Increasing the Fine Structure Visibility of the Hinode SOT Ca II H Filtergrams

We present the improved so-called Madmax (OMC) operator selecting maxima of convexities computed in multiple directions around each pixel rewritten in MatLab and shown to be very efficient for pattern recognition. The aim of the algorithm is to trace the bright hair-like features (for ex. chromospheric thin jets or spicules) of solar ultimate observations polluted by a noise of different origins. This popular spatial operator uses the second derivative in the optimally selected direction for which its absolute value has a maximum value. Accordingly, it uses the positivity of the resulting intensity signal affected by a superposed noise. The results are illustrated using a test artificially generated image and real SOT (Hinode) images are also used, to make your own choice of the sensitive parameters to use in improving the visibility of images.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figurs, submitted in Solar Physic

Induction of the cell survival kinase Sgk1: A possible novel mechanism for α-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone in experimental stroke.

Nitrones (e.g. α-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone; PBN) are cerebroprotective in experimental stroke. Free radical trapping is their proposed mechanism. As PBN has low radical trapping potency, we tested Sgk1 induction as another possible mechanism. PBN was injected (100 mg/kg, i.p.) into adult male rats and mice. Sgk1 was quantified in cerebral tissue by microarray, quantitative RT-PCR and western analyses. Sgk1+/+ and Sgk1-/- mice were randomized to receive PBN or saline immediately following transient (60 min) occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Neurological deficit was measured at 24 h and 48 h and infarct volume at 48 h post-occlusion. Following systemic PBN administration, rapid induction of Sgk1 was detected by microarray (at 4 h) and confirmed by RT-PCR and phosphorylation of the Sgk1-specific substrate NDRG1 (at 6 h). PBN-treated Sgk1+/+ mice had lower neurological deficit ( p < 0.01) and infarct volume ( p < 0.01) than saline-treated Sgk1+/+ mice. PBN-treated Sgk1-/- mice did not differ from saline-treated Sgk1-/- mice. Saline-treated Sgk1-/- and Sgk1+/+ mice did not differ. Brain Sgk3:Sgk1 mRNA ratio was 1.0:10.6 in Sgk1+/+ mice. Sgk3 was not augmented in Sgk1-/- mice. We conclude that acute systemic treatment with PBN induces Sgk1 in brain tissue. Sgk1 may play a part in PBN-dependent actions in acute brain ischemia

A Study of the PDGF Signaling Pathway with PRISM

In this paper, we apply the probabilistic model checker PRISM to the analysis of a biological system -- the Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) signaling pathway, demonstrating in detail how this pathway can be analyzed in PRISM. We show that quantitative verification can yield a better understanding of the PDGF signaling pathway.Comment: In Proceedings CompMod 2011, arXiv:1109.104

Attitudes among young adults in Palestine about peers with substance use problems: Challenges and opportunities for community intervention design

Social reintegration is necessary to support people in recovery from addiction, but it is often difficult in Palestine due to stigma. Bin Hussein’s instrument for measuring receptivity to social reintegration in various contexts in Saudi Arabia was employed for comparison in the West Bank. Data were collected in 2013 at Al-Quds University at the Abu Dis campus. More than half of the respondents have moderate attitudes toward social reintegration of people in recovery. There were no significant relationships between perceptions about social reintegration and gender, age, year in college, area of academic focus, and form of residence. Implications are discussed.The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article

Justification of Urgent Brain CT Examinations at Medium Size Hospital, Jerusalem

We studied requested urgent Brain CT Scan procedures justification. In addition, we addressed referrer’s (physician’s) awareness of radiation risks. In doing so, we considered two aspects to the issue. First, we reviewed the records of the requested urgent CT scan procedures for a sample of 339 patients at Al-Maqassed Hospital, a major hospital in Palestine. Secondly, we surveyed a sample of forty-two referrer’s from the same hospital to test their awareness of radiation risks. Our study shows that out of the 339 urgent brain CT requests, 69.6% were justified requests and 30.4% were unjustified. Statistically, these observations implied the following general statement: At least, 25% of the CT requests at this Hospital are unjustified with a p-value of 0.011. On the other hand, our survey on referrers shows that 42% of respondents knew the effective dose of a brain CT scan, 24% of respondents knew the radiation risks and 14% of respondents knew about radiation protection. Although the study is limited, yet it shows the need to reduce the number of brain CT examinations and the need to improve their justification. Consequently, the need for regular education and guideline implementation at least in this country is of paramount importance

A focus group study of patient’s perspective and experiences of type 2 diabetes and its management in Jordan

