141 research outputs found
Diurnal dysfunction in control of sodium excretion in diet-induced obesity
No full textThe renal endothelin system plays a key role in sodium excretion, particularly under high salt (HS) diet. HS stimulates renal endothelin-1 (ET-1), which binds and activates the endothelin receptor B (ETB) to excrete the excess salt. Loss of ETB receptor is linked to the development of hypertension under HS. Central clock genes are important in maintaining rhythmic patterns of sodium excretion and ET-1 is identified as a target for clock genes, including Period and Bmal1. ET-1 excretion follows a diurnal rhythm along with sodium excretion. Sexual dimorphism is evident in the diurnal regulation of endothelin-mediated natriuresis and its downstream targets. Obesity enhances sodium reabsorption leading to the development of hypertension. However, the role of renal ET-1 diurnal rhythms in obesity is poorly understood. Recent studies showed that Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl SS) rats on HF diet have impaired ETB-mediated natriuresis. However, whether this impairment occurs in obesity in general is not known. The overarching hypothesis of this dissertation is that diet-induced obesity impairs diurnal renal salt handling ability that is associated with renal ET-1 dysfunction in a sex-specific manner. After 8 weeks of high fat (HF) diet, male rats had significantly reduced natriuresis in response to an acute NaCl injection when given at the beginning of their active period. This was mirrored by lower ET-1 excretion and lower ET-1 mRNA expression in the kidneys of HF-treated rats. HF-treated males had higher blood pressure and developed salt sensitivity on HS diet. Females fed a HF diet showed intact acute natriuretic response and ET-1 excretion rates similar to normal fat (NF) controls. While female rats developed hypertension on HF diet, they were not salt sensitive, which points out a clear sex difference in response to diet-induced obesity and suggests that obesity-associated hypertension is ET-1 independent in female rats. In addition, females fed regular chow had a lower natriuretic response to blockade of ET-1 downstream target channel, ENaC, by benzamil compared to males at different times of day. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that HF diet modulates renal ET-1 system and highlights this impairment as a potential mechanism in the development of obesity-induced hypertension
AN ANALYTICAL STUDY FOR THE PRODUCTIOB OFSTRAWBERRYS CROP (CASE STUDY IN THE BEHEIRA GOVERNORATE)
No full textThe paper shows the development of strawberries crop area in Behera governorate during the period 2001-2015 showing that its lower area was about 150 feddan and its maximum area was about 2320 feddans. The general time trendof area was 120 feddans a year during the studied period. Strawbarries production, on other hand, was between 600 ton and 6830 during the above period. Despite the importance of strawbarries are in the governorate, its total production was only 42.731 or 48% of total production in Egypt. This may be explained by the low productivity of most varieties cultivated by farmers. For this, the study is concerned with the cultivation of varieties with high productivity per feddan. The study depends on the results of a sample of farmers in the governorate to estimate production and cost functions to evaluate factors affecting these functions. The study reveals that the sample farmers in Kom hamada-which represents about 81% of total strawbarries production are producing in the first stage of the production function. This means that farmers do’ nt use the optimum method of production. The study estimate cost production and the size of farm that minimize cost and that maximize profit for the farm four groups and for the total sample
A Comparative Study on the Impact of Critical Thinking and Rote Memorization on End-of-Science Test Scores of Fifth Grade Students in Science in Egypt: Implications for Educational Leaders, 2019
No full textThe main objective of this study was to understand whether critical thinking teaching strategies or rote memorization teaching strategies produce better end-of-science test scores of fifth-grade students or not in a school in Egypt. To achieve this goal, the researcher used a pretest, posttest, and quasi-experimental design. Two classrooms—one using rote memorization teaching strategies and the other using critical thinking teaching strategies based on Bloom’s Taxonomy—were used for the study. The researcher described these tools as follows: a pre and post cognitive information test, questionnaires, and a purposed teaching program. The statistical analysis was carried out with the purpose of answering the research questions and led to the following results: There were no statistically significant variations between the critical thinking group and the rote memorization group as shown in the pretest stage indicating inadequate mean scores. Upon administration of the experiment, results indicated a statistic difference between the critical thinking group and the rote memorization group after administration of the test. The mean difference between the two groups was substantial and notable. The study also found minimal difference between the pretest and posttest rote memorization