The Evolution of the Spatial Patterns of Traditional Islamic Cities

The purpose of this study is that if cities are to be accounted as Islamic they should be considered in the context of Islamic urban frameworks. Subsequently their spatial patterns should be conceived as the resultant of the application of these frameworks within a built environment. Implicit in undertaking this research was the conviction that spatial pattern in Traditional Islamic Cities evolved within certain urban frameworks and not, per se, space concepts and it is within that context that variety of spatial arrangements were developed, utilized to serve a prevailing religious, societal, commercial, political-administrative aspects. To achieve this purpose five main issues are addressed and later answered what Islam (1) as a religion, precepts, conducts contributed to the emergence, formation and evolution of the traditional Islamic urban system, (2) how these systems and frameworks have evolved within the changing strategies and conditions, Muslims and Islam underwent, (3) how such evolving frameworks were reflected and interpreted into built physical environment, (4) what other influencing non-human, static factors that shape these environments, (5) what underlying spatial frameworks that have governed the resultant structure, fabric, texture and the infilling of these built environments. Number of Islamic cities are used as models of analysis in this research. Closely and chronologically dealt with they assisted us to perceive the evolving pattern and to follow the various processes of formations and transformations that occurred in these cities. Further and closer investigation in surviving traditional built environment, has enabled us to highlight the underlying spatial correlations and expressions. Within these two stages, part one and two trace the evolution of the city level and show clearly that many original Islamic cities had clear organized arrangements and frameworks, but that these have been lost or neglected over time. Part three is based on two case studies of Aleppo and Cairo in order to discover the manner by which the spatial pattern worked in the "classical Islamic city". This part offer an explanation as to how the apparent chaotic pattern of the urban grain which today characterises the Islamic city, comes about and concludes that it is not random but obeys a recognisable set of systems based on reasonable spatial idiom. The work concludes by considering the relevance of these findings to the problems of urban structuring in todays context in the belief that considered evolution from the past will prove a more relevant method than the rupture apparent in most of the development of the last few decades

Effects of radiation and magnetic field on mixed convection stagnation-point flow over a cylinder in a porous medium under local thermal non-equilibrium

Heat transfer enhancement and entropy generation are investigated in a nanofluid, stagnation-point flow over a cylinder embedded in a porous medium. The external surface of cylinder includes non-uniform transpiration. A semi-similarity technique is employed to numerically solve the three-dimensional momentum equations and two-equation model of transport of thermal energy for the flow and heat transfer in porous media. The mathematical model considers nonlinear thermal radiation, magnetohydrodynamics, mixed convection and local thermal non-equilibrium in the porous medium. The nanofluid and porous solid temperature fields as well as those of Bejan number are visualised, and the values of circumferentially averaged Nusselt number are reported. The results show that thermal radiation significantly influences the temperature fields and hence affects Nusselt and Bejan number. In general, more radiative systems feature higher Nusselt numbers and less thermal irreversibilities. It is also shown that changes in the numerical value of Biot number can considerably modify the predicted value of Nusselt number and that the local thermal equilibrium modelling may significantly underpredict the Nusselt number. Magnetic forces, however, are shown to impart modest effects upon heat transfer rates. Yet, they can significantly augment frictional irreversibility and therefore reduce the value of Bejan number. It is noted that the current work is the first systematic analysis of a stagnation-point flow in curved configurations with the inclusion of nonlinear thermal radiation and local thermal non-equilibrium

VennCafe

Our senior project involved creating a simple dating application and service. From other dating applications, we observed that the logistics of scheduling a first date are a tedious way to start a conversation with someone you\u27ve never met. The main concept of our application was that it would use user schedule availability and their favorite cafes to automatically plan optimal dates. We started the project with the intent of... Working through the entire development cycle of a large project as a team Devising techniques for determining overlapping preferences, especially when handling large amounts of location and time data Exploring different languages, tools and frameworks, especially involving web front-ends and native mobile apps Gaining a brief glimpse of what it would be like to be an entrepreneur promoting a new produc

Analysis of transport from cylindrical surfaces subject to catalytic reactions and non-uniform impinging flows in porous media: a non-equilibrium thermodynamics approach