Background: Diabetes is increasingly becoming a major health problem in Jordan and glycemic goals are often not achieved. Objective: To explore the patients’ perspectives regarding type 2 diabetes and its management in order to ‘‘fine-tune” future pharmaceutical care intervention programs. Method: Focus groups method was used to explore views from individuals with type 2 diabetes attending outpatient diabetes clinic at the Royal Medical Services Hospital. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results: A total of 6 focus groups, with 6 participants in each one, were conducted. Participants in the present study demonstrated a great information needs about diabetes and the prescribed treatment. Medication regimen characteristics including rout of administration, number of prescribed medications and dosage frequency in addition to perceived side effects represented the major barriers to medication adherence. In addition to demonstrating negative beliefs about the illness and the prescribed medications, participants showed negative attitudes and low self-efficacy to adhere to necessary self-care activities including diet, physical activity and self-monitoring of blood glucose. Conclusion: Future pharmaceutical care interventions designed to improve patients’ adherence and health outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes should consider improving patients’ understanding of type 2 diabetes and its management, simplifying dosage regimen, improving patient’s beliefs and attitudes toward type 2 diabetes, prescribed medications and different self-care activities in addition to improving patient’s self efficacy to perform different treatment recommendations.Acknowledgement The authors also wish to express their sincere appreciation to all medical staff at the diabetes clinic in the Royal Medical Services Hospital. Funding There was no external funding for this study

Structuring effect of tools conceptualized through initial goal fixedness for work activity

Analysis of work activities in nuclear industry has highlighted a new psycho-cognitive phenomenon: the structuring effect of tools (SET) sometimes leading to unexpected operating deviations; the subject is unable to perform a task concerning object A using or adapting a tool designed and presented to perform the same task concerning object B when object A is expected by the subject. Conditions to isolate and identify the SET were determined and reproduced in experiments for further analysis. Students and seven professional categories of adults (N = 77) were involved in three experimental conditions (control group, group with prior warning, group with final control) while individually performing a task with similar characteristics compared to real operating conditions and under moderate time-pressure. The results were: (1) highest performance with prior warning and (2) demonstration that academic and professional training favor the SET. After discussing different cognitive processes potentially related to the SET, we described (3) the psycho-cognitive process underlying the SET: Initial Goal Fixedness (IGF), a combination of the anchoring of the initial goal of the activity with a focus on the features of the initial goal favored by an Einstellung effect. This suggested coping with the negative effect of the SET by impeding the IGF rather than trying to increase the subjects’ awareness at the expense of their health. Extensions to other high-risk industries were discussed

Enhancing the Stretchability of Two-Dimensional Materials through Kirigami: A Molecular Dynamics Study on Tungsten Disulfide

In recent years, the 'kirigami' technique has gained significant attention for creating meta-structures and meta-materials with exceptional characteristics, such as unprecedented stretchability. These properties, not typically inherent in the original materials or structures, present new opportunities for applications in stretchable electronics and photovoltaics. However, despite its scientific and practical significance, the application of kirigami patterning on a monolayer of tungsten disulfide (WS2), a van der Waals material with exceptional mechanical, electronic, and optical properties, has remained unexplored. This study utilizes molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the mechanical properties of monolayer WS2 with rectangular kirigami cuts. We find that, under tensile loading, the WS2 based kirigami structure exhibits a notable increase in tensile strain and a decrease in strength, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of the kirigami cutting technique in enhancing the stretchability of monolayer WS2. Additionally, increasing the overlap ratio enhances the stretchability of the structure, allowing for tailored high strength or high strain requirements. Furthermore, our observations reveal that increasing the density of cuts and reducing the length-to-width ratio of the kirigami nanosheet further improve the fracture strain, thereby enhancing the overall stretchability of the proposed kirigami patterned structure of WS2.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figure

Assessment of the inhalation technique and adherence to therapy and their effect on disease control in outpatients with asthma

Objectives The objective of this study was to assess correct use of inhaler devices, adherence to inhaler corticosteroid treatment and their effects on asthma control. Methods This study was a prospective, single-centre, observational study conducted between July and February 2016 at Al-Makased Hospital, respiratory outpatient clinic. Inhaler technique of asthma patients using pressurized metered-dose inhalers or dry powder inhalers (Turbuhaler (TH) and Accuhaler DiskusTM (ACC)) were assessed against published inhaler technique checklists. Asthma control variables measured using Asthma Control Test (maximum 25, higher score corresponding to better asthma control) were assessed, and adherence to asthma medications was assessed by Morisky adherence scale. Key findings Two hundred and twenty patients were recruited in the study. The mean age was 42.3 15.2 years and 59.1% were male. One hundred and seventeen (53.2%) were using TH, 60 (27.3%) were using ACC and 43(19.5%) were using MDIs. Only 22 (10%) were smoker and only 48 (21.8%) patients were their asthma controlled (ACT score >20). The devices were used correctly by 79.1% of patients using MDI, 69% of ACC and 55.6% of TH users (P > 0.001). The most common improper step was ‘forceful inhalation’ (65.4%) made by the MDI users, ‘Not exhaling to residual volume’ (58.7%) made by ACC users and ‘Not inhaling deeply enough’ (52.2%) made by TH users. Multivariate analysis showed that the likelihood of having controlled asthma was significantly higher in those with correct inhaler techniques (OR 2.3; 95% CI: 1.08–4.77; P = 0.028), high adherence to medications (OR 2.37; 95% CI: 1.05–4.92; P = 0.03) and having a higher level of education (OR 2.58; 95% CI: 1.19–3.63; P = 0.018). Conclusions It was found that asthma control was better among correct users. Repetitive training about using devices may contribute improving inhaler technique.This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors