Best Approximation from the Kuhn-Tucker Set of Composite Monotone Inclusions

Kuhn-Tucker points play a fundamental role in the analysis and the numerical solution of monotone inclusion problems, providing in particular both primal and dual solutions. We propose a class of strongly convergent algorithms for constructing the best approximation to a reference point from the set of Kuhn-Tucker points of a general Hilbertian composite monotone inclusion problem. Applications to systems of coupled monotone inclusions are presented. Our framework does not impose additional assumptions on the operators present in the formulation, and it does not require knowledge of the norm of the linear operators involved in the compositions or the inversion of linear operators

Bacteriological assessment of urban water sources in Khamis Mushait Governorate, southwestern Saudi Arabia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Urban water sources of Khamis Mushait Governorate, southwestern Saudi Arabia, were studied to assess their bacteriological characteristics and suitability for potable purposes. A cross-sectional epidemiological method was adopted to investigate the four main urban water sources (i.e. bottled, desalinated, surface, and well water). These were sampled and examined between February and June 2007.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 95 water samples from bottled, desalinated, surface, and well water were collected randomly from the study area using different gathering and analysing techniques. The bacteriological examination of water samples included the most probable number of presumptive coliforms, faecal coliforms, and faecal streptococci (MPN/100 ml). The results showed that the total coliform count (MPN/100 ml) was not detected in any samples taken from bottled water, while it was detected in those taken from desalinated, surface, and well water: percentages were 12.9, 80.0, and 100.0, respectively. Faecal coliforms were detected in desalinated, surface, and well water, with percentages of 3.23, 60.0 and 87.88, respectively. About 6.45% of desalinated water, 53.33% of surface water, and 57.58% of well water was found positive for faecal streptococci. Colonies of coliforms were identified in different micro-organisms with various percentages.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Water derived from traditional sources (wells) showed increases in most of the investigated bacteriological parameters, followed by surface water as compared to bottled or desalinated water. This may be attributed to the fact that well and surface water are at risk of contamination as indicated by the higher levels of most bacteriological parameters. Moreover, well water is exposed to point sources of pollution such as septic wells and domestic and farming effluents, as well as to soil with a high humus content. The lower bacteriological characteristics in samples from bottled water indicate that it is satisfactory for human drinking purposes. Contamination of desalinated water that is the main urban water source may occur during transportation from the desalination plant or in the house reservoir of the consumer. Improving and expanding the existing water treatment and sanitation systems is more likely to provide safe and sustainable sources of water over the long term. Strict hygienic measures should be applied to improve water quality and to avoid deleterious effects on public health, by using periodical monitoring programmes to detect sewage pollution running over local hydrological networks and valleys.</p

Cardiovascular medication adherence among patients with cardiac disease: a systematic review

© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Aims: The aim of this study was to critically appraise and synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of interventions suitable for delivery by nurses, designed to enhance cardiac patients' adherence to their prescribed medications. Background: Cardiac medications have statistically significant health benefits for patients with heart disease, but patients' adherence to prescribed medications remains suboptimal. Design: A systematic quantitative review of intervention effects. Data Sources: We conducted systematic searches for English-language, peer-reviewed randomized controlled trial publications via Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, ProQuest, Web of Science and Google Scholar published between January 2004–December 2014. Review methods: According to pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria, eligible studies were identified and data extracted using a predefined form. Of 1962 identified papers; 14 studies met the study inclusion criteria, were assessed for risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration tool; and included in the review. Results: Study findings were presented descriptively; due to the heterogeneity of studies meta-analysis was not possible. Included papers described interventions categorized as: (1) multifaceted; and (2) behavioural and educational, comprising: (a) text message and mail message; (b) telephone calls; (c) motivational interviewing and (d) nurse-led counselling and education. Conclusions: Substantial heterogeneity limited the robustness of conclusions, but this review indicated that motivational interviewing, education and phone or text messaging appeared promising as means to enhance cardiac medication adherence. Future research should integrate multifaceted interventions that target individual behaviour change to enhance adherence to cardiovascular medications, to build on the beneficial outcomes indicated by this review

Behaviour change interventions to improve medication adherence in patients with cardiac disease: Protocol for a mixed methods study including a pilot randomised controlled trial

© 2017 Australian College of Nursing Ltd Background: Suboptimal adherence to medication increases mortality and morbidity; individually tailored supportive interventions can improve patients’ adherence to their medication regimens. Aims: The study aims to use a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test the hypothesis that a theory-based, nurse-led, multi-faceted intervention comprising motivational interviewing techniques and text message reminders in addition to standard care will better promote medication adherence in cardiac patients compared to standard care alone. The pilot study will assess self-reported adherence or non-adherence to cardiovascular medication in patients referred to a cardiac rehabilitation program following hospital admission for an acute cardiac event and test the feasibility of the intervention. The study will examine the role of individual, behavioural and environmental factors in predicting medication non-adherence in patients with CVD. Methods: This is a mixed- methods study including a nested pilot RCT. Twenty-eight cardiac patients will be recruited; an estimated sample of nine patients in each group will be required for the pilot RCT with 80% power to detect a moderate effect size at 5% significance, and assuming 50% loss to follow-up over the six month intervention. Participants will complete a paper-based survey (Phase one), followed by a brief semi-structured interview (Phase two) to identify their level of adherence to medication and determine factors predictive of non-adherence. Participants identified as ‘non-adherent’ will be eligible for the pilot randomised trial, where they will be randomly allocated to receive either the motivational interview plus text message reminders and standard care, or standard care alone. Discussion: Nurse-led multi-faceted interventions have the potential to enhance adherence to cardiac medications. The results of this study may have relevance for cardiac patients in other settings, and for long-term medication users with other chronic diseases

