EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF USING POINT OF VIEW VIDEO MODELING ON IMPROVING SELF-CARE SKILLS OF A STUDENT WITH AUTISM

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of using point of view video modeling intervention strategy on improving the self-care skills of a student with autism. The target skills were handwashing and toothbrushing skills. A single-subject ABA design was used in this study. Data was collected using mixed-method approach. The intervention lasted for six weeks. The results of this study indicated that point of view video modeling is an effective instructional tool to improve handwashing and toothbrushing skills for a student with autism. Moreover, the participant was able to generalize handwashing and toothbrushing skills to two different settings. Implications of this study include the importance of utilizing point-of-view video modeling in the daily classroom practice to teach students with autism self-care skills

Oscillation behavior of second order nonlinear neutral differential equations with deviating arguments

Oscillation criteria are established for second order nonlinear neutral differential equations with deviating arguments of the form $$r(t)\psi(x(t))|z'(t)|^{\alpha -1} z'(t)+ \int_a^b q(t,\xi)f(x(g(t,\phi)))d\sigma (\xi) =0,\quad t\gt t_0,$$ where $\alpha \gt 0$ and $z(t)= x(t)+p(t)x(t-\tau)$. Our results improve and extend some known results in the literature. Some illustrating examples are also provided to show the importance of our results

Misconception of Islamic apparel, niqab: a phenomenological approach

Communication is a social process in which individuals use symbols to establish and interpret meaning in their environment. Artifact is a valuable source of communication in our historical and everyday life. The Islamic artifacts use in daily life constantly support or contradict our beliefs, values and self identities. Muslim communities have traced the authenticity and legitimacy their customary practices of Islamic attire by the guidance of the Quran and Hadith. The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine and explore the meanings, structures and the essence of the perceived experience of Muslim niqab wearing women within a phenomenological manner. Niqab wearing is women's individual choice and empowerment, and its expression is Islamic identity. Now a days niqab wearing is controversial issue due to misunderstanding among Muslim and non-Muslim community. The goal of this study is to investigate a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the Islamic concept of niqab wearing women. The expected result of this research will contribute to a critical discussion on the rationale of controversy of niqab wearing, especially in the perspective of abuse, and justify women's right in context of Islamic culture based on Quranic obligation that will not create political and cultural discrimination in the society

Evaluation of serum levels of Interleukin-4 in Egyptian patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is defined as bothersome symptoms and/or complications caused by the reflux of stomach contents. About 40–50% of patients develop refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (R-GERD), with poor improvement of symptoms with treatment. Many pathogenic mechanisms share in development of R-GERD, among which is the important role of T-helper 1 and T-helper 2 response mediated by cytokines. The interleukin-4 is a cytokine known of its anti-inflammatory effect. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the level of interleukin-4 in Egyptian patients with R-GERD versus those with GERD. PATIENTS AND Methods: Our study included 25 patients with reflux symptoms who received PPIs for less than 8 weeks with improvement of symptoms, versus 25 patients with refractory reflux symptoms who received PPIs for more than 8 weeks without improvement of symptoms. Interleukin-4 levels were assessed in both groups by ELISA. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups as regard interleukin-4 levels (p < 0.012) which was higher in the patients with (R-GERD), the mean level of IL-4 was 37.31 ± 56.07 in GERD group while in R-GERD group, it was 102.78 ± 112.29. The diagnostic accuracy of interleukin-4 revealed a sensitivity of 56% and specificity of 76% at cutoff value >58.25 pg/ml, with an acceptable accuracy of 0.6. Conclusions: The present study concluded that IL-4 is significantly higher in patients with R GERD with cut off value > 58.25 pg/ml. Therapeutic strategies that modulate the production of IL-4 may provide a good solution for treatment of R GERD

Echopulmonography versus computed tomographic chest predictors for differentiation between benign and malignant peripheral pulmonary and pleural lesions

