Development of MIS Courses through knowledge Management: An e-learning project for Online Delivery by the Ministry of Education in Jordan

In this era of information, traditional practices, technologies, skills, and knowledge are becoming obsolete at a much faster pace than ever before. The technological pace and the advent of the knowledge society will set in the next years the new context for e-learning evolution. This makes lifelong learning a necessity for everyone. An e-learning project is a promising solution to the demand for a flexible means of delivering knowledge to educate a large number of people over a vast area. MIS-Online project is an e-learning project in ministry of education in Jordan. The main objective of the project is to develop e-materials based on the curriculum of the Management Information Stream (MIS), which is an academic stream in the secondary schools. The adopted pedagogical model is project-based learning, through the development of different scenarios that link to different them

A new four-dimensional hyper-chaotic system for image encryption

Currently, images are very important with the rapid growth of communication networks. Therefore, image encryption is a process to provide security for private information and prevent unwanted access to sensitive data by unauthorized individuals. Chaos systems provide an important role for key generation, with high randomization properties and accurate performance. In this study, a new four-dimensional hyper-chaotic system has been suggested that is used in the keys generation, which are utilized in the image encryption process to achieve permutation and substitution operations. Firstly, color bands are permuted using the index of the chaotic sequences to remove the high correlation among neighboring pixels. Secondly, dynamic S-boxes achieve the principle of substitution, which are utilized to diffuse the pixel values of the color image. The efficiency of the proposed method is tested by the key space, histogram, and so on. Security analysis shows that the proposed method for encrypting images is secure and resistant to different attacks. It contains a big key space of (2627) and a high sensitivity to a slight change in the secret key, a fairly uniform histogram, and entropy values nearby to the best value of 8. Moreover, it consumes a very short time for encryption and decryption

Nano-Magnetic Catalyst CaO-Fe3O4 for Biodiesel Production from Date Palm Seed Oil

A nanocatalyst of CaO supported by Fe3O4 magnetic particles was prepared by a chemical precipitation method. It was characterized by various techniques including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM); Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Hammett indicator. It has been found that the catalyst consists of CaO and Fe3O4 accompanied by CaFe2O4. This composite catalyst was used for the catalytic transesterification of palm seed oil. The results revealed that the highest biodiesel yields for palm seed oil of 69.7% can be obtained under the conditions of (65 °C reaction temperature, 300 min reaction time, 20 methanol/oil molar ratio, and 10 wt.% of CaO/Fe3O4 catalyst loading). The physicochemical properties of the biodiesel produced from palm seed oil were further studied and compared with the ASTM and the EN biodiesel specifications. The results showed that the properties of the biodiesel produced comply with the international standard specifications.

Osteolytic clear cell meningioma of the petrous bone occurring 36 years after posterior cranial fossa irradiation: Case report

Objective and importance While bone invasion and hyperostosis are frequent phenomena in meningiomas, primary intraosseous meningiomas are rare and their occurrence in the skull base is an extraordinary exception. Moreover, radiation-induced meningiomas represent a unique clinical dilemma given the fact that patients with these tumors had often received a prior full course of radiotherapy. Clinical presentation A 42-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of progressively worsening facial asymmetry. His medical history was consistent for a posterior cranial fossa irradiation at the age of 6 years for a non-confirmed brain stem tumor. On admission his Karnofsky performance status was graded as 50% and his neurological examination showed a complete right facial nerve paralysis and hearing impairment. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an osteolytic tumor invading the whole right petrous bone without intracranial involvement. Intervention As the tumor reached the external auditory canal, a tissue sample was obtained locally. Pathological examination of the lesion identified a grade II clear cell meningioma and the patient was consequently addressed for an intensity modulated radiation therapy. His condition remained unchanged till the most recent follow-up examination, 8 months later. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, a radiation induced osteolytic clear cell meningioma of the petrous bone has not been previously reported. As little literature exists regarding the use of adjuvant therapies for these tumors, intensity modulated radiation therapy remains an attractive treatment option in case of pervious irradiation and general status alteration

