60 research outputs found
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
Relationship between Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections and Levels of Basic Inflammatory Indicators in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
No full textRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered one of the complex autoimmune diseases that affects not only the body\u27s joints but can also affect various organs of the body. There are several inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) used to estimate the activity and progression of the disease (RA). The current study aims to highlight the effect of bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) on the level of some inflammatory indicators (ESR and CRP), in addition to the level of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in the peripheral blood of patients with RA. The present study included 70 patients suffering from (RA) divided into two groups, the first group contained 40 patients (24 female and 6 male) with RA and UTI; the second group, 29 patients suffering from RA (24 female and 5 male) without bacterial UTIs, and 30 healthy control cohorts. The study showed that the levels of ESR, CRP, and ANA in the group of patients suffering from RA and bacterial UTI were not statistically different from their levels in patients suffering from RA only (without bacterial UTIs). The bacterial species (UTIS) did not affect the levels of ESR, CRP, and ANA in patients with RA and UTIs. The current study showed that bacterial infection of the urinary tract does not affect the level of basic inflammatory indicators (ESR and CRP) in patients with RA. It also does not affect the level of ANA. The study showed that the age factor and the period of treatment that a patient with RA undergoes do not affect the incidence of bacterial UTIs.
 
An intelligent differential protection of power transformer based on artificial neural network
No full textThis paper describes the application of artificial neural network (ANN) techniques for protecting small power transformer 2 kVA (Terco type). ANN network trained according to the primary and secondary currents data under NN tool, this network performs as a function of differential protection relay. Symmetrical and unsymmetrical faults are analyzed using Matlab environment. ANN network senses the difference in the internal current of both transformer sides and sending a trip to the circuit breaker (CB) at moment of fault occurrence. All the voltages and the currents waveforms affected with the fault and the response time increased according to this technique. Finally, the trip signal and the quick disconnect time were improved according to ANN technique
PI controller for DC motor speed realized with simulink and practical measurements
No full textThis article describes the methodology of speed control by understanding control method of DC motor, definitely, armature and field resistances with additional to armature voltage control methods. The speed of DC motor is controlled PI controller as donor in this work. Using Matlab simulation and practical measurements, Terco DC motor speed control is achieved in this work. The results that obtained from Matlab simulation circuit is appeared approximately similar that obtained by practical connection
Cross-sectional study of cattle Babesiosis and associated risk factors in Nyala, South Darfur, Sudan
No full textA cross-sectional was performed in Nyala, South Darfur State, Sudan, over the time from November to December 2016, to determine the prevalence of bovine babesiosis and the potential risk factors associated with the infection. A total of 300 blood samples were randomly collected from three different areas, slaughterhouse, animal fauna, and dairy farms. Data on the risk factors, such as area, breed, age, sex, body condition, and tick infestation were recorded using questionnaires. The overall prevalence was 59.3% (178/300) using the microscopic examination of Giemsa stained slides. A significant variation in the prevalence of bovine babesiosis was observed among the three areas, whereas dairy farms (74%) having a significantly higher (p = 0.001) prevalence than the other areas. A factor found to be significantly associated with the infection with Babesia was the breed of cattle (p = 0.000), where the prevalence was higher in the crossbreed cattle (74%) than local breed cattle (52%). Other risk factors, like body condition, sex, age, and tick infestation were not found to be significantly associated with bovine babesiosis. However, the highest prevalence rate was recorded in males (65.3%) than females (58.1%), in young animals (62.5%) than adult (58.6%), in animals with poor body condition (64.3%) than the other, and in the animal non-infested with ticks (60.5%) than animal infested with ticks (55.8%). The present study revealed that the number of cattle suffering from babesiosis in Nyala was great. Therefore, sampling during different seasons and using molecular diagnostic methods are recommended for accurate prevalence estimate.Keywords: Babesia, risk factors, cattle, Nyala, Suda
Methods of curing geopolymer concrete: a review
No full textGeopolymer concrete is a new approach of concrete production by exclusion of ordinary Portland cement entirely with pozzolanic material. Beside water, concrete is the largest consumed substances, which demand huge portion of Portland cement. During Portland cement manufacturing process, high emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) is produced which results in polluting the surrounding environment. Moreover, a lot of energy is expended during cement production. Based on manufacturing situations, geopolymer concrete displays different behaviors and attributes. This paper succinctly discusses the different methods of curing of geopolymer concrete and figures out the best method of curing. Experimental findings revealed that condition of curing has a good influence on the mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete. Conventionally, ambience temperature curing of geopolymer concrete result in low strength development at an early age, while higher temperature curing results in significant strength improvement. Similarly, extended curing time enhanced the geopolymerisation mechanism and achieved greater strength. However, longer duration of curing at an elevated temperature result in failure of the sample
Antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of the methanol Mimosa himalayana extract