AbstractBackgroundDiagnostic value of echopulmonography (EPG) in chest diseases is expanding as a guide to discriminate between benign and malignant parenchymal lesions as regards tissue characterization plus pleural lesions’ diagnostic specification.ObjectivesTo determine echopulmonography predictors of malignancy in patients with peripheral pulmonary and solid pleural lesions.Patients and methodsA prospective clinical study was conducted on 122 patients who presented with peripheral pulmonary and pleural lesions by chest X-ray. They underwent echopulmonography and CT chest evaluation. Patients were divided into two groups: Group (1), 63 patients diagnosed by CT chest and CT guided biopsy followed by EPG. Group (2), 59 patients diagnosed by EPG and ultrasound (US) guided biopsy followed by CT chest. Tissue biopsy was taken either through CT guided biopsy or ultrasound guided biopsy for pathological examination.ResultsEPG had a success rate of 75.9% in diagnosing malignancy and 17.2% in diagnosing nonmalignant lesions. Success rate of EPG based diagnosis in all studied cases was 45%. Using EPG criteria; rounded and oval morphology was statistically significantly higher in malignant than nonmalignant subgroups (53.4% versus 32.8%) in contrast to irregular morphology with ramifications that prevailed in the nonmalignant subgroup (67.2% versus 46.5%). Irregular pleural contour and heterogeneous hypoechogenicity were predominant in the nonmalignant subgroup (67.1% and 28.1%, respectively). Echoinvasion, destruction of normal tissue architecture and blood vessels displacement were more common in malignant than nonmalignant subgroups.ConclusionEchopulmonography has a worthy role in differentiating benign from malignant peripheral pulmonary and pleural lesions. US guided biopsy is performed with a low risk of complications

Oscillation criteria for third order delay nonlinear differential equations

The purpose of this paper is to give oscillation criteria for the third order delay nonlinear differential equation \begin{equation*} \lbrack a_{2}(t)\{(a_{1}(t)(x^{\prime }(t))^{\alpha _{1}})^{\prime}\}^{\alpha _{2}}]^{\prime }+q(t)f(x(g(t)))=0, \end{equation*} via comparison with some first differential equations whose oscillatory characters are known. Our results generalize and improve some known results for oscillation of third order nonlinear differential equations. Some examples are given to illustrate the main results

The Impact of Different Estrus Synchronization Programs on Postpartum Holstein Dairy Cow Reproductive Performance

Objective: The purpose of this study was to see how the Ovsynch, modified Ovsynch, presynch, and modified presynch protocols affected postpartum reproductive performance in dairy cows. Design: Randomized controlled experimental study Animals: The current research involved 412 dairy cows. Procedures: The cows were split into four groups: GnRH was given on day 0, PGF2∝ on day 7, and GnRH on day 9. Group 1: (Ovsynch protocol, n= 117) received GnRH on day 0 and PGF2∝ on day 7. Group 2 (modified Ovsynch, n=113): PMSG on day 0, PGF2 on day 7, and PMSG on day 9. Group 3 (presynch protocol, n=98) got two doses of PGF2 14 days apart, which allowed for a 12-day delay in the start of Ovsynch. Group 4 (modified presynch protocol, n=84) got two PGF2∝ doses 14 days apart, which was 12 days before the start of modified Ovsynch. All of the animals were artificially inseminated 16 hours following their last GnRH or PMSG dose. The ovarian rebound, number of services per conception, days open, and calving interval were the measures for determining reproductive performance for the dairy cows. Results: The main effect of the synchronisation program showed no significance for ovarian rebound (P >0.05). The S/C, days open and calving intervals were decreased significantly (P＜0.05) in the 3rd and 4th groups when compared with the cows that received either GPG or PMSG treatment only. All four groups had a conception rate of 35.04 (41/117), 40.7 (46/113), 44.8 (44/98), and 57.14 (48/84) %, respectively (P＜0.05). Conclusion and clinical relevance: It was investigated that giving two PGF2 injections before Ovsynch, either utilizing GnRH or PMSG methods, improved the reproductive performance of dairy cows. Furthermore, cows given PMSG had a greater conception rate than cows given GnRH