47 research outputs found
Clinical significance of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen in multitransfused hemodialysis patients
No full textBackground: In spite of the progress made in the prevention of transfusion transmitted infections over the last few years, transmission of HBV infection through transfusion of HBsAg negative blood has been documented. Objectives: To assess the frequency and clinical significance of anti-HBc in multitransfused hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: One hundred and forty-three hemodialysis patients who had been receiving blood regularly with an average of 39.4±7.579 months on hemodialysis were enrolled in this study. HBV markers (HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs) were measured in these patients and in 100 healthy controls by the ELISA technique. The following data were obtained for all patients: socio demographic data, number of blood transfusions and some laboratory investigations. Results: In our patients, anti-HBc was positive in 9%, anti HBs in 7%, coexistant HbsAg/anti-HBc in 2.8% and anti HBc /anti HBs in 18.9%, meanwhile no patients were positive for HBsAg alone. In patients with only positive anti-HBc, the levels of anti-HBc were significantly related to abnormal results of liver function. In patients with positive anti-HBs/anti-HBc (n = 27), 18 patients had abnormal liver function, and 9 patients had normal liver function with no significant difference between them. Conclusions: This study suggests that hepatitis B prevalence in our multitransfused hemodialysis patients is far in excess of that anticipated on the basis of HBsAg prevalence. Absence of HBsAg in the blood of hemodialyzed patients may not be sufficient to ensure lack of circulating HBV, and isolated positivity of anti-HBc may be a possible indicator of active hepatitis B infection
Prevalence of, risk factors for, and oxidative stress associated with Toxoplasma gondii antibodies among asymptomatic blood donors in Egypt
Get PDFUtilization of Palm Wastes for Production of Invert Sugar
No full textAbstractAn economically attractive technique was adopted using date palm fibers as a new carrier for invertase adsorption and for invert sugar production. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the results of incubation of Baker's yeast with palm fibers in aqueous solution at 40° C for half an hour. CO2 produced from this reaction was employed as a reactant and it succeeded to modify the cellulosic surface of the palm fibers. This increased the capacity of invertase that had been secreted from Baker's yeast to be immobilized tightly on the cellulosic surface of the fibers. These results confirmed by FTIR and SEM. Characterization of the enzyme indicated that 1 gram of immobilized invertase on such wastes can produce 600mg of invert sugar. By this technique, Egypt would be able to supply 6 million kg invert sugar per year. Molasses used instead of sucrose to assess the sustainability of the process
Public Policy Development and Implementation in the United Arab Emirates. A study of organizational learning during policy development and implementation in the Abu Dhabi Police and the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Interior
Get PDFThis reflective analysis of the Emirati public policy process (PPP) cycle and implications of uneven application of new public management (NPM) paradigms in the UAE offers insight into the way that public administrations develop, learn, evolve, and cope with new challenges during the policy development process. The author also assesses the relationship between organizational learning and organizational practices, to generate practical knowledge and experience that is translated into recommendations that will benefit UAE government organizations, and indeed any public sector organization in the Gulf Region.
Inside action research was chosen to emphasize the author's dual role as both a researcher and a participant. As an advisor to both the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) of the UAE and the Abu Dhabi Police (ADP), the author helped both organisations improve their PPP experiences while researching the challenges, learning, and adaptations which occurred while policy was being developed within the MOI. The author generated data through reflective memos, informal interviews, and document analysis, and presents her findings in terms of both academic findings and practice-oriented recommendations.
