A Faculty-Based Approach to Engaging University Alumni

Alumni engagement is widely defined as the level of relationship graduates have with their alma maters. Universities have an opportunity to leverage benefits from having strong connections with their alumni. Furthermore, graduates generally have a stronger affinity to the academic departments they graduated from than to the universities where these departments are based. Additionally, the fiscal and regulatory pressures facing Canadian universities within the province of Ontario highlight the advantages that come with having an engaged alumni community. The Problem of Practice (PoP) investigated in this Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) is the lack of alumni engagement within a faculty of business at an Ontario-based university and the negative impact it has on students, faculty members, staff, alumni, and external partners. The change process undertaken to close the gap in alumni engagement within the organization is described, as well as several possible solutions for improving alumni engagement. As the Director of Student Engagement and Alumni Development for this business faculty, my thinking is influenced by having a social constructivist view. A good example is my focus on stakeholder engagement and leveraging the knowledge that it provides. I also have the agency to enact the change process and apply authentic, shared, and transformational leadership approaches to close the gap that results from the PoP. The aim of the OIP is to mobilize stakeholders across academic departments within the university and achieve the envisioned future state of enjoying a stronger relationship between alumni and their alma mater. Keywords: alumni engagement, leadership, faculty, social constructivism, universities, organizational chang

In-situ stress analysis of southwest Saskatchewan

Scenarios developed by the National Energy Board of Canada predict that Canadian unconventional gas production, including coalbed methane (CBM), may be required to meet Canadian energy demands by the year 2008, and could constitute up to 65% of supply by 2025. Although there has been considerable CBM exploration and development in Alberta in recent years, there has been relatively limited activity in Saskatchewan.The in-situ stress regime can have a strong influence on coal bed methane (CBM) production, coal permeability, hydraulic fracturing pressure, and borehole stability while drilling horizontal wells. A limited number of stress regime analyses have been conducted previously on a regional scale, for the entire Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB), but none has been conducted with a focus on Saskatchewan. The primary objective of this study was to investigate in-situ stress magnitudes and orientations in southwestern Saskatchewan. The secondary objective was to quantify the influence of in-situ stresses on operational practices that would be used to exploit CBM targets.Analysis of vertical stress magnitudes and gradients were conducted using bulk density data compiled for 257 wells in southwest Saskatchewan. Vertical stress magnitudes calculated at the base of the Belly River Formation in the region where its CBM potential is greatest were found to be in the 6 to 12 MPa range. Vertical stress magnitudes at the top of the Mannville Group in the region where its CBM potential is greatest were found to be in the 12 to 18 MPa range. Data available for interpretation of minimum horizontal stress magnitudes were considerably more limited. A technique was developed to estimate these magnitudes using fracture stimulation data, which were available for the Viking Formation and Mannville Groups. Using this technique, minimum horizontal stress magnitudes at the top of the Mannville Group in the region of greatest interest were estimated to be 10 to 14 MPa. The results of these analyses suggest that depth is a dominant controlling factor for minimum horizontal stress magnitude, but that pore pressures (sub-normal pressures cause lower stresses) and lithology (shaley rocks, and perhaps coals, have higher stresses) also have notable effects. Insufficient data were obtained for direct estimation of minimum horizontal stresses in the Belly River Formation. Minimum horizontal stress magnitudes in this formation might be quite close to vertical stress magnitudes.Borehole breakouts were analyzed to interpret the orientation of maximum horizontal stress (¥òHmax) in the study area. The mean orientation of the mean borehole breakouts gives a 137¨¬ with a circular standard deviation of 12¨¬, which parallels the minimum horizontal stress in the study area with a notable inflection overlying the Swift Current platform. The data is portrayed in a trajectory map. The trajectories indicated on the map can be used for predicting the orientation of induced hydraulic fractures, and the likely orientation of face cleats in coals. Knowledge of the orientations of these features is essential to effective development of CBM resources.Based on the stress and pore pressure data presented in this thesis, it is anticipated that minimum effective stresses in the Belly River coals will typically be a few MPa, and up to 10 MPa in the Mannville coals. A very rough estimate of permeabilities based on the data compiled for various Canadian coals suggests that permeabilities could be in the 0.01 to 10 millidarcy range for the former, and 0.01 to 1 millidarcy range for the latter. Borehole stability analyses were conducted for both the Belly River Formation and the Mannville Group. The results suggest that horizontal drilling of the Mannville coals should be feasible, without the need for high-density drilling muds. Given that the Belly River coals occur in numerous thin seams, they are most likely to be developed using vertical wells. Borehole instability is not likely to be a major problem in these vertical wells.Recommendations are provided for laboratory investigation of coal permeabilities and mechanical properties, field testing for minimum horizontal stress magnitudes in coal seams and adjacent strata, and additional analysis of existing fracture stimulation, log and core data for strata not analyzed in this project

Horizontal stress rotation due to reservoir depletion.

