EFFECTS OF WETTABILITY, LITHOLOGY, AND PERMEABILITY ON THE OPTIMUM SLUG SIZE OF LOW SALINITY WATER FLOODING IN CARBONATES: AN EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Low salinity water flooding has attracted academic and industry communities due to its relatively simple and applicable technology. One of the drawbacks of applying the IOR/EOR technique is the lack of the availability of low salinity water in large quantities at the reasonable cost required for a technically and environmentally successful project. To overcome this problem, the industry proposed to use produced water/sea water after dilution, and reverse osmosis filter technology to achieve the required salinity. Both techniques are quite costly and might hinder the project\u27s economic success. Low salinity water as slug size followed by high salinity water was proposed to reduce the project requirement of sweet water and make the project technically and economically more attractive. In this project, the effect of the carbonate reservoir wettability, reservoir lithology (limestone and dolomite), and permeability (low and high) on the design of low salinity slug injection has been investigated. Oil wet and water wet high permeability limestone cores and high and low permeability oil wet dolomites cores were flooded in a secondary mode by the following low salinity slug sizes 10, 20, 30, and 40% of pore volumes followed by continuous flooding with high salinity water until reaching a stable value of 100% water cut. Results indicated that in the case of a limestone environment, the wettability of the reservoir has a significant impact on the optimum LSW slug size and a lower slug size requirement was observed in the case of an oil-wet system 10% PV as compared to 30% PV for the water-wet system. In addition to that, 90% of the oil in place was recovered as compared to 60% OIP for the water wet system. The lithology of the system had no noticeable impact on the requirement for the slug size in the oil-wet environment. Low salinity flooding required relatively a smaller slug size in a high permeability environment for the dolomite oil wet system, while a low permeability system exhibited a higher oil recovery as compared to a high permeability environment. Therefore, in performing a reservoir simulation of low salinity flooding of a mixed wettability and heterogenous system, laboratory work is recommended using reservoir rock and fluid data to determine optimum slug size and relative permeability data

PERCEIVED SOURCE CHARACTERISTICS OF e-WOM SENDERS EFFECTS ON PURCHASE INTENTIONS AND BEHAVIOURS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN THE UAE

The popularity and power of Electronic Word of Mouth (e-WOM) have raised the attention of academia and businesses in the past decade. A plethora of relevant literature investigated the motives of the sender to engage in e-WOM, besides the actual content of the message, leaving unanswerable questions concerning the receiver’s perception of the message and the interpersonal similarities with the sender. This study aimed at filling this gap by assessing the potential impact of e-WOM cues on the receiver experimentally by consulting i) social comparison theory, and ii) social judgment theory. Two experiments were designed and conducted incorporating mixed-method research to address gender and cultural similarities between the sender and receiver within the concept of eateries in the UAE. The generated results unveiled that the sender credibility of e-WOM is influenced by the relationship between the sender and the receiver. The research implications for the researchers in the domain added theoretically further knowledge of e-WOM that influences from a receiver perspective. Professionally, it could enhance managerial knowledge of cross-cultural effects on consumer choices and purchase intentions to direct future marketing strategies. This research also adds to the welfare of both senders and receivers of e- WOM regarding understanding motives for sending and receiving e-WOM

Effect of Transformation Temperature on Microstructure andMechanical Properties of Bainite

Fully bainitic microstructure can be obtained by isothermal transformation at temperatures within the range of bainite transformation. Both transformation temperature and time determine the phase fraction, the scale of the resultant microstructure and the carbone content of the retained austenite, which in turn determine the mechanical properties. In this study, the thermomechanical simulator was used to obtained the fully bainitic microstructure for the high carbon alloy steel (0.78%C) at a different bainite transformation temperatures (200 to 350°C) in order to study the effect of the isothermal transformation temperature on the resultant mechanical properties. It has been concluded from the detailed analysis of the microstructure, the dilatometric data and the mechanical properties (hardness and tensile properties) that finer bainite and less retained austenite phase fraction can be obtained by transformation at lower temperatures, and that leads to exceptional mechanical properties (Hardness ≈ 660 HV, and Tensile strength ≈ 2 Gpa)

Primary Science Teachers’ Perceptions towards STEM Education in Public Schools in Qatar