The author primarily found that new models were necessary to reflect the highly flexible and authority-oriented UAE PPP cycle. The author also explored how cultural understandings led to challenges with NPM and learning in the UAE public administration, hindering policy development. Finally, the author found that her own position, as a female expatriate in the Emirati government, allowed for some valuable reflection about experience of serving in a Global South public administration
Impact of socioeconomic and behavioral factors on oral health of adult Americans: analysis of the 2011-2016 NHANES data
No full textOral health is a critical determinant of overall health with reported links to adverse chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Several risk factors related to lifestyle behaviors and socioeconomic characteristics have direct influence on the oral health status. In order to establish specific oral health care measures the relationship of demographics and behavioral factors specifically dietary and smoking habits with oral health was examined. The individual socio-demographic and major dietary characteristics were analyzed using univariate models, while the interaction of these factors with general oral health was evaluated as a multivariate model using a binary logistic regression. The dataset from 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey targeting civilian, non-institutionalized adults living in the 50 States of USA and the District of Columbia was used to conduct this secondary analysis. Findings indicate health insurance was associated with a lower risk for urgent dental treatment [F(1, 47)=212.2, P< 0.001] and untreated dental caries (OR = 1.6, P<0.001). Older age group was found to experience more tooth loss (OR =19.9, P< 0.001) and less likely to suffer from dental decay (OR =077, P=0.007), while African-Americans were more likely to experience both dental decay and tooth loss (OR =1.75, P<0.001, OR =2.2, P<0.001, respectively). The prevalence of tooth decay in U.S adults aged 20 years and above was approximately 21%. Current smokers [F(2, 94) = 143, P < 0.001] and males [F(1, 47)=64.4, P < 0.001] were more likely to need urgent dental care. Higher sugar intake was associated with poor oral health. Modifiable unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, gender, age, ethnicity and health insurance are important predictors of poor oral health status in adult population. Collectively, these findings provide important insights into the relationship between multiple behavioral as well as socioeconomic factors and oral health that have considerable public health implications and can be an important measure to monitor the progress of health promotion goals set by public health programs.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
Clinical significance of serum B cell chemokine (CXCL13) in early rheumatoid arthritis patients
No full textA Case Study of International ESL Learners' Perceptions of Technology Use in English Language Learning
No full textResearch in English as a Second Language (ESL) learners' perceptions of integrating technology in language learning is still relatively new. Most studies focused on the integration of one technology application in language instruction. In this study, the author examines the perceptions of six ESL international students in the English Language Center at UMBC about their experience in computer-assisted language learning (CALL). The study implements a variety of technology applications. A case study research methodology was used. Individual case studies and cross-case study techniques were employed. Data collection involved a survey, initial and final interviews, observation, and researcher's reflective journal. The analysis of the findings was organized in four major categories: learners' statements about their perceptions, learners' behaviors while interacting with technology tools, and learners' concerns about limitations of technology integration, and researcher's perceptions of the limitations. The findings revealed learners' positive perceptions of technology applications as language learning tools, with a deep concern for the communicative, collaborative and interactive nature of the applications. The use of technology in language learning was always supported by the presence of the language instructor as a coordinator and facilitator of the learning experience. Trust in the instructor's ability to connect the technology learning tools with the learning goals was deeply valued. Through this experience, the researcher, who was also the instructor for the course, learned the importance of class instruction and technical support for technology use in the language classroom
E-commerce web design guidelines for teen shoppers
Get PDFNowadays E-Commerce has become a hot topic. Previously the field of ecommerce was only interested in doing business by organizations, companies, and adult people. But recently online business owners, started to focus on teenagers because they spent much more time using the World Wide Web than the adults and the numbers of teenagers goes online increases. Thus, the websites designers focus on designing e-commerce websites for teenagers, putting in their consideration the teenagers’ drifts and tendency and how the harmony of the teenagers with the portal will be attained. The lack of existing studies of designing guidelines for developing e-commerce portals for teen shopper become a crucial factor that should be considered. Therefore, the need for standard guidelines arises, and should be followed in order to increase the effectiveness of the portals. Such guidelines as animation, audio, and celebrity’s news. This research focuses on the main issues in designing e-commerce portals for teen shoppers and tries to solve the main question “how to develop and design an e-commerce website for teen?”. This research aims to study and understand the concept of e-commerce portals and design guidelines for teenagers. The author hopes that the designed portal will be more suitable with the context and the targeted group of it
The Effect of a Whole Brain Teaching Based Instruction on Developing Number Competencies and Arithmetic Fluency in Kindergarten Children
No full textYoung children need to be taught using effective interventions. A good teaching method is one that will increase children's motivation to learn, keep them aware of their understanding and encourage them to reflect on what they learn, if this teaching is based on relevant and visible training. Otherwise, they may suffer from delays in mathematics. One of these effective interventions is Whole Brain Teaching (WBT). The participants were 90 kindergarten children recruited from two public kindergarten schools in Matrouh city, Egypt. Two classes, with 45 children in KG1, were randomly selected using the fishbowl method. Children aged 4 and above (KG1 children) were targeted. In order to analyze the data from the pre- and post-test, the author used the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) V18.0. two- way ANOVA analysis and t-test. The findings of the study confirmed that adopting Whole Brain Teaching (WBT) approach helped in the increasing of student's involvement. Third, the intervention allowed children to see, say, hear and move physically, and this resulted in the emotional involvement in lessons presented. Gradually, as lessons progress, children become more fluent. The effectiveness of WBT had great results which were obvious on children’s learning, affection and behaviour. During and after the presentation and application of the intervention, children maintained behavioural engagement. Prior to the intervention, the teacher took a long time trying to manage children
