Evaluating tools to support a new practical classification of diabetes: excellent control may represent misdiagnosis and omission from disease registers is associated with worse control.

To conduct a service evaluation of usability and utility on-line clinical audit tools developed as part of a UK Classification of Diabetes project to improve the categorisation and ultimately management of diabetes

A gravity independent vapor absorption refrigerator

Design evaluation of vapor absorbing refrigerator systems operating independently of gravit

The Spatial Identity of Historic Cairo, Part one: Typology, Geometry, and Geographic Distribution

It is fundamental to maintain the local places’ identity, character and trajectory of evolution in order to create a sustainable process of urbanization.This study introduces a quantitative inventory of urban spaces in Cairo, in the early 19th century, extracted from historic maps and indexes. Urban spaces are classified in terms of geometric typology (linear and central), geometric regularity of their footprints, sizes and geographical distribution.The extracted information highlighted the quantitative domination of linear spaces and of irregularity in space footprint. It also showed a noticeable insignificant value of central spaces. However, the insignificant value of central spaces presented spatial identity of power demonstration in historic Cairo; irregularity and linearity presented sociocultural and economic identities

The protective role of melatonin on L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis in adult male albino rats

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease that has an increasing incidence worldwide. AP is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates ranging 15–40% in its severe form. Oxidative stress plays an important role in pancreatic acinar cell injury in case of AP. Melatonin (Mel) is proven to have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of the work was to investigate the protective role of Mel against L-arginine (L-arg)-induced AP in adult male albino rats. Materials and methods: Thirty-six adult male albino rats were used in this study. Animals were divided into four groups; Control group (Group A; n = 6), Mel group (Group B; n = 6), L-arg group (Group C; n = 12) receiving two doses of L-arg injection with 1 h interval in-between, and L-arg+Mel group (Group D; n = 12) receiving Mel 1 h after each L-arg injection. 24 h after the second L-arg injection, the serum levels of amylase (AM), lipase (LP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined. Then, pancreatic specimens were processed for histological and immunohistochemical staining with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the area percentage of VEGF and collagen content were measured by digital image analysis. Results: Microscopic examination revealed that animals received L-arg only (Group C) showed loss of the pancreatic lobular architecture with marked fibrosis, acinar degeneration, inflammatory reaction and marked oedema with vascular congestion. Also, L-arg-induced AP caused a significant elevation of the serum levels of AM, LP, IL-6. All these histo-pathological and serological parameters were markedly improved by Mel administration. Conclusions: Melatonin exhibits strong therapeutic effects in the course of AP. Hence, the use of Mel as adjuvant treatment in AP is recommended.

Wiring Nanoscale Biosensors with Piezoelectric Nanomechanical Resonators

Nanoscale integrated circuits and sensors will require methods for unobtrusive interconnection with the macroscopic world to fully realize their potential. We report on a nanoelectromechanical system that may present a solution to the wiring problem by enabling information from multisite sensors to be multiplexed onto a single output line. The basis for this method is a mechanical Fourier transform mediated by piezoelectrically coupled nanoscale resonators. Our technique allows sensitive, linear, and real-time measurement of electrical potentials from conceivably any voltage-sensitive device. With this method, we demonstrate the direct transduction of neuronal action potentials from an extracellular microelectrode. This approach to wiring nanoscale devices could lead to minimally invasive implantable sensors with thousands of channels for in vivo neuronal recording, medical diagnostics, and electrochemical sensing

ZnO nanobelt based conductometric H2 and NO2 gas sensors

Conductometric H2 and NO2 gas sensors based on single-crystalline ZnO nanobelt sensitive layers have been developed. These layers were deposited using a rf magnetron sputterer. TEM and SEM characterization methods were employed to study the morphology of the nanobelts. These sensors were exposed to H2 and NO2 gases at operating temperatures between 225degC and 420degC. Study showed that sensors responded with highest magnitude at above 300degC. The fastest response and recovery times, with greater repeatability occurred at 385degC and 350degC for H2 and NO2 gases, respectively. Sensor with ZnO nanobelts has a much lower optimum operational temperature than that of conductometric sensors with other forms of ZnO crystal layers

Impact of Palestinian EFL Teachers' Attitudes toward Oral Errors on Their Students' Attitudes and Choice of Error Treatment Strategies

Thesis advisor: Audrey FriedmanThis mixed-method study, combining both qualitative and quantitative procedures, aimed at investigating the impact of Palestinian EFL teachers' attitudes toward oral errors on their students' attitudes and choice of oral error correction strategies. The study sample consisted of (151) high elementary and secondary school Palestinian EFL teachers and (774) of their students, distributed proportionately between males and females. Both groups responded to a teacher and a student questionnaire respectively. The sample also included (12) teacher participants, each of whom was observed and interviewed twice in the course of the study, and (12) student participants, each of whom took part in two focus group interviews. Data obtained from different sources (i.e. case study vignettes, questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, and observations) provided significant evidence that the majority of both Palestinian EFL teachers and students had positive attitudes toward oral errors and their correction as they generally agreed that error correction was necessary for the enhancement of language teaching and learning. However, the data also revealed some discrepancy between students and teachers regarding what, how often, when, how, and by whom errors should be corrected. The study also showed that although students wanted to improve their accuracy in English to be well prepared for accuracy-oriented formal tests, the majority of them preferred not to be marked down on every error they made. Further, the study revealed that different error correction strategies had different cognitive, affective, and behavioral impacts on different students. The study recommends that both EFL teachers and learners develop more positive attitudes toward oral errors and their correction. In addition, teachers should have at their disposal a wide variety of error correction strategies to be able to deal more appropriately and effectively with student oral errors. The study also recommends that teachers get the right amount and timing of error correction for each individual student preferences, language proficiency, personality type, and learning styles, which cannot be achieved without the teachers having a dialogic interaction with their students and students being able to voice up what their perceptions of and preferences for oral error correction strategies are, what errors they want to be corrected, and who should correct them.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2010.Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education.Discipline: Teacher Education, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction