance the inclusion of Muslim students through working with staff and teachers, and creating working conditions that support Muslim students learning. Ontario policies call for inclusion of all students through maintaining a sense of well-being and ensuring that students reach their full potential, as well as, promoting respect, inclusive education, and eliminating discriminatory biases and power dynamics that hinder students’ learning and growth. This dissertation examines how principals include Muslim students in public elementary schools in Ontario. I utilize a qualitative case study approach and employ semi-structured interviews with public elementary school principals in Ontario, focusing on four main themes: their understanding of the inclusion of Muslim students; the strategies they employed to include Muslim students; the challenges they experienced as they worked to include Muslim students in their schools; and the resources available for principals to include Muslims students. My study shows that when it comes to inclusion of Muslim students in public elementary schools, principals’ understanding ranges in between two categories on a continuum, i.e., less-inclusion and inclusion. Principals understanding of inclusion of Muslim students affect their actions, and actions are then explored within three dimensions: (a) the strategies principals engaged in to include Muslim students, (b) the supports principals took to help include them, and (c) the ways principals viewed, and therefore, acted upon the challenges. I argue that principals in this study work towards the inclusion of Muslim students by challenging their personal assumptions and accepting that the world may favor some groups over others. As well, principals in this study work towards inclusion by accepting that Muslim students have learning needs that are different than other students, that Muslims are part of the society we live in, and that in order to include Muslim students, principals need to include this group in all school activities. I later speak to how my study serves as an initial step at determining where gaps exist in terms of principal’s work on including Muslim students in public elementary schools. And, how the findings from my study may help enhance principals’ practices in regards to working with Muslim students in Ontario public schools. Voices of Ontario elementary school principals is the main theoretical contribution in this study. I aim to share my work principals in Ontario through organized sessions and presentations. The dissertation also provides recommendations, contributions, and next steps for future research in this area. On a personal level, my study helped me become a dynamic leader by opening my eyes to alternative aspects of inclusive education. Further research on this topic should be the next step for my work

A Free Exchange e-Marketplace for Digital Services

The digital era is witnessing a remarkable evolution of digital services. While the prospects are countless, the e-marketplaces of digital services are encountering inherent game-theoretic and computational challenges that restrict the rational choices of bidders. Our work examines the limited bidding scope and the inefficiencies of present exchange e-marketplaces. To meet challenges, a free exchange e-marketplace is proposed that follows the free market economy. The free exchange model includes a new bidding language and a double auction mechanism. The rule-based bidding language enables the flexible expression of preferences and strategic conduct. The bidding message holds the attribute-valuations and bidding rules of the selected services. The free exchange deliberates on attributes and logical bidding rules for automatic deduction and formation of elicited services and bids that result in a more rapid self-managed multiple exchange trades. The double auction uses forward and reverse generalized second price auctions for the symmetric matching of multiple digital services of identical attributes and different quality levels. The proposed double auction uses tractable heuristics that secure exchange profitability, improve truthful bidding and deliver stable social efficiency. While the strongest properties of symmetric exchanges are unfeasible game-theoretically, the free exchange converges rapidly to the social efficiency, Nash truthful stability, and weak budget balance by multiple quality-levels cross-matching, constant learning and informs at repetitive thick trades. The empirical findings validate the soundness and viability of the free exchange

EFFECT OF OILS, SURFACTANTS AND COSURFACTANTS ON PHASE BEHAVIOR AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SELF-NANOEMULSIFYING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM (SNEDDS) FOR IRBESARTAN AND OLMESARTAN

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to optimize the different conditions for the preparation of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) for both Irbesartan (IRB) and Olmesartan (OLM). Methods: Based on solubility study and emulsification efficiency, Preliminary investigations of various oils, surfactants and cosurfactants were carried out for selection of the proper SNEDDS ingredients. Pseudoternary phase diagrams were then plotted using series of concentrations to obtain optimum SNEDDS components that identify the efficient self-nanoemulsifying region. Sixteen unloaded SNEEDS formulae were prepared using Capryol 90, Cremophor RH 40 and Transcutol HP as oil, surfactant and cosurfactant respectively. The prepared SNEDDS were evaluated for self-nanoemulsification time, the effect of dilution (with different volumes at different pH values), optical clarity, viscosity, droplet size analysis as well as the polydispersity index (PDI). SNEDDS formulae were also evaluated for thermodynamic stability and zeta potential to confirm the stability of the prepared SNEDDS. Results: The results showed that the mean droplet size of all reconstituted SNEDDS was found to be in the nanometric range (<100 nm) and showed optimum PDI values. All formulae also showed rapid emulsification time, good optical clarity and found to be highly stable. Formulae with the smallest particle size, lowest emulsification time, best optical clarity and robust to dilution and pH change were selected to be loaded with IRB and OLM for further study. Conclusion: It was concluded that the prepared self-emulsified prototype was ready to incorporate many poorly soluble drugs in order to improve their solubility as well as bioavailability profile. Keywords: Irbesartan, Olmesartan, Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS), Capryol 90, Cremophor RH 40 and Transcutol HP

Identification and detection of antibiotic susceptibility of the most common anerobes causing infection in surgical hospital, Faculty of Medicine Zagazig University, Egypt

