Writing Strategies use: Arabic as a foreign Language in Sri Lankan context

Research on writing strategy use in Arabic as a foreign language is still in starting point. Few studies have contracted on essay written in Arabic as a final product and illustrated deficiencies that surfaced.  This study investigated the writing strategies employed by 6 learners in Fathih institute of Sri Lanka (FISL). Qualitative research conducted through the think aloud protocol; observation and retrospective interview for provide the facts.  Performance results on pilot study revealed that proficient learner employed varieties of writing strategies rather than average learner and less proficient learners on their essay writing task. The findings revealed that there is still a lot to be done to improve the Arabic writing skill of Sri Lankan learners. The implications of the results are that, teachers need to rethink about the problems that average and less proficient students were encountered and then try to figure out a way to help them. Also, need to help them how to make their place and organize their opinions more reasonably in writing activities. Keywords: Arabic Language, cognitive, essay, writing strategy, foreign languag

Smoking Behavior among Coronary Heart Disease Patients in Jordan: A Model from a Developing Country

The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of cigarette smoking before and after diagnosis of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), detect the reasons that discourage quitting smoking and resources of advice about quitting, and investigate the relationship between smoking behaviors and demographic variables. A convenient sample of 300 CHD patients from cardiac outpatient clinics participated. Before disease occurrence, nonsmokers composed 40% of all participants, former smokers 11.7%, and current smokers 48.3%. Surprisingly, after disease occurrence only 29.7% of the patients quit smoking, while 60.7% continued smoking, and 9.6% relapsed. The most frequent reasons given by smokers for not quitting smoking were “do not incline to stop smoking” (25.6%) and “craving for a cigarette” (25%). Doctors were cited most frequently as the reason individuals quit smoking (19.0%). The Jordanian health care system needs to implement systematic intensive smoking cessation programs to maintain and promote CHD patients’ motivation to quit smoking

Multi-Modal Digital Impressions For Palatal Defects

INTRODUCTION: This in-vitro study investigated limitations of intra-oral scanners (IOS) in capturing palatal defects at decreased mouth openings. The trueness and precision of composite 3D-printed models from Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and IOS were measured.METHODS: A partially dentate palatal defect model was scanned with IOS (3M™TrueDefinition) at various simulated mouth openings. Five silicone impressions were poured in gypsum. Scans were taken using 3M™TrueDefinition; Planmeca Planscan®, n=5 each. Model was scanned on two CBCT (PlanmecaProFace®; Accuitomo170®CBCT, n=5 each). Geomagic®Control2014™ was used to create composite-models merging CBCT with IOS. Thirty composite-models were 3D-printed. Trueness and precision were measured. Pearson Correlation Coefficients measured correlation between mouth opening and data capture. Data analysed using Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and ANOVA. Statistical significance inferred when p⟨0.05.RESULTS: Mouth openings ⟨20mm, IOS didn't capture information of soft tissue. Increased mouth opening positively correlated with increased data capture(r=0.93, p=0.001). AccuitomoCBCT and TrueDefinition IOS composite-models had the highest (trueness) and [precision](median (IQR) 0.172 mm(0.062-0.426)); [mean [SD] 0.080 mm [0.008]]. Casts had the lowest results (median (IQR) 0.289 mm(0.119-1.565));[mean [SD] 0.338 mm [0.089]](p⟨0.001).CONCLUSION: Mouth opening ⟨20mm resulted in insufficient data capture by IOS for clinical applications. Composite digital models showed promising trueness and precision results.</p

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SALICYLALDOXIME, CYSTEINE AND BENZOTRIAZOLE AS INHIBITORS FOR THE ACTIVE CHLORIDE-BASED CORROSION OF COPPER AND BRONZE ARTIFACTS

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of salicylaldoxime and cysteine as potential replacements to benzotriazole, the widely used but environmentally unfriendly and not always effective copper corrosion inhibitor. Coupons of modern copper, 5% tin bronze, and 12% tin bronze samples were corroded using an accelerated electrochemical procedure, which involved anodically polarizing the coupons in a solution of 0.5M NaCl + 0.1M CuCl2.2H2O. X-ray diffraction analysis of the corrosion products showed the presence of copper (I) chloride (CuCl) on the surfaces of the three reference materials. Tin (IV) oxide (SnO2) was also detected on the surface of the 12% tin bronze.The interaction of the corrosion inhibitors with the corrosion products was investigated by visual examination and scanning electron microscopy. Benzotriazole and salicylaldoxime formed a surface adherent and aesthetically acceptable green complexes for the corroded copper and bronze, while cysteine formed grey patches that cover the green corrosion on copper and bronze. Accelerated corrosion in an environmental chamber of high relative humidity and temperature (84% RH and 38oC) showed that salicylaldoxime was the most effective inhibitor for the three reference materials against corrosion in these severe environmental conditions. However, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy's results showed that the benzotriazole was the most effective inhibitor in chloride solutions, and that the effective of cysteine increases with the increase of tin content in the alloy. It was concluded that salicylaldoxime presented a relevant and effective corrosion inhibitor for most conservation applications on corroded copper and bronze, while cysteine presented an environmentally friendly replacement for benzotriazole to protect uncorroded or previously treated by reduction back to metal artifacts