Understanding teachers' perceptions of STEM education is crucial to ensure the quality of teaching and learning provided for the students in the classrooms. This study aimed at investigating science teachers’ perceptions towards STEM education in primary public schools in the State of Qatar in terms of: teachers' knowledge, STEM teaching requirements, impact on students' outcomes. This study followed a sequential explanatory mixed-method approach. Quantitative data was collected by surveying (148) science teachers, while qualitative data was obtained using four focus groups. Results indicated that teachers have relatively high perceptions towards STEM education. However, the findings highlighted the need to increase teachers’ understanding and knowledge of STEM disciplines and their approaches to integration. Keywords: STEM education, perceptions, science teachers. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-24-04 Publication date:August 31st 202

Gene Polymorphism of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha in a Sample of Iraqi Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

The study aimed to investigate the association between tumor necrosis factor (TNF gene) alleles and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in a sample of Iraqi patients, in which a total of 94 patients were investigated, in addition to 80 age, gender and ethnicity matched controls. All subjects were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers (SSP-PCR) method at two positions of TNF gene; -308 and -238 (TNF-308 and TNF-238), which were presented with three genotypes (GG, GA and AA) at both positions. At position -308, a significant (P = 6.9 x 10-5) decreased frequency of GG genotype was observed in PTB patients compared to controls (60.6 vs. 87.5%), and the preventive fraction of such difference was 0.68. In contrast, the genotype GA was significantly (P = 1.3 x 10-4) increased in patients (38.2 vs. 12.5%), and the associated relative risk and etiological fraction were 4.34 and 0.30, respectively. The corresponding TNF-308 alleles (G and A) also showed variations between patients and controls. Allele G was decreased (79.8 vs. 93.8%), while C allele was increased (20.2 vs. 6.2%) in patients, and both differences were significant at a P of 1.5 x 10-4. However, at position -238, neither TNF-238 genotypes nor alleles demonstrated a significant difference between patients and controls. The present results suggest that the GG genotype and G allele of TNF gene at position -306 may be associated with a protection against PTB in Iraqi population. Keywords: Tumor necrosis factor; Gene polymorphism, PCR; Pulmonary tuberculosis

Ginger Ingredients Alleviate Diabetic Prostatic Complications: Effect on Oxidative Stress and Fibrosis

Prostatic complications are common in patients with diabetes. This study investigated the effect of different ginger ingredients: zingerone, geraniol, and 6-gingerol on the prostate in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats by streptozotocin intraperitoneal injection (50 mg/kg), and the rats were left for 10 weeks to develop prostatic complications. In diabetic treated groups, rats received daily oral zingerone, geraniol, and 6-gingerol in doses of 20, 200, and 75 mg/kg, respectively, in the last 8 weeks. Treatment with the compounds caused changes in the ventral prostate of diabetic animals as indicated by the columnar ductal epithelium and dense secretions. There was an amelioration of oxidative stress as evidenced by the lowering of prostate malondialdehyde and elevating prostate oxidized to reduced glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratios by geraniol and 6-gingerol. None of the three ginger ingredients affected the hyperglycemia, reduction in body weight gain, and testosterone deficiency seen in diabetic animals. Interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 levels remained unchanged. However, zingerone and geraniol ameliorated the fibrosis in diabetic prostate through suppressing the elevated prostate transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) and collagen IV. Therefore, ginger ingredients could be beneficial in alleviating diabetic prostatic complications through suppressing oxidative stress and tissue fibrosis

Value of MDCT Imaging in evaluation Focal Hepatic Lesions , based on Ultrasound Guided Biopsy