Objectives: Anaerobic infections are considered to be the most difficult organisms to be identified in the microbiology laboratory. It requires strict conditions, proper sampling , long time and laboratory skills. In addition most of them are mixed infections having both aerobic and anaerobic organisms. Choice of the proper antibiotic for treating these anaerobes is live saving for the patient.Methods: Identification of anaerobic organisms using MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry) as a recent tool for identification together with API 20A (as a reference method). Antibiotic susceptibility test was done for the anaerobic isolates using Agar Dilution Method. With the the most commonly used antibiotic in our hospital which are Amoxacillin/Clavulonic acid, clindamycin, metronidazole and Imipenem.Results: Anaerobic infections constitutes 21.7% of total 249 specimen from different surgical departments. Bacteroids spp. (41%) were the most prevalent anaerobic organisms followed by peptostreptococcus (26.9%). MALDI TOF MS system and API achieved 100% agreement for identification of Porphoryomonas spp. and Fusobacterium, while near results were obtained for other isolates. Bacteroid spp. shows the highest rate of resistance to clindamycin (69%). Excellent results were obtained for Imipenem and metronidazole. Most of resistance to Amoxacillin/Clavulonic acid is related to Bacteroid spp. and Fusobacterium spp.Conclusion: MALDI TOF MS System is a useful tool for identification of. Anerobes are showing higher rates of resistance to commonly used antibiotics thus detection of resistant strains is vital for proper selection of antibiotics.Keywords: Anaerobes, MALDI TOF System, API 20, Agar Dilution Method, Zagazi

Value of Oxygenation Index in Selecting Neonates for Thoracoscopic Repair of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Introduction: The major obstacles for routine application of thoracoscopic repair for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CHH) in neonates include intraoperative hypercarbia, acidosis and conversion to open surgery. Therefore, strict preoperative selection criteria should be followed for successful primary thoracoscopic repair of the diaphragm and achievement of minimal conversion rate. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted from April 2016 to March 2018, where all neonates confirmed to have CDH were assessed by a specialized anaesthesia team for the possibility of undergoing thoracoscopic repair. In order to assess the severity of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH), oxygenation index (OI) was used and babies who had OI <5 were considered to have mild pulmonary hypertension; and consequently underwent thoracoscopic repair. Results: Twenty nine CDH cases met the selection criteria; hence, they underwent thoracoscopic repair. Primary diaphragmatic repair was successfully performed thoracoscopically in all neonates without perioperative complication. Conversion to open repair occurred in 3 cases, with causes related to surgical factors. Recurrence was discovered in 1 case only. Conclusion: While choosing candidates for thoracoscopic CDH repair in neonates, OI is a reliable indicator as it clarifies neonates who have good preoperative pulmonary functio

The Epidemiology of Circulating Rotavirus Associated with Diarrhea in Egyptian Kids and Calves: A Review

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) induced by rotavirus has been a major disease burden in Egypt since 1981 when rotavirus was first reported in humans and calves. Genome segmentation facilitates the emergence of new virus serotypes, which allows reassortment during mixed infections, and is a characteristic feature of the family Reoviridae to which rotavirus belongs. The rotavirus genome involves 11 double-stranded RNA gene segments encoding 6 non-structural (NSP1–6) and 6 structural (VP1–4, VP6, VP7) proteins. Rotavirus A has a zoonotic potential associated with diarrhea. The primary strategy for prevention and control of bovine and human rotavirus infections is vaccination; however, routine rotavirus vaccination has not been implemented in the National Immunization Program. We evaluated studies published over the last 30 years that pertained to the epidemiology of circulating rotavirus genotypes among children, calves, and environmental samples in Egypt. The analysis revealed a rotavirus prevalence of 15%–100%, with diarrhea occurring throughout the year, but generally peaking during the cold months. G1 was the predominant genotype in children, followed by G2, G3, G4, G8, G9, and G12 throughout the study duration. Mixed infections were also detected. G6 was the predominant genotype in calves, followed by G10. There are still gaps in knowledge regarding molecular data of rotavirus infections in humans, animals, and environmental samples in Egypt, as well as the zoonotic potential of rotavirus disease. Therefore, it is critical to continue rotavirus surveillance in Egypt to further understand the epidemiology of rotavirus infections and the emerging new genotypes

High-throughput retrotransposon-based genetic diversity of maize germplasm assessment and analysis

Maize is one of the world’s most important crops and a model for grass genome research. Long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons comprise most of the maize genome; their ability to produce new copies makes them efficient high-throughput genetic markers. Inter-Retrotransposon-Amplified Polymorphisms (IRAPs) were used to study the genetic diversity of maize germplasm. Five LTR retrotransposons (Huck, Tekay, Opie, Ji, and Grande) were chosen, based on their large number of copies in the maize genome, whereas polymerase chain reaction primers were designed based on consensus LTR sequences. The LTR primers showed high quality and reproducible DNA fingerprints, with a total of 677 bands including 392 polymorphic bands showing 58% polymorphism between maize hybrid lines. These markers were used to identify genetic similarities among all lines of maize. Analysis of genetic similarity was carried out based on polymorphic amplicon profiles and genetic similarity phylogeny analysis. This diversity was expected to display ecogeographical patterns of variation and local adaptation. The clustering method showed that the varieties were grouped into three clusters differing in ecogeographical origin. Each of these clusters comprised divergent hybrids with convergent characters. The clusters reflected the differences among maize hybrids and were in accordance with their pedigree. The IRAP technique is an efficient high-throughput genetic marker-generating method.Peer reviewe