Impact of adding palatal rugae to complete dentures on patient satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life: A randomized crossover clinical trial

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The addition of palatal rugae to complete dentures has been suggested to improve the satisfaction of patients with different oral functions. However, clinical studies to support these claims are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this randomized, single-blind, 2-period crossover trial was to assess the satisfaction of edentulous patients and their oral health impact profile when provided with complete dentures with palatal rugae compared with a polished palate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Edentulous patients aged 45 to 80 years, with no relevant medical conditions, seeking complete dentures at a university hospital between May and July 2019 were recruited. Each participant received new complete dentures. After a 1-week adaptation period, the participants were randomly allocated to 2 sequences through a computer-generated sequence. In the first sequence, palatal rugae were added to the complete dentures, and after 2 months, the palatal rugae were removed and the dentures used for another 2 months. In the second sequence, the opposite sequence was followed: polished palate first and palatal rugae second. After each period, a blinded dentist asked participants to rate their general satisfaction on a 100-mm visual analog scale (primary outcome) and to rate their satisfaction regarding eating, taste perception, speaking, phonetics, and ease of cleaning. Participants were also asked to fill the 20-item oral health impact profile for edentulous patients (OHIP-EDENT). The paired sample t test and the Wilcoxon test were used (α=.05). RESULTS: Fifty participants were randomized, of whom 6 dropped out. No significant differences were found between ratings for the 2 palatal contours in terms of general satisfaction 2.32 (95% confidence interval: -3.65 to 8.29, P=.438), eating 1.70 (95% confidence interval: -4.05 to 7.46, P=.554), taste perception 0.57 (95% confidence interval -5.04 to 6.17, P=.839), phonetics 1.48 (95% confidence interval -4.46 to 7.41, P=.618), or speaking 3.68 (95% confidence interval: -1.92 to 9.28, P=.192). However, satisfaction with ease of cleaning dentures with palatal rugae was significantly less 12.16 (95% confidence interval: 6.81 to 17.50, P.05), except for the frequency of mealtime interruption (P=.041), which was reported to increase when rugae had been provided. CONCLUSIONS: Complete dentures with palatal rugae were not perceived to improve patient satisfaction or oral health-related quality of life. However, they were perceived to be more difficult to clean and to increase frequency of interruptions during eating

Genetic analysis of four consanguineous multiplex families with inflammatory bowel disease

Background: Family studies support a genetic predisposition to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), but known genetic variants only partially explain the disease heritability. Families with multiple affected individuals potentially harbour rare and high-impact causal variants. Long regions of homozygosity due to recent inbreeding may increase the risk of individuals bearing homozygous loss-of-function variants. This study aimed to identify rare and homozygous genetic variants contributing to IBD. Methods: Four families with known consanguinity and multiple cases of IBD were recruited. In a family-specific analysis, we utilised homozygosity mapping complemented by whole-exome sequencing. Results: We detected a single region of homozygosity shared by Crohn's disease cases from a family of Druze ancestry, spanning 2.6 Mb containing the NOD2 gene. Whole-exome sequencing did not identify any potentially damaging variants within the region, suggesting that non-coding variation may be involved. In addition, affected individuals in the families harboured several rare and potentially damaging homozygous variants in genes with a role in autophagy and innate immunity including LRRK1, WHAMM, DENND3, and C5. Conclusion: This study examined the potential contribution of rare, high-impact homozygous variants in consanguineous families with IBD. While the analysis was not designed to achieve statistical significance, our findings highlight genes or loci that warrant further research. Non-coding variants affecting NOD2 may be of importance in Druze patients with Crohn's disease

Fixed-Parameter Algorithms in Analysis of Heuristics for Extracting Networks in Linear Programs