Medication adherence and predictive factors in patients with cardiovascular disease: A cross-sectional study

© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd Adherence to cardiac medications makes a significant contribution to avoidance of morbidity and premature mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. This quantitative study used cross-sectional survey design to evaluate medication adherence and contributing factors among patients with cardiovascular disease, comparing patients who were admitted to a cardiac ward (n = 89) and those attending outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (n = 31) in Australia. Data collection was completed between October 2016 and December 2017. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted to identify medication adherence and determine factors independently predictive of medication adherence. Participants from cardiac rehabilitation had significantly lower adherence to cardiac medications than those recruited from the cardiac ward (58.1 vs 64.0%, respectively). Self-efficacy was significantly associated with participants' medication adherence in both groups. The ability to refill medications and beliefs about cardiac medications were independently significantly predictive of cardiac medication adherence. These findings indicate areas where clinical nurses could expand their role to improve cardiac patients' medication self-management

Examining perceived and actual diabetes knowledge among nurses working in a tertiary hospital

© 2017 Background With the worldwide increase in the incidence and prevalence of diabetes, there has been an increase in the scope and scale of nursing care and education required for patients with diabetes. The high prevalence of diabetes in Saudi Arabia makes this a particular priority for this country. Aim The aim of this study was to examine nurses’ perceived and actual knowledge of diabetes and its care and management in Saudi Arabia. Methods A convenience sample of 423 nurses working in Prince Sultan Medical Military City in Saudi Arabia was surveyed in this descriptive, cross-sectional study. Perceived knowledge was assessed using the Diabetes Self-Report Tool, while the Diabetes Basic Knowledge Tool was used to assess the actual knowledge of participants. Results The nurses generally had a positive view of their diabetes knowledge, with a mean score (SD) of 46.9 (6.1) (of maximum 60) for the Diabetes Self-Report Tool. Their actual knowledge scores ranged from 2 to 35 with a mean (SD) score of 25.4 (6.2) (of maximum of 49). Nurses’ perceived and actual knowledge of diabetes varied according to their demographic and practice details. Perceived competency, current provision of diabetes care, education level and attendance at any diabetes education programs predicted perceived knowledge; these factors, with gender predicted, with actual diabetes knowledge scores. Conclusion In this multi-ethnic workforce, findings indicated a significant gap between participants’ perceived and actual knowledge. Factors predictive of high levels of knowledge provide pointers to ways to improve diabetes knowledge amongst nurses

Potential anticancer effect of prostratin through SIK3 inhibition

Prostratin, a phorbol ester natural plant compound, has been demonstrated to exert an anti‑retroviral effect through activation of latent cluster of differentiation (CD)4+T lymphocytes and inhibition of viral entry into the cell through downregulation of chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) expression. However, the potential effect of prostratin on cancer is yet to be defined. As CXCR4 is well known to induce cancer migration, it was hypothesized that prostratin induces an anti‑cancer effect through inhibition of CXCR4 expression. The authors previously demonstrated that high stimulating conditions (sub‑minimal IL‑17, 0.1 ng/ml, synergized with high salt, Δ0.05 M NaCl) promote breast cancer cell proliferation and CXCR4 expression through upregulation of salt‑inducible kinase (SIK)‑3. The present study demonstrated that prostratin selectively exerted increased cytotoxicity (IC50 of 7 µM) when breast cancer cells were cultured in high stimulating conditions, compared with regular basal culture conditions (IC50 of 35 µM). Furthermore, the cytotoxic potential of prostratin was increased seven‑fold in the four breast cancer cell lines (MCF‑7, MDA‑MB‑231, BT‑20 and AU‑565) compared with the non‑malignant MCF10A breast epithelial cell line. This suggested that prostratin specifically targets cancer cells over normal cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that prostratin inhibited CXCR4 expression in breast cancer cells through downregulation of SIK3 expression. Overall, the data suggest that prostratin is a novel drug target for the pro‑oncogenic factor SIK3. These studies could form a basis for further research to evaluate the anticancer effect of prostratin in a combinatorial chemotherapeutic regimen

A technical and marketing analysis of nanocrystalline Ni-W coating for oil and gas industry applications

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 2009.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 68-69).Nanocrystalline nickel-tungsten is a new metallic coating technology developed at MIT in the laboratory of Professor Christopher Schuh in 2005. The new coating technology utilizes a special electrodeposition process to achieve precise control of synthesized nanocrystalline coating structure and resulting properties. This method can produce coatings with enhanced properties including excellent corrosion, wear, and heat resistance in addition to being health and environmentally friendly. At a competitive price along with an efficient coating process, it is anticipated that this coating technology will have high impact on the functional coating industry. This will hopefully lead to future development of other nanocrystalline coating systems. This project focuses on the technology technical and marketing analysis with particular emphasis on the oil and gas industry. The evaluation involves assessing the technology value, highlighting potential applications, comparing with competing technologies and developing commercialization strategies. A comprehensive technical evaluation plan was outlined in order to insure coating suitability for the intended market applications and provide assurance to future clients. This thesis also analyzes several business model strategies to penetrate the oil and gas coating market and proposes what is believed to be the most efficient strategy. Based on the proposed strategy, a detailed cost model is presented to estimate the cost of production and determine pricing options. Finally, several economic outcome scenarios are presented based on the estimated market size and future demands.by Waleed L. Alotaibi.M.Eng