The principal stress rotations axes are observed due to fluid injection into reservoirs, hydrocarbon production, and around the fractures during wellbore stimulation operation and faults. Local stress fields around the fractures will change during reservoir depletion due to the fluid flow and deformation induced by fractures mechanical interference. The stress rotation is controlled by the magnitude of anisotropic stress, which is dependent on several reservoir and material properties. The angle of stress rotation itself manifests the physical response of a reservoir to fluid injection or depletion. The stress reorientation depends on the magnitude of the initial differential stress, the material properties of the formation, and the reservoir development, such as injection rate and fluid temperature. Thus, if stress rotations are observed and a sufficient amount of reservoir properties are known, the information can improve geological reservoirs geomechanical characterization. The factors that lead to horizontal stress reorientation include Formation permeability, injection rates, the opening of hydraulic fracture, and production of fluids in the reservoir. This study addressed depletion in an idealized finite reservoir, using Finite Element Method (FEM), where a reservoir is bounded by an impermeable fault that acts as a barrier to fluid flow. The authors believe that there are two reasons why changes in the reservoir pressure may be the cause of apparent stress rotations near faults. First is a case where the orientation of maximum horizontal stress in a reservoir appears to change with time, and second, the stress orientations followed the local strike of the reservoir bounding faults

ASSESSMENT OF THE RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES AMONG HEALTHY WITHOUT DIABETES IN SUDAN USING THE FINDRISC TOOL

Background and objective: Diabetes is increasingly recognized as a serious public health concern worldwide. The risk assessment of type 2 diabetes can be done through a risk questionnaire that provides an accurate, low-cost, educational and time-effective method for this. By early identification of people at risk of developing diabetes and if it is confirmed that they are in the pre-diabetes stage, adequate care is provided to them through lifestyle interventions or even hypoglycemic drugs if needed, thus delaying or preventing their progression to diabetes. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) among healthy Sudanese without diabetes in Khartoum. Methods: A cross-sectional study from Nov 2016-March 2017 comprising 122 adult participants, age (>20 yrs) visiting the garden yard located at airport street at Khartoum district without a diagnosis of T2DM was carried out. The risk of developing T2DM was assessed using the validated and widely used Finish diabetes risk score (FINDRISC) Total Risk Score of each participant was analysed and compared. Knowledge assessment tool and Anthropometric measurements were also used. Results: 122 participated in the study, the mean age of the participants was 31.55 ± 10.122, the mean BMI was 25.718 ± 5.813 and the mean of waist circumstances 90.2 ± 16.63. Estimated risk of developing T2DM in 10 years of study for participants according to FINDRISC, only 3.3% have a high risk.The risk factors for the participants in the study for developing DM type 2 were 66.4% has positive family history, 44.3% were overweight or obese, has 41.8% limited physical activity and 27.9% has central obesity. The pattern of vegetables and fruits daily intake according to FINDRISC only 36.1% from participants. Significant positive correlation (r= 0.395, p=0.000) High risk score of FINDRISC is >14, Estimated age: Y=24.1+ (0.9x15) = 37.9≈38years.Significant positive correlation (r= 0.6, p=0.000) High risk score of FINDRISC is > 14, Estimated BMI: Y= 19.24+ (0.8x15) = 31 Kg/ m2. Conclusion: The knowledge about diabetes risk factors, classical symptoms and common complication was not satisfactory. None of the “at high” risk had their risk further investigated. While 25% adapted health their lifestyle. Large scale studies to test the validity of FINDRISC in Sudanese population should be conducted. Development of Sudanese population specific risk score that take into count the local risk factors is warranted.                     Peer Review History: Received 12 July 2020; Revised 10 August; Accepted 26 August, Available online 15 September 2020 Academic Editor: Dr. Muhammad Zahid Iqbal, AIMST University, Malaysia, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Prof. Dr. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, [email protected] Dr. Tanveer Ahmed Khan, Hajvery University, Lahore, Pakistan, [email protected] Similar Articles: EFFECTS OF EMODIN ON BLOOD GLUCOSE AND BODY WEIGHT IN TYPE 1 DIABETIC RATS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIABETES MELLITUS AND TUBERCULOSIS IN REVIEW OF PREVALENCE, DIAGNOSTICS AND PREVENTION PLASMA FERRITIN AND HEPCIDIN LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITU

Antioxidant activity of different extracts of red pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) seed

Antioxidant activity of three different extracts (ethanolic, chloroformic, and hexanic) of red flesh pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) seed using free radical scavenging assay, linoleic acid model system, and ferric thiocyanate (FTC) method was determined. Ethanolic extract inhibit 74.76% of free radicals at 1000 μg/mL, while chloroformic extract gave the highest inhibition using linoleic acid model system (98.90% at 100 μg/mL) and FTC (96.34%) method. Total phenolic and ascorbic acid contents of the seed were 13.56 ± 2.04 and 0.36 ± 0.01 mg/g, respectively, while catechin was the major flavonoid detected. In conclusion, the study showed that both polar and non-polar compounds contribute to the antioxidative activity measured

Automatic mapping of concrete strength in structural element

Collapses of structure under construction can be prevented if quality control is practiced at sites. The strength uniformity of reinforced concrete structure element cast on site depends on the level of compaction of the fresh concrete. The whole element should be checked and mapped so that localized defect can be detected and removal of formwork can be stopped if applicable. A portable and quick way to check and map the uniformity and the strength of concrete has been developed utilizing the use of pressure wave and signal processing techniques. An echo is introduced to the sample by dropping a small steel ball from a certain height from the concrete surface. The impact generates stress wave, which propagate through the concrete. The accelerometer receives the wave and changes the display from time to frequency domain. The highest observed frequency is determined as the depth frequency. The velocity is calculated as CP = 2fD. Hundreds of specimens were tested. The relationship between the strength and the velocity is correlated. From correlation equation, the strength of concrete can be estimated within 10% error (Hamid et al, 2004). The mapping process is done automatically in computer-generated program. Signal-processing techniques were used to compute the data; Fourier Transform to translate a time-series signal into frequency domain, concrete strength calculation, interpolation technique and a Graphic User Interface (GUI) to complete the mapping algorithms

Advancing the technology development for better quality wood plastic composites: process ability study

Wood Plastic Composites (WPC) have advantages over natural wood such as improved stiffness, recyclability, and waste minimization. However, issues such as the difficulty of processing WPC with conventional methods, volatile emission from the wood and the composites??? lack of strength must be addressed. A system for continuous extrusion of rectangular profiles of WPC was developed and some critical processing strategies were identified. The use of a lubricant and a calibrator also improved the profile extrusion of WPC. In this work, glass was also added to improve WPC???s mechanical strength. Generally, a glass content of 2.5% appears to improve the properties but further addition does not have a significant effect. Foaming of WPC, which can enhance their properties, was investigated through studying the effect of heating time and temperature on void fraction and cell density

1D and 2D NMR studies of 2–(2–(BENZYLOXY)–3–METHOXYPHENYL)–1H–BENZIMIDAZOLEF

The reaction of Benzyl o–vanillin 1 and o–phenylene diamine 2 in dichloromethane produced new benzimidazole, 3. The complete assignments of 3 were made using 1D and 2D NMR including COSY, HMQC and HMBC NMR in CDCl3 and acetone–d6. The coupling constants J are reported in Hertz, and the differences in the peak splittings using both solvents are discusse

1D and 2D NMR studies of BENZYL O–VANILLIN

The reaction of o–vanillin A with benzyl bromide B2 in acetone as the solvent and K2CO3 as a base in the presence of tetra–n–butylammonium iodide (TBAI) as catalyst formed benzyl o–vanillin, C. The complete assignments of C using PROTON, APT, DEPT–135, COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC NMR in both CDCl3 and acetone–d6 are discussed, and the coupling constants J are reported in Hertz (Hz)

Determinants of corporate demand for Islamic insurance in Malaysia

This study is the first attempt to empirically investigate the determinants of corporate demand for Islamic insurance (takaful) using data from main board of public listed companies at Bursa Malaysia. Factors like leverage, growth opportunities, expected bankruptcy costs, company size, managerial ownership, tax considerations and regulated effects have been examined in this study. The data covers a five-year period from year 2002 – 2006. The findings show that leverage, expected bankruptcy costs, tax considerations, company size, and managerial ownership play an important role in determining the corporate demand for Islamic insurance in Malaysia. Our conclusions are robust to alternative specifications model of GLS with Fixed Effects that help us to control for unobservable heterogeneity