No full textThe aim of the study was to evaluate antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanol extract of Mimosa himalayana Gamble (Fabaceae) along with a preliminary phytochemical screening. The antipyretic and analgesic effects were tested in Swiss mice, while anti-inflammatory in egg albumin, taking paracetamol, diclofenac sodium and acetyl salicylic acid as standards, respectively. The results suggest that, the crude stem extract of M. himalayana revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, saponins and gums. It exhibited antipyretic and analgesic activity at 200 and 400 mg/kg, while anti-inflammatory at 40, 80 and 160 µg/mL in the test systems. The activities were significant (p <0.05) in comparison to the negative control group with a high dose/concentration-mediated higher response manner. We suppose the alkaloids and glycosides may contribute its anti-inflammatory potential, which may link to the antipyretic and analgesic effects of the M. himalayana. In conclusion, M. himalayana may be one of the best sources of plant-based medicines, especially anti-inflammatory agents.</jats:p
Predictors of surgical site infection following reconstructive flap surgery: A multi-institutional analysis of 37,177 patients
No full textPurpose: Rates of surgical site infection (SSI) following reconstructive flap surgeries (RFS) vary according to flap recipient site, potentially leading to flap failure. This is the largest study to determine predictors of SSI following RFS across recipient sites. Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for patients undergoing any flap procedure from years 2005 to 2020. RFS involving grafts, skin flaps, or flaps with unknown recipient site were excluded. Patients were stratified according to recipient site: breast, trunk, head and neck (H&N), upper and lower extremities (UE&LE). The primary outcome was the incidence of SSI within 30 days following surgery. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed to determine predictors of SSI following RFS. Results: 37,177 patients underwent RFS, of whom 7.5% (n = 2,776) developed SSI. A significantly greater proportion of patients who underwent LE (n = 318, 10.7%) and trunk (n = 1,091, 10.4%) reconstruction developed SSI compared to those who underwent breast (n = 1,201, 6.3%), UE (n = 32, 4.4%), and H&N (n = 100, 4.2%) reconstruction (p <.001). Longer operating times were significant predictors of SSI following RFS across all sites. The strongest predictors of SSI were presence of open wound following trunk and H&N reconstruction [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.82 (1.57–2.11) and 1.75 (1.57–1.95)], disseminated cancer following LE reconstruction [aOR (CI) 3.58 (2.324–5.53)], and history of cardiovascular accident or stroke following breast reconstruction [aOR (CI) 16.97 (2.72–105.82)]. Conclusion: Longer operating time was a significant predictor of SSI regardless of reconstruction site. Reducing operating times through proper surgical planning might help mitigate the risk of SSI following RFS. Our findings should be used to guide patient selection, counseling, and surgical planning prior to RFS. 2023 Hassan, Abou Koura, Makarem, Abi Mosleh, Dimassi, Tamim and Ibrahim
Drilling Problems Detection in Basrah Oil Fields Using Smartphones
No full textAbstract
Basrah oil fields contain many unresolved drilling problems, some of which are treated with difficulty, inefficiency, and sometimes leading to a more complex problem. These inefficient problems handling procedures lead to a longer Non-Productive Time (NPT). This lack in efficiency often comes from inadequate preparation, or the slow decision making in the detection of the drilling problems. The main objective of this study is to provide the optimum solutions for the drilling problems in Basrah oil fields on smartphones to achieve credible and quick treatments anywhere on the field.
Tracing of the problems, the gathering process of the field data, and the analysis of the field procedures to treat a problem, all of which were difficulties and challenges faced. Field data deficiency was confronted in many stages.
Throughout this paper, strategies of treatment procedures for the problems that could be encountered while drilling in Basra oil fields are discussed such as Dammam formation's losses, Tanuma's shale instability, Mishrif's special treatments so as not to damage the reservoir, and many others. Discussion of every formation that is drilled from the surface to Mishrif formation will be carried out with the explanation of the problems that was faced in offset wells, in addition to the problems that have a possibility to happen in each formation. The treatments for each problem were based on past field experience and standardized procedures. All of the formations, the problems, and the treatments are constructed in an application called Problems Detector 1.0 (PD) that functions on smartphones that obtains a familiar user interface and can be used anywhere on the field. Two advanced programming techniques are used to construct PD using an Object Oriented Programming language (OOP) that is java, they are the classify algorithm and a well secured database used to enhance the application's capabilities to detect problems and secure the wellbeing of the data that are mounted in PD, respectively.
As a result, a full database of the drilling problems in Basrah oil fields has been constructed. All the problems that could be tackled while drilling with the possibility of their occurrence, the causes of these problems, the indications of the problems on the rig, and the treatment of each problem were all parts of the database set in PD.
Smart phones showed very high efficiency and speed in determining the problems and presenting the solution which can be used on field by the drilling engineer and/or the driller, therefore; the presentation of smartphones to the petroleum industry has proven its importance and value.</jats:p
Development of rubberized geopolymer interlocking bricks
No full textWaste tires contribute badly to the environment on a huge scale as they are bulky, non-biodegradable, and prone to fire and being a shelter for mosquitos and other insects. This paper reports on a novel approach towards the development of rubberized brick by utilizing crumb rubber as the sole fine aggregate in the production of geopolymer interlocking bricks. The response surface methodology (RSM) from Design Experts software has been used to determine the numbers of trial mixes and their corresponding ingredients. A total of thirteen trial mixes were carried out and tested for compressive strength and the RSM model was developed to predict the design mix based on the targeted compressive strength. The mix design was obtained to be an 18 M for NaOH and 0.8 solution to fly ash ratio. The geopolymer interlocking rubberized bricks were then produced and tested for compressive strength, dimension, modulus of rupture, water absorption, initial rate of absorption, and efflorescence. The geopolymer interlocking rubberised bricks presented a low compressive and flexural strength and a high-water absorption capacity. The bricks were rated as non-effloresced and classified as 3rd class bricks which can be used as non-load bearing material. It is recommended to utilize nano silica in order to increase the strength of the brick. Keywords: Rubberized bricks, Crumb rubber, Interlocking bricks, Geopolymer, Response surface methodolog
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