PARTICIPATORY design for sustainable community development. Case Study; A dates-pack-house in the Egyptian Western Desert

Over recent years, participatory design processes have been gaining momentum in the architecture field. This research analyzes the past experiences of the participatory design processes from literature and case studies to apply it on an ongoing sustainable development initiative for creating a dates pack-house in the Western Desert Oasis of El-Heiz. The aim of the development project of the dates pack-house at El-Heiz is to help achieve a more sustainable community economy. The research is done through understanding past intervention in the area, mapping the whole participatory design process (while being a design participant) in its various stages, and finally analyzing the outcomes. The methodology for mapping the process entails qualitative and quantitative assessments by being a participant observer documenting the whole process through observation, interviews, participatory action research and gathering numerical data. The project applies a triple bottom line sustainability analysis, and a critical assessment of the practicality of the building design for the operational process. This includes users’ feedback, modifications performed on the building, and the community impact. The study specifically answers questions -and raises others- about participatory design approach in architecture, while analyzing the potential of architecture in creating sustainable community economies in Egypt, especially through participatory design processes. This thesis also seeks to offer some recommendations for participatory sustainable design of community based commercial facilities

Modeling of shear deficient beams by the mixed smeared/discrete cracking approach

AbstractThis paper presents an analytical study on the modeling of shear critical reinforced concrete beams modeled using the finite element method. The paper investigates two modeling strategies; the first of which is the well established smeared cracking modeling approach. Experimental test results from a wide range of beams tested by other researchers were used for model verification. This paper presents a mixed modeling approach in which the smeared cracking model was used in conjunction with discrete cracking planes to model the concrete continuums in an effort to reach a better correlation with the experimental data. This is achieved by introducing a specific plane inclined at angles in a specified range determined as a result of matching these models’ behavior with behavior monitored in the experimental work at the suspected plane of failure for shear critical beams. Analytical results have shown that the proposed modeling approach is capable of better simulation of the observed experimental response in terms of strength and stiffness, as well as capturing the post-peak response of the tested beams. Errors have been calculated between analytical and experimental results; these errors are also acceptable within the bounds of the engineering judgment. Finally the mixed smeared/discrete cracking model is validated and can be used with a high degree of confidence to conduct further parametric studies

Classifying Web 2.0 Supported Applications By Pattern Of Usage: Functional & Technical ISSUES

The rapid evolution of Internet technologies have witnessed new Web elements, such as blogs, wikis, social networking, social bookmarking, and other related applications referred to as Web 2.0. Web 1.0 paradigm was related with passive, just receptive users, whereas Web 2.0 paradigm relies mainly on user participation and user-generated content. In Web 2.0 applications users are invited to comment, share, edit, classify, as well as remix data from multiple sources. Although there are several Web 2.0 applications in the market there is still lack of a profound approach guiding the analysis, design and development of such applications. This paper suggests classifying Web 2.0 tools by “Pattern of Usage” or in other words the functionalities that characterize their specific features. By reviewing several literatures we extracted multiple attributes related to functionalities of Web 2.0 tools. These have been crystallised into 7 patterns of usage that include; Inter-connectivity, Content authoring, Content tagging & rating, Content aggregation & syndication, Content remixing, Content streaming and File sharing. By interlinking functionality/ usage with underlying technologies, techniques and architecture we provided insight into design and technical requirements for Web 2.0 supported applications. Furthermore we broke down the patterns into basic, elementary to include Inter-connectivity, File sharing and Content remixing, and secondary, supportive to include the other four patterns. This would provide the technical core for any development methodology targeted at Web 2.0 applications

The Impact of Arabic on The Written English Performance of Second-year Students in Relation to Prepositions

تركز الدراسة الحالية على حروف الجر اللغة الانكليزية المستخدمة من قبل طلاب المرحلة الثانية في الاداء الكتابي. وبذلك ، فإن الهدف من هذه الدراسة هو  بيان مدى الصعوبات والمصادر ونطاقات الاستخدامات غير الصحيحة لهذه الحروف ومعرفة العلاقة المشتركة بين موقف الدارسين تجاه اللغة الإنكليزية وأدائهم باللغات المعنية. تفترض الدراسة أن طلاب اللغة الإنكليزية يستخدمون حروف الجر وفقًا للغتهم الأصلية. وفي هذا النهج التحليلي الوصفي، تعامل اللغة العربية كلغة مصدر والإنكليزية كلغة مستهدفة. وبالتالي، يأمل الباحثون في أن تكون هذه المعلومات أداة مفيدة للمدرسين والطلاب لتجنب الكاتبات الغير دقيقة. واستنتجت  هذه الدراسة  بأن العديد من الكتابات الخاطئة للطلاب هو بسبب تاثير لغتهم على اللغة الانكليزية مما يدفعهم لاستخدام حروف جر عشوائية عند الاداء الكتابي وايضا بسبب التراكيب اللغوية المختلفة بين اللغة العربية والانكليزية.The present study focuses on English prepositions that are used by Arab second year students of English in their written performance. Hence, the aim of the study is to show the difficulties, sources, scopes of the incorrect uses of these prepositions and to find out the co relation between learners’ attitude towards English and their performance in the target languages. It is argued in this study that the students of English use and apply the target prepositions according to their native language. In this descriptive analytical approach Arabic is treated as source language and English as target language. Consequently, the researchers hope that this piece of information will be a helpful tool for instructors of courses and the students to avoid the increasing of bad writings. Consequently, the real discovery of this work is that many of ill-formed writings of student’s performance of English are made because of the different structures of the two distinct languages and this make the students choose the propositions when needed arbitrarily.&nbsp

A linguistic study of English double negation and its realization in Arabic

The studies on multiple negation have been conducted intensively in linguistics, but very few studies have focused on multiple negation in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Although multiple negation appears in informal varieties, researchers find it an important topic for research. First, as linguists, we believe that all kinds of language varieties are worth studying. Second, the complexity of the structure of multiple negation raises queries about the difficulties that Arab students will encounter when they attempt to translate them from English to MSA. Our study focuses on double negation (DN) because, unlike other types of multiple negation, it yields a positive interpretation. This paper begins with a review of studies on multiple negation in English, MSA, and other languages, using a framework of generative grammar and the minimalist program. We then report on our empirical study of 60 randomly selected Arab students of English who were asked to translate 20 sentences containing multiple negation into MSA. To determine whether the intensity of their exposure to English would impact their understanding of these negative English structures, the students studying at levels two and four were selected. The students’ responses were quantitatively analysed. The results showed that MSA exhibits both DN and negative concord constructions. Moreover, the syntactic analyses of DN provided by Watanabe (2004) and Giannakidou (2000) concord with DN in MSA with some considerations. Additionally, all the sampled students had difficulty translating these types of sentences, indicating that intensity of exposure did not cause differences in performance

Clinical epidemiology and development of novel multilocus sequence typing scheme for candida parapsilosis associated with catheter-related bloodstream infections

Candida parapsilosis has been increasingly reported as an important pathogen causing healthcare associated infections, including catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). Given the paucity of information on this pathogen, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of C. parapsilosis CRBSI and the associated risk factors. As there is lack of genotyping method to study the molecular characteristics of C. parapsilosis, this study included the development of multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for C. parapsilosis sensu stricto population. In this study, data for 208 C. parapsilosis candidemia were collected and recorded in a standard proforma. After exclusion of 31 cases that were not catheterized, 177 episodes of C. parapsilosis candidemia were included in analysis, from which, 30 cases of CRBSI were compared to 147 non-CRBSI cases in terms of demographic, underlying diseases, invasive medical procedures, and laboratory test values. The prevalence, clinical characteristics and risk factors of C. parapsilosis CRBSIs were determined. Species identification of C. parapsilosis sensu stricto was confirmed by sequencing the ITS region of the ribosomal RNA genes. A novel MLST scheme was developed for genotyping clinical C. parapsilosis population. Five representative non-related C. parapsilosis isolates were used to test the potentially polymorphic loci for the presence of polymorphism. In MLST development phase, a number of loci were screened based on previously published MLST schemes and data from C. parapsilosis whole genome sequences. Seven most polymorphic loci were selected. Neutrality test was performed on the selected loci and discriminatory power of the scheme was determined. Genetic diversity among C. parapsilosis population and correlation with clinical outcomes and antifungal resistance were determined. Results of this study revealed that C. parapsilosis was the most predominant Candida species causing candidemia contributing to 29.2% of all candidemia cases. The prevalence of C. parapsilosis CRBSI was 14.4% of all C. parapsilosis candidemia, and 17.7% of catheterized candidemia patients. Out of 208 cases of C. parapsilosis candidemia, 30 cases were CRBSI, 112 were BSI and 66 were catheter colonizer. Intensive care unit (ICU) admission and receipt of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) were reported as independent risk factors of C. parapsilosis CRBSI. Admission in non-ICU and receipt of TPN were significantly associated with the development of C. parapsilosis CRBSI compared to non-CRBSI. Death due to C. parapsilosis candidemia was reported in 19.1% of patients. The developed MLST scheme demonstrated the ability to discriminate 19 C. parapsilosis sensu stricto strains into 15 different DSTs with a discriminatory power of 0.942. Phylogenetic analysis based on 4735 concatenated nucleotides of 19 C. parapsilosis sensu stricto strains were grouped into four clusters. The associations of C. parapsilosis DSTs with outcomes and antifungal resistance cannot be determined due to small number of strains in each genotype. In conclusion, the prevalence of C. parapsilosis candidemia was the highest among other Candida species, while the prevalence of C. parapsilosis CRBSI was low compared to all C. parapsilosis candidemia. Admission to ICU and receiving TPN were independent risk factors for C. parapsilosis CRBSI, where non-ICU admission and TPN receipt were significantly associated with development of CRBSI compared to non- CRBSI. A novel MLST scheme for C. parapsilosis has been successfully developed. This robust, highly discriminatory novel MLST scheme could be used as a molecular genotyping tool for C. parapsilosis sensu stricto strains worldwide