Effect of hydrogen peroxide on the oxidative burst of neutrophils in pigs and ruminants

Background and Aim: Neutrophils represent between 20% and 75% of white blood cells in animals and play a key role in an effective immune response. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is commonly referred to as an oxidative burst and is crucial under healthy and disease conditions. Interestingly, ROS are emerging as regulators of several neutrophil functions, including their oxidative burst. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of hydrogen peroxide on the oxidative burst of neutrophils, collected from domestic animal species (namely, pig, cattle, and sheep), and exposed to different stimuli. Materials and Methods: A total of 65 slaughtered animals were included in the present study: Twenty-two pigs, 21 cattle, and 22 sheep. Blood samples were collected at bleeding and neutrophils were then purified using ad hoc developed and species-specific protocols. Neutrophils were treated with hydrogen peroxide at micromolar-to-millimolar concentrations, alone, or combined with other stimuli (i.e., opsonized yeasts, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate). The generation of ROS was evaluated using a luminol-derived chemiluminescence (CL) assay. For each animal species, data were aggregated and reported as mean area under curve±standard deviation. Finally, data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's post hoc test. Results: Exposure of bovine and ovine neutrophils to hydrogen peroxide alone resulted in a dose-dependent enhancement of the CL response, which was significantly stronger at its highest concentration and proved particularly prominent in sheep. Opsonized yeasts and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate both proved capable of stimulating the generation of ROS in all animal species under study. Hydrogen peroxide negatively modulated the oxidative burst of neutrophils after exposure to those stimuli, observed response patterns varying between pigs and ruminants. Porcine neutrophils, pre-exposed to micromolar concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, showed a decreased CL response only to opsonized yeasts. Conversely, pre-exposure to hydrogen peroxide reduced the CL response of ruminant neutrophils both to yeasts and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, the effect being most prominent at 1 mM concentration. Conclusion: These results indicate that hydrogen peroxide is capable of modulating the oxidative bursts of neutrophils in a species-specific and dose-dependent manner, substantial differences existing between pigs and ruminants. Further investigation is required to fully comprehend such modulation, which is crucial for the proper management of the generation of ROS under healthy and disease conditions

Initial single centre experiences of a radiographer advanced practitioner led nephrostomy exchange programme

PURPOSE: To evaluate the technical success, radiation dose, complications and costs from the introduction of a radiographer-led nephrostomy exchange service. METHODS: Post-graduate qualified interventional radiographers with several years’ experience in performing other interventional procedures began performing nephrostomy exchanges. Training was provided by an interventional radiologist. Each radiographer performed ten procedures under direct supervision followed by independent practice with remote supervision. Each radiographer was then responsible for the radiological report, discharge, re-referral for further exchange and, where indicated, sending urine samples for culture and sensitivity. Data extraction included the time interval between exchanges, radiation dose/screening time and complications. RESULTS: Thirty-eight long-term nephrostomy patients had their histories interrogated back to the time of the initial insertion. The mean (range) age at nephrostomy insertion was 67 (35-93) years and 65% were male. Indications for nephrostomy were prostatic or gynaecological malignancy, ureteric injury, bulky lymphoma and post-transplant ureteric stricture. A total of 170 nephrostomy exchanges were performed with no statistically differences in the radiation dose, fluoroscopy time nor complication rates between consultants and radiographers. There was, however, a statistical reduction in the time interval between nephrostomy exchanges for the radiographer group (P=0.022). CONCLUSION: Interventional radiographers can provide a safe, technically successful nephrostomy exchange program with radiation doses equivalent to radiologists. This is a cost-effective solution to the capacity issues faced in many departments, whilst providing career progression, job satisfaction and possibly improved care. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Radiographer-led interventional services should be considered by other institutions as a means of providing effective nephrostomy exchanges