This paper investigates forced convection of heat and mass from the catalytic surface of a cylinder featuring non-uniform transpiration and impinging flows in porous media. The non-equilibrium thermodynamics including Soret and Dufour effects and local thermal non-equilibrium are considered. Through employing appropriate change of variables, the governing equations in cylindrical coordinate are reduced to nonlinear ordinary differential equations and solved using a finite difference scheme. This results in the calculation of the temperature and concentration fields as well as the local and surface-averaged Nusselt and Sherwood numbers. The conducted analyses further include evaluation of the rate of entropy generation within the porous medium. It is shown that internal heat exchanges inside the porous medium, represented by Biot number, dominate the temperature fields and Nusselt number. This indicates that consideration of local thermal non-equilibrium is of highly important. It is also demonstrated that Dufour and Soret effects can significantly influence the development of thermal and concentration boundary layers and hence modify the values of Nusselt and Sherwood numbers. In particular, it is shown that small variations in Soret and Dufour numbers can lead to noticeable changes in the average Nusselt and Sherwood numbers. Such modifications are strongly dependent upon the type of transpiration and characteristics of the impinging flow. The present work is the first analysis of non-equilibrium effects upon transport by stagnation flows around the curved surfaces embedded in porous media

The Difference between Performance Levels on the Adaptive Behavior Scale for Students with Mild Intellectual Disabilities Who are included in Public Schools Compared to Those Enrolled in Special Education Centers in Amman Governorate

The study aimed at identifying the differences in the levels of adaptive behavior among students with intellectual disabilities in public schools and students in special education centers. The population of the study consists of students with mild intellectual disabilities in public schools, and students with minor intellectual disabilities in special education centers. The sample consists of (50) included students at schools, and (50) students enrolled in special education centers. To achieve the purposes of the study, the adaptive behavior teachers’ image (6-15 years) was used.  It was localized to its Jordanian image by (Al Ali, 2010), and it has the required psychometric features.dThe results showed that the performance level on the Adaptive Behavior Scale of included students in public schools from their teachers’ point of view was average. The level of performance of students in special education centers on the same scale was low. The study also found that there were significant statistical differences at the level (0.05≥ α) for the performance of students on the scale according to variable type school, where the difference was in favor of public schools when compared to the centers in the total degree In all domains, with the exception of "health and safety" and "leisure and play management" where the difference was in favor of special education centers. Keywords: Adaptive Behavior, People with mild Intellectual Disabilities, Public Schools, Special Education Centers. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-30-01 Publication date:October 31st 201

Owner's Role in Brownfield Remediation : The Brownfield Experts' Perspective

Former industrial or commercial sites that have been left unused are typically referred to as brownfield sites, or simply, brownfields. Many communities have such properties that are abandoned, idle or underused. Despite public efforts to facilitate brownfields revitalization projects, the rate of remediation remains unexpectedly slow. Efforts to resolve this nationwide problem have included legislative liability relief, federal grants and loans to facilitate revitalization, and state and local government initiatives for economic development assistance, among others. The slow process of brownfields revitalization suppresses economic growth for entire communities, and poses a substantial threat to human health and the environment. This research provides insight into the root causes of the slow rate of remediation. This research looks into the overall understanding of the three different stakeholder groups (private, public, regulatory) as experts regarding the impact of costs and benefits associated with brownfield remediation projects when considering property owners as the fourth stakeholder group. The expert panel validates the notion that brownfield property owners are the primary decision-makers and it is their cost/benefit analyses that define and directly contribute to the rate of brownfield remediation projects. This dissertation offers a conceptual model of a brownfield property owner’s decision-making process when deciding whether to remediate or not and identifies factors and sources of information influencing the property owners’ decision, including the importance and reliability of each. An objective analysis of the data collected in this research suggests that property owners perceive zero net benefits exist to remediate, if their analysis focuses solely on the remediation--and not on the cost of the status quo of the existing contaminated property. It is also apparent that property owners use the least reliable sources of information when facing factors that have the most impact on their cost/benefit analyses. When decisions are made based on poor information, property owners may conclude that remediation is not beneficial and they may not take action to remediate

The Effect of Activity-Based Costing on Companies Financial Performance: A Study among Jordanian Industrial Shareholding Companies