The study included 150 patients , admitted to the  gastroenterology clinic at Al Assad University Hospital in Lattakia from 1/2/2015 to 1/8/2016 for 18 months, all of them underwent abdominal ultrasound to confirm the presence of a suspected hepatic lesion. All These patients underwent MDCT  with  injections  for adequate study to th hepatic lesion is observed, All cases are followed, each according to their radiographic diagnosis, 68 patients undergoing to liver guided biopsy, 10 patients portal Angigraphy , 25 patients  MRI with the injection, while 6 patients underwent surgical operation on the liver for diagnosis, and two patients refused any procedure In the light of these successive procedures, a final diagnosis of the hepatic lesion is compared with the radiographic diagnosis to study the diagnostic value of the MDCT in the evaluation of hepatic lesion The percentage of males was 52% while females 48%, and the age of the patients between 1 and 84 years, the results of the study were divided into three groups relative to the relationship formed between radiographic diagnosis and final real diagnosis: In the first group,  There was no deference in the accuracy of the radiographic diagnosis with the real, was 72 patients, ie, 48% of the patients, including cystic and noncancerous lesions, hemangiomas, primary tumors except HCC. The second group consisted of 28 patients, 18.6% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The results of our radiological study were statistically significant compared to the final diagnosis, which led to the application of the LI-RAD system 2014 to all patients The third group included 50 patients, 33.3% of the patients, who included patients with secondary hepatic tumors (metastases). The results of our radiological study were statistically significant compared with the final diagnosis, which led to the application of the perfusion factor and the volume factor on all patients in the sample to increase the diagnostic value Radiology. القيمة التشخيصية  للطبقي المحوري متعدد الشرائح (MDCT) في تقييم آفات الكبد البؤرية بالاستناد إلى الخزعة الموجهة بالإيكو شملت الدراسة 150 مريضا من مراجعي العيادة الهضمية في مستشفى الأسد الجامعي باللاذقية من 1\2\2015 وحتى 1\8\2016 لمدة ثمانية عشر شهراً ، خضعوا جميعا لتصوير بالأمواج فوق الصوتية للبطن لتأكيد وجود آفة كبدية بؤرية مشتبه بها، ثم ليخضع هؤلاء المرضى لتصوير طبقي محوري متعدد الشرائح بخمس أطوار مع الحقن لدراسة كافية للأفة الكبدية المشاهدة ، يوضع بعدها توصيف مع تشخيص شعاعي للآفة ، ثم تتابع الحالات جميعها خلال الفترة المذكورة ، كل منها حسب التشخيص الشعاعي الخاص بها ، لتخضع الى اجراءات لاحقة تنوعت بين 67 مريضاً خضعوا لخزعة كبدية موجهة بالأمواج فوق الصوتية وبين 10 مرضى أجروا تصوير وعائي للجملة البابية ، وبين 25 مريضاً أجروا مرنان مغناطيسي لاحق للكبد مع الحقن ، في حين أجرى 6 مرضى عمل جراحي على الكبد للتشخيص ، ورفض مريضان أي اجراء لاحق ليكتفي بالمراقبة فقط ، أما باقي المرضى فجاء التشخيص من فئة النقائل الكبدية ليكتفى فقط بكشف الورم البدئي لتأكيد التشخيص . وعلى ضوء هذه الاجراءات المتلاحقة يوضع تشخيص نهائي للأفة الكبدية المشاهدة يقارن مع التشخيص الشعاعي لدراسة القيمة التشخيصية للطبقي المحوري متعدد الشرائح بأطواره المختلفة في تقييم الآفات الكبدية . أتت نسبة الذكور 52% في حين الاناث 48 %,وتراوحت أعمار المرضى بين 1 و84 سنة, قسمت تائج الدراسة إلى ثلالث مجموعات نسبة الى العلاقة المتشكلة بين التشخيص الشعاعي والتخيص الحقيقي النهائي : المجموعة الأولى : تساوت فيها دقة التشخيص الشعاعي مع الحقيقي دون أهمية احصائية بينهما ،  شملت 72 مريض أي بنسبة 48 % من مرضى البحث، ضمت كل من الافات الناجمة عن شذوذ دوراني ، الافات السليمة الكيسية وغير الكيسية ، الاورام الوعائية ، الاورام البدئية باستثناء HCC  . المجموعة الثانية : شملت 28 مريض أي بنسبة 18.6% من مرضى البحث ضمت مرضى سرطانة الخلية الكبدية ، جاءت نتائج دراستنا الشعاعية بفارق احصائي هام بالمقارنة مع التشخيص الحقيقي مما دفعنا الى تطبيق نظام LI-RAD  لعام 2014 على جميع مرضى العينة لرفع القيمة التشخيصية الشعاعية المجموعة الثالثة : شملت 50 مريض ، أي بنسبة  33.3% من مرضى البحث ضمت مرضى الأورام الكبدية الثانوية أو النقائل الكبدية ، جاءت نتائج دراستنا الشعاعية بفارق احصائي هام بالمقارنة مع التشخيص الحقيقي مما دفعنا الى تطبيق عامل التروية، وعامل الحجم على جميع مرضى العينة لرفع القيمة التشخيصية الشعاعي

تقييم علاقات استقراء مقاومة الجوائز البيتونية المسلّحة وغير المزودة بتسليح عرضي على القص