In situ observation of stress relaxation in epitaxial graphene

Upon cooling, branched line defects develop in epitaxial graphene grown at high temperature on Pt(111) and Ir(111). Using atomically resolved scanning tunneling microscopy we demonstrate that these defects are wrinkles in the graphene layer, i.e. stripes of partially delaminated graphene. With low energy electron microscopy (LEEM) we investigate the wrinkling phenomenon in situ. Upon temperature cycling we observe hysteresis in the appearance and disappearance of the wrinkles. Simultaneously with wrinkle formation a change in bright field imaging intensity of adjacent areas and a shift in the moire spot positions for micro diffraction of such areas takes place. The stress relieved by wrinkle formation results from the mismatch in thermal expansion coefficients of graphene and the substrate. A simple one-dimensional model taking into account the energies related to strain, delamination and bending of graphene is in qualitative agreement with our observations.Comment: Supplementary information: S1: Photo electron emission microscopy and LEEM measurements of rotational domains, STM data of a delaminated bulge around a dislocation. S2: Movie with increasing brightness upon wrinkle formation as in figure 4. v2: Major revision including new experimental dat

Operational performance of a PV generator feeding DC shunt and induction motors with MPPT

This paper presented the transient and operational behavior of a parallel Combination of DC Shunt Motor and IM fed by a photovoltaic generator at different solar irradiance levels. The maximum power point of current/voltage (I/V) characteristic of the PV generator was achieved for different solar intensities, by utilizing an open circuit voltage method. The nonlinear operational behavior of (I/V) characteristics of the PV generator at various solar intensities and the magnetization curve of the ferromagnetic material of the DC shunt motor were both modeled by high order polynomial mathematical expressions. The study investigated the response of the system at different solar irradiance levels and changing the torque loads for both motors and then following step change in solar intensity levels with fixed loading torques for both motors. All numerical simulations were executed using MATLAB software

Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma displays abnormalities in homologous recombination and nucleotide excision repair

OBJECTIVE: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) continues to be a disease associated with high mortality. Among the factors leading to poor outcomes are innate resistance to currently available therapies, advanced stage at diagnosis, and complex biology. Platinum and ionizing radiation form the backbone of treatment for the majority of patients with EAC. Of the multiple processes involved in response to platinum chemotherapy or ionizing radiation, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) repair has been a major player in cancer sensitivity to these agents. DNA repair defects have been described in various malignancies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether alterations in DNA repair are present in EAC compared with normal gastroesophageal tissues. METHODS: We analyzed the expression of genes involved in homologous recombination (HR), nonhomologous end-joining, and nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathways in 12 EAC tumor samples with their matched normal counterparts. These pathways were chosen because they are the main pathways involved in the repair of platinum- or ionizing-radiation-induced damage. In addition, abnormalities in these pathways have not been well characterized in EAC. RESULTS: We identified increased expression of at least one HR gene in eight of the EAC tumor samples. Alterations in the expression of EME1, a structure-specific endonuclease involved in HR, were the most prevalent, with messenger (m)RNA overexpression in six of the EAC samples. In addition, all EAC samples revealed decreased expression of at least one of numerous NER genes including XPC, XPA, DDB2, XPF, and XPG. CONCLUSION: Our study identified DNA repair dysregulation in EAC involving two critical pathways, HR and NER, and is the first demonstration of EME1 upregulation in any cancer. These DNA repair abnormalities have the potential to affect a number of processes such as genomic instability and therapy response, and the consequences of these defects deserve further study in EAC

Congenital Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Suckling Piglet

A 3-week-old suckling piglet spontaneously died after septicemic colibacillosis. At postmortem examination, bulging and ulcerated lesions were seen, affecting the oral mucosa on the inner surface of the lower lip. After histopathological investigation, the diagnosis of congenital oral squamous cell carcinoma was made. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of congenital oral squamous cell carcinoma ever described. A relationship has been shown or suggested between papillomavirus infection and oral squamous cell carcinoma in humans and animals. However, next-generation sequencing study did not demonstrate any papillomavirus sequences in the case reported herein