We consider the problem of extracting a maximum-size reflected network in a linear program. This problem has been studied before and a state-of-the-art SGA heuristic with two variations have been proposed. In this paper we apply a new approach to evaluate the quality of SGA\@. In particular, we solve majority of the instances in the testbed to optimality using a new fixed-parameter algorithm, i.e., an algorithm whose runtime is polynomial in the input size but exponential in terms of an additional parameter associated with the given problem. This analysis allows us to conclude that the the existing SGA heuristic, in fact, produces solutions of a very high quality and often reaches the optimal objective values. However, SGA contain two components which leave some space for improvement: building of a spanning tree and searching for an independent set in a graph. In the hope of obtaining even better heuristic, we tried to replace both of these components with some equivalent algorithms. We tried to use a fixed-parameter algorithm instead of a greedy one for searching of an independent set. But even the exact solution of this subproblem improved the whole heuristic insignificantly. Hence, the crucial part of SGA is building of a spanning tree. We tried three different algorithms, and it appears that the Depth-First search is clearly superior to the other ones in building of the spanning tree for SGA. Thereby, by application of fixed-parameter algorithms, we managed to check that the existing SGA heuristic is of a high quality and selected the component which required an improvement. This allowed us to intensify the research in a proper direction which yielded a superior variation of SGA

Corporate Social Responsibility and Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs): Management Perceptions from IFIs in Bahrain

Islamic finance is gaining greater attention in the finance industry, and this paper analyses how Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) are responding to the welfare needs of society. Using interview data with managers and content analysis of the disclosures, this study attempts to understand management perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in IFIs. A thorough understanding of CSR by managers, as evident in the interviews, has not been translated fully into practice. The partial use of IFIs’ potential role in social welfare would add further challenges in the era of financialisation

Observation of the Ankle and Evidence for a High-Energy Break in the Cosmic Ray Spectrum

We have measured the cosmic ray spectrum at energies above $10^{17}$ eV using the two air fluorescence detectors of the High Resolution Fly's Eye experiment operating in monocular mode. We describe the detector, PMT and atmospheric calibrations, and the analysis techniques for the two detectors. We fit the spectrum to models describing galactic and extragalactic sources. Our measured spectrum gives an observation of a feature known as the ``ankle'' near $3\times 10^{18}$ eV, and strong evidence for a suppression near $6\times 10^{19}$ eV.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures. To appear in Physics Letters B. Accepted versio

Seatbelt use and risk of major injuries sustained by vehicle occupants during motor-vehicle crashes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

BackgroundIn 2004, a World Health Report on road safety called for enforcement of measures such as seatbelt use, effective at minimizing morbidity and mortality caused by road traffic accidents. However, injuries caused by seatbelt use have also been described. Over a decade after publication of the World Health Report on road safety, this study sought to investigate the relationship between seatbelt use and major injuries in belted compared to unbelted passengers.MethodsCohort studies published in English language from 2005 to 2018 were retrieved from seven databases. Critical appraisal of studies was carried out using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) checklist. Pooled risk of major injuries was assessed using the random effects meta-analytic model. Heterogeneity was quantified using I-squared and Tau-squared statistics. Funnel plots and Egger's test were used to investigate publication bias. This review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42015020309).ResultsEleven studies, all carried out in developed countries were included. Overall, the risk of any major injury was significantly lower in belted passengers compared to unbelted passengers (RR 0.47; 95%CI, 0.29 to 0.80; I-2=99.7; P=0.000). When analysed by crash types, belt use significantly reduced the risk of any injury (RR 0.35; 95%CI, 0.24 to 0.52). Seatbelt use reduces the risk of facial injuries (RR=0.56, 95% CI=0.37 to 0.84), abdominal injuries (RR=0.87; 95% CI=0.78 to 0.98) and, spinal injuries (RR=0.56, 95% CI=0.37 to 0.84). However, we found no statistically significant difference in risk of head injuries (RR=0.49; 95% CI=0.22 to 1.08), neck injuries (RR=0.69: 95%CI 0.07 to 6.44), thoracic injuries (RR 0.96, 95%CI, 0.74 to 1.24), upper limb injuries (RR=1.05, 95%CI 0.83 to 1.34) and lower limb injuries (RR=0.77, 95%CI 0.58 to 1.04) between belted and non-belted passengers.ConclusionIn sum, the risk of most major road traffic injuries is lower in seatbelt users. Findings were inconclusive regarding seatbelt use and susceptibility to thoracic, head and neck injuries during road traffic accidents. Awareness should be raised about the dangers of inadequate seatbelt use. Future research should aim to assess the effects of seatbelt use on major injuries by crash type