تتعلق مقاومة الجوائز البيتونية المسلّحة غير المزودة بتسليح عرضي على القص بعدة معاملات أهمها ارتفاع الجائز، مقاومة البيتون على الضغط، نسبة التسليح الطولي وأخيراً نسبة طول فتحة القص إلى الارتفاع الفعّال للجائز . بناءً على تلك المعاملات تم اقتراح علاقات في كودات التصميم والمراجع العلمية تأخذ بالاعتبار مجموعة المعاملات المذكورة سابقاً. تم في هذا البحث اختبار مجموعة من تلك العلاقات بالاعتماد على قاعدة بيانات تم بناؤها من قبل فريق بحث (Collins, et al. ,2008) من خلال تجميع نتائج الأبحاث العلمية المنشورة على مدى ستين عاماً. في الجزء الأول من هذا البحث تم تقييم كفاءة العلاقات المقترحة احصائياً بعد حذف القيم الشاذة من خلال حساب معامل الارتباط ومعامل التحديد لتقييم قوة الارتباط بين القيم التجريبية والقيم التحليلية. أعطت العلاقات المقترحة في كودات التصميم CEB-FIP وEC2 إضافةً إلى علاقة الباحث Bazant معاملات ارتباط مرتفعة وقريبة من الواحد (0.876- 0.777- 0.827) على التوالي، مما يدلّ على كفاءة تلك العلاقات من أجل استقراء مقاومة القص. بالمقابل أعطت الدراسة الإحصائية معامل ارتباط مساوي إلى 0.631 من أجل علاقة الكود السوري SYR code و0.643 من أجل الكود الأمريكي ACI وأخيراً قيمة 0.244 من أجل الكود الكندي CSA مما يعني عدم ملاءمة تلك العلاقات لتقييم مقاومة القص. تم في الجزء الثاني من هذا البحث اقتراح مجموعة من العلاقات المعدّلة اعتماداً على نفس قاعدة البيانات وذلك من خلال تصغير الفروقات بين القيم التحليلية والقيم التجريبية باستخدام Excel. أعطت مجموعة العلاقات المعدّلة معاملات ارتباط أفضل من أجل كل من SYR code، ACI، CSA وأخيراً EC2 حيث بلغت قيم معامل الارتباط (0.786، 0.824، 0.68، 0.8) على الترتيب، أما بالنسبة لعلاقات CEB-FIP وعلاقة الباحث Bazant فبلغت قيم معامل الارتباط (0.857، 0.824) على الترتيب

Effect of Agitation, Temperature, and Quenching Medium on Cooling Curve and cooling rate for Steels

The control of quenching process has been investigated in this study by developing a quench system design to simulate the quenching process and measure the time – temperature history inside the sample during the cooling stage. The main purpose of this quench system is to evaluate the quench power of different quenchant at different conditions (type, temperature and agitation). A stainless steel sample was used with a suitable measurement as a probe in designing this quench system. The performance of two of quenchants (water and brine) with different conditions was investigated, and the designed probe was used to illustrate the effect of quenching parameters (quenchant type, temperature and its agitation) on cooling curves and cooling rate.The quenching system has proven its ability to work effectively and the results showed that heat transfer properties were significantly affected by quenchant parameters

GC/MS and LC-MS/MS phytochemical evaluation of the essential oil and selected secondary metabolites of Ajuga orientalis from Jordan and its antioxidant activity

The current investigation aimed to shed light in the volatile and non-volatile secondary metabolites of Ajuga orientalis L. from Jordan. GC/MS and GC/FID analysis of the hydrodistilled essential oil obtained from aerial parts of the plant revealed tiglic acid (18.90 %) as main constituent. Each of the methanol and butanol fractions of A. orientalis were screened for their total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity determined by DDPH and ABTS methods. The extracts were then analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS to unveil their chemical constituents, especially phenols and flavonoids. Results showed that the AO-B extract had the highest TPC (217.63 ± 2.65 mg gallic acid/g dry extract), TFC (944.41 ± 4.77 mg quercetin /g dry extract), highest DPPH and ABTS antioxidant activity ((4.00 ± 0.20) × 10-2; (3.00 ± 0.20) × 10-2 mg/mL, respectively) as compared to the AO-M extract. LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of both extracts revealed the presence of several phenolics, flavonoids and nonphenolic acids