87 research outputs found
Al-Qaida today: a movement at the crossroads
No full textWhat is happening to al-Qaida: does it still constitute a threat to its adversaries, and if so how grave? Fawaz A Gerges, author of "The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global", uses extensive survey evidence to examine the movement’s standing in the Muslim world and take the measure of its ability to continue its campaig
The far enemy : why Jihad went global /
No full textSince September 11, Al Qaeda has been portrayed as an Islamist front united in armed struggle, or jihad, against the Christian West. However, as the historian and commentator Fawaz A. Gerges argues, the reality is rather different. In fact, Al Qaeda represents a minority within the jihadist movement, and its strategies have been criticized and opposed by religious nationalists among the jihadis, who prefer to concentrate on changing the Muslim world rather than taking the fight global. Based on primary field research, the author unravels the story of the jihadist movement and explores its philosophies, its structure, the rifts and tensions that split its ranks, and why some members, like Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri, favored international over local strategies in taking the war to the West. Gerges asks where the jihadist movement is going, and whether it can be transformed into a non-violent, socio-political force
The Future of Islamist Militancy: A Theoretical and Historical Footnote
No full textThe University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.The media can be accessed here: http://streaming.osu.edu/knowledgebank/mershon08/040308.mp4Fawaz Gerges holds the Christian A. Johnson Chair in International
Affairs and Arab and Muslim Politics at Sarah Lawrence College in New
York. He is author of the recently published paperback edition Journey
of the Jihadist: Inside Muslim Militancy (Harcourt Press, 2007) and The
Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global (Cambridge University Press, 2005).
The Washington Post selected The Far Enemy as one of the best 15
books published in the field in 2005. Journey of the Jihadist was on the
best-selling list of Barnes and Noble’s and Foreign Affairs Magazine for
four months.Ohio State University. Mershon Center for International Security Studie
Detecção de defeitos em rolamentos atraves do processamento e analise de sinais de vibrações
No full textDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro TecnologicoOs métodos de avaliação das condições de operação de máquinas através de monitoramento de vibrações tem desempenhado um importante papel na melhoria do desempenho e disponibilidade do equipamento, além de reduzir os custos de manutenção. Os rolamentos são elementos indispensáveis na maioria das máquinas. Além disso, nos métodos de manutenção convencionais é grande o desperdício de elementos que são substituídos estando ainda em bom estado, porquanto os rolamentos têm uma expectativa de vida tão dispersa que o intervalo entre manutenções deve ser menor que sua vida média, afim de evitar ou diminuir a possibilidade de falha catastrófica. Pelas razões acima, tem sido relatado que os maiores benefícios da instalação de sistema de monitoramento são conseguidos quando aplicados a rolamentos. A Técnica da Análise Espectral e a da Curtose para o monitoramento e diagnóstico de falhas em rolamentos são as mais ostensivamente relatadas. Neste trabalho é apresentado um modelo teórico para a variação do Coeficiente de Curtose com a rotação, além de um modelo simplificado para o espectro de um rolamento com defeito. Também é mostrada a determinação das expressões teóricas para a obtenção das frequências geradas pela rotação. As expressões teóricas para o Coeficente de Curtose foram comparadas com resultados experimentais. A despeito da simplicidade do modelo teórico, através dele puderam-se prever limitações na Técnica da Curtose as quais foram confirmadas pelos resultados experimentais. Dois novos parâmetros que consistem de uma modificação da Curtose foram propostos para melhorar a eficiência da Técnica da Curtose. Finalmente, foi feita uma aplicão simples da Técnica da Análise Espectral
America and political Islam: clash of cultures or clash of interests?
No full textThis book chronicles the policy debates on Islamism in the United States over the course of time, providing a comprehensive account of the origins of policy followed by a balanced critique and recommendations for change. It then delves deeper into the US political scene to analyze the historical, political, cultural, and security issues that might help explain America’s preoccupation with Islam and Muslims. Furthermore, the author sheds much light on the multiplicity of regional and international factors, such as the political decay of the Middle Eastern state and the end of the Cold War, that shape the thinking of US officials about the contemporary Islamist phenomenon. In addition to examining the domestic, regional, and international context of US Islam policy, the book applies and tests the pronouncements of US officials in four representative case studies - Iran, Algeria, Egypt and Turkey. Finally, Gerges addresses the clash of civilizations debate and assesses the relative weight of culture and values in US officials’ words and deeds on Islamism
Iraq war fuels global Jihad
No full textMuslims initially condemned Al Qaeda’s 2001 attacks on the US. But then the US invaded Iraq, triggering chaos that could overwhelm more than one country throughout the Middle East. As a result, even more moderate Muslims support anyone who defends Muslim lands and values against occupiers, particularly in Palestine and Iraq. Jihadists emerged during the early 1980s, opposed to Egypt and Israel seeking peace; then during the 1990s in Afghanistan, in armed opposition to the Russian invasion. But the war in Iraq has unleashed deep bitterness and instability throughout the region, and many more young Muslims with minimal education aspire to a form of jihad more volatile and deadly than what was seen in the previous decades. Instead of containing terrorism with war in Iraq, the US has fortified it, giving terrorists a new base of operations, argues international affairs professor and author Fawaz Gerges. US voters have rejected their president’s strategies for the Iraq war. If US leaders and Iraqis can find a way to stop fighting and set goals that benefit ordinary Muslims, then jihadists may still be discouraged and political stability for Iraq may yet be a reality
The effect of cardiovascular risk factors on the final outcome in patients with COVID-19
No full textBackground
Increased cardiovascular risk factors are associated with adverse outcome in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). In this study, the authors assessed the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with COVID-19 and studied the impact of these cardiovascular risk factors on the final outcome in these patients.