Role of Cyclin D1 in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Background: Hepatitis C infection is often asymptomatic but chronic infection with hepatitis C virus is associated with an increased risk for the development of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Objective: To assess the expression of cyclin D1 in liver tissues of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus and related with different parameters such as gender, age, stage of fibrosis and histological active index. Patients and Methods: Twenty one formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded liver tissue blocks were included (16 males and 5 females), age range (15-60) years. They were collected from the archives of histopathology laboratories of Hepatology and Gastroenterology Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, the present study done in department of Microbiology – College of Medicine – University of Diyala during the period from 1st August 2014 till 1st March 2015. All the samples are related to the period between 2009 to 2012. Histopathological sections were made for these liver biopsies and stained by hematoxylin and eosin stain for definitive diagnosis. The molecular detection of cyclin D1 in those tissue blocks were performed by using immunohistochemistry. Results: Distribution of 21 patients with chronic active hepatitis diagnosed by 3rd generation enzyme linked immunosorbant assay revealed that 16 were males are higher (76.19%) than females 5(23.8%). The mean age was 38 years, most infection occurs within age group 31-45 years. The majority of the liver cases were diagnosed to have histological active index was 5/18 total number was 10 cases. Among liver tissues, 5 out of 21 (23.8%) showed 1/6 and 2/6 stage of fibrosis. Expression of cycline D1 demonstrated that 16 cases was positive while 5 was negative. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between expression of cycline D1 and age, grade, HAI, but not significant with stage of fibrosis. Conclusion: Cyclin D1 play important role in development and progression of hepatitis C virus, these findings support the concept that the cell cycle regulation may play a role in initiation and development of hepatocellular carcinoma; need to be confirmed by further large scale studies

Evaluation of health-related quality of life and muscular strength in children with beta thalassemia major

Background: Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that requires repeated blood transfusions and chelation regimes. This may lead to restrictions in physical activities, social participation as well as decreased muscle strength.Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), muscular strength and pain in children with β-thalassemia major.Patients and method: One hundred and twenty children (60 with β-thalassemia major and 60 age-matched healthy) were participated in a cross-sectional study from both sexes (57 girls and 63 boys) with ages ranging from two to twelve years. HRQoL (physical, emotional, social and school functioning), muscular strength and pain were evaluated for all children by using the pediatric quality of life inventoryTM (PedsQLTM) 4.0 generic core scale, hand-held dynamometer and visual analogue scale (VAS) respectively.Results: Children with β-thalassemia major showed a significant decrease in all domains of health-related quality of life and handgrip strength with a significant increase in VAS score (p ≤ 0.0001).Conclusions: The study concluded that thalassemia as a chronic disease has a negative impact on HRQoL and muscle strength of children in different age group.Keywords: Beta thalassemia, Quality of life, Handgrip strength, childre