groups which shows that rote memorization is ineffective in contributing to memory and application of acquired knowledge. Critical thinking has been applauded in its role to enhance performance among students which was demonstrated in the study with substantial difference between the pretest and posttest critical thinking group. Additionally, the study was particularly significant in showing the importance of using critical thinking strategies to improve science course outcomes among fifth graders. Moreover, the study provided new insight on the impact of socioeconomic status on end-of-science test scores. The relationship between socioeconomic and science test scores can be attributed to such variables as interest in science, opportunities to education and cognitive factors. There is also a relationship between fifth grade students/teachers interactions (after classroom intervention) and end-of-science test scores in the critical thinking group
Unlocking AI-Powered Tools Adoption among University Students: A Fuzzy-Set Approach
No full textThis study examines, from a post-pandemic theoretical perspective, university students' continuous intention (CI) to utilise AI-powered tools for educational purposes. AI-powered tools are new and underutilised in higher education. The fact that students and teachers need knowledge to use these apps in the classroom compounds the issue. Despite this technology's recent academic introduction, nothing is known about its impacts. In order to investigate the variables that influence the continual intention to employ artificial intelligence, this study discusses the possibility of integrating the self-determination theory (SDT) and technology acceptance model (TAM) with the post-acceptance model (PAM). Three hundred forty university students were solicited to complete a questionnaire to collect data for the proposed model. A dual-stage approach uses both symmetrical assumptions from structural equation modelling with partial least squares (PLS-SEM) and asymmetrical configurations from fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). In order to better comprehend the intricate interplay between the model's inputs and its desired output, this approach is devised. Consideration is given to the fact that various configurations of external constructs exert distinct influences on internal constructs. In Thailand, perceived usefulness (PU) and autonomy predict continued AI-powered tool use. Perceived ease of use (PEOU) did not affect continuing intention. Conclusions drawn from the configurational analysis show that no single factor adequately explains a high CI level. Rather, three distinct configurations were identified as improving CI using AI-powered tools. Overall, theoretical and practical ramifications are addressed
Reply to: Suboptimal accuracy of GES score to stratify post SVR HCC risk in a single‐centre cohort of European cirrhotics
No full textAssociation of interleukin-6 and its -174G/C promoter polymorphism with clinical and laboratory characteristics of non hepatitis C virus rheumatoid arthritis patients
No full textLactic acid 5% mouth wash vs Kenalog in Orabase 0.1% for treatment and prophylaxis of recurrent aphthous ulcer
No full textEFFICACY OF THE PERIOPERATIVE VENLAFAXINE VERSUS PREINCISIONAL PARAVERTEBRAL BLOCK ON POSTMASTECTOMY PAIN SYNDROME: RANDOMIZED TRIAL
No full textUnlocking AI-Powered Tools Adoption among University Students: A Fuzzy-Set Approach
No full textThis study examines, from a post-pandemic theoretical perspective, university students' continuous intention (CI) to utilise AI-powered tools for educational purposes. AI-powered tools are new and underutilised in higher education. The fact that students and teachers need knowledge to use these apps in the classroom compounds the issue. Despite this technology's recent academic introduction, nothing is known about its impacts. In order to investigate the variables that influence the continual intention to employ artificial intelligence, this study discusses the possibility of integrating the self-determination theory (SDT) and technology acceptance model (TAM) with the post-acceptance model (PAM). Three hundred forty university students were solicited to complete a questionnaire to collect data for the proposed model. A dual-stage approach uses both symmetrical assumptions from structural equation modelling with partial least squares (PLS-SEM) and asymmetrical configurations from fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). In order to better comprehend the intricate interplay between the model's inputs and its desired output, this approach is devised. Consideration is given to the fact that various configurations of external constructs exert distinct influences on internal constructs. In Thailand, perceived usefulness (PU) and autonomy predict continued AI-powered tool use. Perceived ease of use (PEOU) did not affect continuing intention. Conclusions drawn from the configurational analysis show that no single factor adequately explains a high CI level. Rather, three distinct configurations were identified as improving CI using AI-powered tools. Overall, theoretical and practical ramifications are addresse
Placental protein 13, galectin 14 and pentraxin 3 for prediction of preeclampsia in Egyptian patients
No full text- …