The costs play important role in the growth of corporations’ especially industrial sector. In the low-income country like Jordan, the article aims to analyze the effect of adopting Activity Based Costing (ABC) on the financial performance of Jordanian industrial shareholding companies. The population of this study consists of (13) public shareholding industrial companies in Jordan out of (70) from the period of 2000-2014. Four years average before and after applying ABC system is taken for all variables and significance is tested with the help of paired sample t-test statistics. Dependent variable in this study is the implementing of ABC system, and independent variables are gross profit margin (GPM), margin before interest and tax ratio (MBIT), net profit margin ratio (ROS), return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and return on investment ratio (ROI) have been computed. The results show that 78 Performance variables shows that the direction for the improved ratios after implementing ABC system is 37 Performance variables (37/78, 47%), and remaining 41 (41/78, 53%) Performance variables direction shows deterioration in the after implementing ABC system period. Out of 37 improved ratios 4 Performance variables are statistically significant. In the other hand out of 41 deteriorated ratios 7 Performance variables are statistically significant. Keywords: Activity Based Costing (ABC), financial performance, industrial companies, Jordan

“I Don’t See Myself as a Medical Assistant Anymore”: Learning to Become a Health Coach, in our Own Voices

Health coaching may improve the health of patients with chronic conditions, and the model is growing in popularity. However, little is known about the experience of becoming a Health Coach. We explored our experiences as medical assistants moving into new roles as health coaches, a trainer of health coaches, and their supporting team. A focus group was conducted in November 2012 with three health coaches and one health coach trainer. Using participatory methods, our whole team, including the health coaches, took part in data analysis. We found that learning to become a Health Coach required embracing a radically new role and “unlearning” old ways of thinking, which is transformative but also at times uncomfortable. In our new role as health coaches, in contrast to our work as medical assistants, we work to meet patients “where they are at,” and we are more focused on the needs of the patient, rather than the needs of the clinician. Health coaching is emotionally intensive; as health coaches we need robust emotional and instrumental support in our new role. Organizations training Health Coaches should be aware of the dramatic shift in perspective that this new role requires and the support that is needed to help medical assistants as they move into this new role

Designing An Intervention Program To Control Glucose Level In Intensive Care Unit (ICU) In King Hussein Medical Center, Royal Medical Services

Controlling blood glucose level in ICU is one of the main priorities in ICU to decrease mortality rates and morbidity rates and to decrease the healthcare cost. The main objective of the present study is design and implement an intervention protocol in ICU. The method involved a suggested intervention protocol which was applied for 25 ICU patients and their findings were compared with 25 ICU patients in control group. Study findings showed that the intervention protocol was able to reduce mortality rates, positive blood cultures, decreased morning glucose level in the intervention group compared with control group. As a conclusion, controlling blood glucose level in ICU is considered an appropriate approach and leads to better outcome of the patients

The effectiveness of peer health coaching in improving glycemic control among low-income patients with diabetes: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although self-management support improves diabetes outcomes, it is not consistently provided in health care settings strained for time and resources. One proposed solution to personnel and funding shortages is to utilize peer coaches, patients trained to provide diabetes education and support to other patients. Coaches share similar experiences about living with diabetes and are able to reach patients within and beyond the health care setting. Given the limited body of evidence that demonstrates peer coaching significantly improves chronic disease care, this present study examines the impact of peer coaching delivered in a primary care setting on diabetes outcomes.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The aim of this multicenter, randomized control trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing peer coaches to improve clinical outcomes and self-management skills in low-income patients with poorly controlled diabetes. A total of 400 patients from six primary health centers based in San Francisco that serve primarily low-income populations will be randomized to receive peer coaching (n = 200) or usual care (n = 200) over 6 months. Patients in the peer coach group receive coaching from patients with diabetes who are trained and mentored as peer coaches. The primary outcome is change in HbA1c. Secondary outcomes include change in: systolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), LDL cholesterol, diabetes self-care activities, medication adherence, diabetes-related quality of life, diabetes self-efficacy, and depression. Clinical values (HbA1c, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure) and self-reported diabetes self-efficacy and self-care activities are measured at baseline and after 6 months for patients and coaches. Peer coaches are also assessed at 12 months.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Patients with diabetes, who are trained as peer health coaches, are uniquely poised to provide diabetes self management support and education to patients. This study is designed to investigate the impact of peer health coaching in patients with poorly controlled diabetes. Additionally, we will assess disease outcomes in patients with well controlled diabetes who are trained and work as peer health coaches.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01040806">NCT01040806</a></p