Aim
The authors aimed to study the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with COVID-19 as well as the impact of these cardiovascular risk factors on the final outcome in these patients.
Patients and methods
The study included 200 patients who were admitted in Al-Sahel teaching hospital with COVID- 19-positive PCR. These patients have at least one of these cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, and smoking).
Results
Bad outcome was associated with the presence of multiple cardiovascular risk factors and the most common cardiovascular risk factors were hypertension and diabetes mellitus. There were 121 hypertensive patients (60.5%), 98 diabetic patients (49.0%), 106 patients were smokers (53.0%), and 54 obese patients (27.0%) and 42 patients (21.0%) had dyslipidemia. In total, 181 patients survived (90.5%), while 19 patients (9.5%) died among patients with COVID-19.
Conclusions
The presence of cardiovascular risk factors, especially hypertension and diabetes mellitus, is associated with bad outcome in patients with COVID-19
Elimination of refugees' informal settlements through bottom-up communities
No full textLAUREA MAGISTRALEIn tutta Italia sono sparsi campi informali di profili emarginati di immigrati, dove vivono in condizioni deplorevoli. Come primo passo, l’obiettivo principale di questa ricerca è esaminare i modi per ridurre queste strutture informali identificando e valutando le variabili rilevanti che spingono gli immigrati a rimanere lì. I risultati di un’indagine dettagliata sul sistema italiano di accoglienza per gli immigrati, oltre a triangolazioni etnografiche condotte nei campi informali, dimostrano che la principale ragione che emargina i rifugiati, che costituiscono la maggior parte degli abitanti dei campi informali, è la mancanza di integrazione . Ciò solleva nuove domande su come sviluppare e replicare comunità integrative. Per rispondere, vengono scelti e confrontati due casi di studio, Riace e Badolato, in cui sono sorti e falliti esperimenti creativi integrativi. L’indagine si concentra sulla valutazione delle componenti più influenti in entrambe le situazioni in termini di contesto, attori e politiche utilizzando una varietà di fonti, comprese le interviste con gli attori chiave coinvolti. Basandosi sugli insegnamenti acquisiti, incarnando i principi della fase fiorente ed evitando gli elementi distruttivi, il paper propone una politica di sistema di accoglienza innovativa per rifugiati e titolari di protezione basata su una rete di comunità integrative decentrate dal basso in tutta ItaliaThroughout Italy, informal camps of marginalized profiles of immigrants are scattered, where they live in deplorable conditions. As a first step, the major focus of this research is to examine ways to diminish these informal structures by identifying and assessing the relevant variables that urge immigrants to remain there. The findings of a detailed investigation of the Italian reception system for immigrants, as well as triangulating ethnographic surveys conducted in informal camps, demonstrate that the main reason that marginalizes the refugees, who make up the majority of informal camp dwellers, is the lack of integration. This raises new questions about how to develop and replicate integrative communities. To respond, two case studies, Riace and Badolato, are chosen and compared in which creative integrative experiments arose and failed. The inquiry focuses on assessing the most influential components in both situations in terms of context, actors, and policy using a variety of sources, including interviews with the key involved actors. Drawing on lessons acquired, embodying the principles of the flourishing phase and avoiding the destructive elements, the paper proposes an innovative reception system policy for refugees and protection holders based on a network of integrative decentralized bottom-up communities throughout Ital
Effect of intensity of care on mortality and withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies in severe traumatic brain injury patients : a post-hoc analysis of a multicenter cohort study
No full textIntroduction et objectifs Le traumatisme craniocérébral (TCC) est un problème de santé majeur dans le monde. Chez les patients ayant subi un TCC grave, une amélioration de la mortalité a été observée dans les centres de traumatologie offrant une intensité de traitement élevée et un monitorage intensif. Cependant, la mortalité ainsi que l’incidence du retrait du maintien des fonctions vitales varient entre les différents centres de traumatologie. Notre étude visait à évaluer l’association en l’effet de l'intensité des soins sur l’incidence du retrait du maintien des fonctions vitales et de mortalité chez les patients ayant subi un TCC grave. Méthodes Notre étude est une analyse post-hoc d’une étude cohorte rétrospective multicentrique de patients ayant subi un TCC grave (n = 720). Nous avons défini l’intensité des soins en utilisant le type d’interventions effectuées à l’'unité de soins intensifs. Les interventions ont été classées en fonction de leur spécificité par rapport au TCC et en fonction de leur nature : 1) médicale, 2) chirurgicale, et 3) diagnostique. L’effet de l'intensité des soins, sur la mortalité et le retrait du maintien des fonctions vitales, a été évalué en utilisant des modèles à risques proportionnels de Cox ajustés. Résultats L’intensité des soins a été associée à une diminution de la mortalité (HR 0,69, IC à 95% 0,63 à 0,74, p <0,0001) et du retrait du maintien des fonctions vitales (HR 0,73, IC à 95% 0,67 à 0,79, p <0,0001). Les associations ont été significatives pour l'intensité des interventions spécifiques et non-spécifiques au TCC et pour les interventions médicales et diagnostiques, mais non significatives pour les interventions chirurgicales. Conclusion Nous avons observé une association significative entre l'intensité globale des soins sur la mortalité et sur l'incidence du retrait du maintien des fonctions vitales suivant un TCC grave. Cette association était significative avec les interventions spécifiques et non-spécifiques au TCC, ainsi qu’avec les interventions médicales et diagnostiques.Introduction and objectives Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health problem. In severe TBI, better outcomes and reduced mortality were shown in trauma centers providing high intensity of treatment and monitoring. Mortality as well as incidence of withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies were found to vary among different trauma centers. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of intensity of care for severe TBI on the incidence of withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy and mortality. Methods Our study is post-hoc analysis of a Canadian multicenter retrospective cohort study of patients with severe TBI (n = 720). We defined the intensity of care using interventions performed in ICU. They were categorized into 1) TBI related interventions, 2) interventions non-specific to TBI, and according to type of interventions: 1) medical, 2) surgical, and 3) diagnostic interventions. The effect of intensity of care, on mortality and the withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies, was evaluated with adjusted Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses of time-to-event data. Results The intensity of care was associated with decreased mortality (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.63–0.74, p<0.0001) and decreased withdrawal of life support (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.67–0.79, p<0.0001). The associations with outcomes were also significant for both the intensity of interventions specific to TBI and general ICU interventions. The associations with outcomes also maintained their significance with medical and diagnostic components of care but were not significant with surgical component of care. Conclusion We observed a significant association between the overall intensity of care, defined by the different interventions commonly used, on mortality and on the incidence of withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies in severe TBI. This association was present whether interventions were specific or not specific to TBI, as well as whether they were medical or diagnostic interventions
Adapting authoritarianism: institutions and co-optation in Egypt and Syria
No full textThis PhD thesis compares Egypt and Syria’s authoritarian political systems. While the tendency in social science political research treats Egypt and Syria as similarly authoritarian, this research emphasizes differences between the two systems with special reference to institutions and co-optation. Rather than reducibly understanding Egypt and Syria as sharing similar histories, institutional arrangements, or ascribing to the oft-repeated convention that “Syria is Egypt but 10 years behind,” this thesis focuses on how events and individual histories shaped each states current institutional strengthens and weaknesses. Specifically, it explains the how varying institutional politicization or de-politicization affects each state’s capabilities for co-opting elite and non-elite individuals.
Beginning with a theoretical framework that considers the limited utility of democratization and transition theoretical approaches, the work underscores the persistence and durability of authoritarianism. Chapter two details the politicized institutional divergence between Egypt and Syria that began in the 1970s. Chapter three and four examines how institutional politicization or de-politicization affects elite and non-elite individual co-optation in Egypt and Syria. Chapter five discusses the study’s general conclusions and theoretical implications.
This thesis’s argument is that Egypt and Syria co-opt elites and non-elites differently because of the varying degrees of institutional politicization in each governance system. Rather than view one country as more politically developed than the other, this work argues that Syria’s political institutions are more politicized than their Egyptian counterparts. Syria’s political arena is, thus, described as politicized-patrimonialism. Syria’s politicized-patrimonial arena produces uneven co-optation of elites and non-elites as they are diffused through competing institutions. Conversely, the Egyptian political arena remains highly personalized as weak institutions and individuals are manipulated and molded according to the president’s ruling clique. This is referred to as personalized-patrimonialism. As a consequence, Egypt’s political establishment demonstrates more flexibility in ad hoc altering and adapting its arena depending on the emergence of crises.
This study’s theoretical implications suggest that, contrary to modernization and democratization theory’s adage that institutions lead to a political development, politicized institutions within a patrimonial order actually hinder regime adaptation because consensus is harder to achieve and maintain. It is within this context that Egypt’s de-politicized institutional framework advantages its top political elite. In this reading of Egyptian and Syrian politics, Egypt’s personalized political arena is more adaptable than Syria’s. These conclusions do not indicate that political reform is a process underway in either state
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