33 research outputs found
Reflectance spectroscopy and ASTER mapping of aeolian dunes of Shaqra and Tharmada Provinces, Saudi Arabia: Field validation and laboratory confirmation
No full textSpatial variability of grain sizes and mapping of aeolian dunes is important to study the sand erosion, transport, and dune movement and to understand the dune encroachment and land degradation. This study examines the grain size statistical parameters and mineralogical composition of 68 sand samples collected from 17 crescentic dunes and assesses the source and depositional environment of these dunes. The analyses of samples for grain sizes resulted that the sands are characteristics to fine with an average size of 2.28 Φ and classified as moderately well-sorted(0.59 Φ), mesokurtic (0.97 Φ), and fine to coarsely skewed (0.14 Φ). X-Ray Diffraction shows that the dunes are deposited mainly by quartz, calcite, and haematite. The occurrence of absorption features near 0.5, 0.9, and 2.22 μm confirm the presence of such iron and aluminosilicate minerals in the dunes. The dunes of the provinces were mapped using TIR bands of ASTER satellite data by Carbonate index (CI) and Quartz index (QI). A good agreement among the results of grain size analyses, spectral measurements, mineralogical studies, and mapping of dunes with the field observations suggests that the sand deposits in the study area have a diversity of sources in the aeolian environment.This project was supported by King Saud University, Deanship of Scientific Research, College of Science Research Center
Real-time self-regulation of emotion networks in patients with depression
No full textThis is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited - Copyright @ 2012 Linden et al.Many patients show no or incomplete responses to current pharmacological or psychological therapies for depression. Here we explored the feasibility of a new brain self-regulation technique that integrates psychological and neurobiological approaches through neurofeedback with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In a proof-of-concept study, eight patients with depression learned to upregulate brain areas involved in the generation of positive emotions (such as the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and insula) during four neurofeedback sessions. Their clinical symptoms, as assessed with the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS), improved significantly. A control group that underwent a training procedure with the same cognitive strategies but without neurofeedback did not improve clinically. Randomised blinded clinical trials are now needed to exclude possible placebo effects and to determine whether fMRI-based neurofeedback might become a useful adjunct to current therapies for depression.This work was supported by the Wales Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience with funds from the Welsh Assembly Government and by the Medical Research Council (grant reference G1100629/1)
Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-81-217-1086: Miller Electric Company; Woonsocket, Rhode Island
No full textIn June of 1981, a preliminary ergonomic evaluation at the Miller Electric Company (SIC-364), Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was conducted. During prior surveys, cumulative strain disorders had been reported. The workforce comprises 415 production workers, who are mostly female. Observation of jobs revealed that repetitive flexion and extension of the wrist, radial and ulnar deviations, and pinching were commonplace. Stressful motions in particular jobs included: wrist flexion while inserting blades into the fixture on the Miller Molder; extension and ulnar deviation of wrists while performing the blading operation; and open hand pinching while packing light socket assemblies. The author concludes that a hazard of developing musculoskeletal disorders of the hand and wrist existed. These disorders are likely to continue unless work practice modifications are implemented. Biochemical stresses could be reduced by workplace redesign and administrative controls
Evaluation of Antibiotic Therapy and Clinical Outcomes for Community-acquired Pneumonia in Hospitalized Adults: A prospective cohort study in Palestine
No full textCommunity-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is considered as the most common infectious cause of death and the second most common cause of hospitalization in the United States. CAP is a major cause of antibiotics prescription and hospitalization worldwide, so rational prescribing of antibiotics needs to be paid attention. Data describing the actual management and effectiveness of several classes of antibiotics in treating CAP patients in Palestine are limited
Use of remote sensing data in assessment land cover changes, land use patterns and land capabilities in AL-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia
No full text© 2017 by International Journal of Ecology & Development. The Qassim region of central Saudi Arabia is one of the most important agricultural regions in the country especially for date cultivation. In the present study, Land sat TM and ETM+ data for the period 1999-2013 are used to study the land use, land cover changes in the area. Satellite images from path/row 168/042 constitute the study area. Three major land use/land cover classes are considered: hilly areas (364,407 ha), vegetated land (1,776,698 ha), and sand dunes (1,523,669 ha). The vegetated land constitutes the class 1, which is comprised of the wades mainly devoted used for for date production. Sand dunes are designated the class 11 and covered a large portion of the study area whereas the Hilly areas are unproductive and constitute as class 111.The vegetative land are surrounded by sand dune which is the most fragile system of the area and leads to damage some productive lands in the area. It is necessitates to study the area for suitable land management practices and for possible approach to stop the sand drifting or sand encroachment in the area. The land use capabilities classification of the study area includes three main classes: LUC I, LUCII, and LUC III. Slopes ranging between 0°and 20°correspond to areas that areflat, gently undulating, undulating, rolling, strongly rolling, moderately steep and steep, respectively. The slope categories dictate the usage patterns of the lands in the study area, which range from suitable to unsuitable to productive lands
Application of geoaccumulation index and enrichment factor for assessing metal contamination in the sediments of Kafrain Dam, Jordan
No full textHealth Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-85-480-1771: Genie Home Products; Shenandoah, Virginia
No full textIn response to a request from the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Technical, Salaried and Machine Workers in Shenandoah, Virginia, an investigation was made of the health effects of repetitive motions required in many of the jobs at Genie Home Products, Inc. (SIC-3699) Shenandoah, Virginia. Remote control garage door openers, motorized remote control switches, heavy duty rotators, and antenna rotors were produced at this facility. Data were gathered concerning the number of injuries and worker's compensation reports as they related to job activities, symptoms and illnesses for 1984, 1985 and January through March of 1986. The incidence of hand/wrist cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) was significantly reduced over this period of time. Many of the job interventions undertaken at Genie during this time, particularly the torque limiters on the air powered nut drivers, represented not only technology and design that reduced stressful work postures, but also facilitated production. The author concludes that ergonomic improvements in jobs where workers had experienced CTDs have reduced the incidence of these disorders over the previous 2 years. Recommendations are made by the author for further reducing biomechanical demand on some specific jobs
Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HETA-90-251-2128: Dow Jones and Company, Inc.; Dallas, Texas
No full textIn response to a request from OSHA, an evaluation was undertaken of lower extremity musculoskeletal problems among printers related to ergonomic working conditions in the composing room at Dow Jones and Company (SIC-2711), Dallas, Texas. In November of 1989 several changes occurred in the composing room environment. The carpet on the floor was removed and a tiled floor installed. Stools used by printers during downtime were removed and sitting in the composing room was not allowed unless the employee was assigned a sitting job. In March of 1990 a compromise was reached as a result of management/union negotiations; mats were installed and sit-down breaks during downtime were permitted. An ergonomic evaluation of the composing room was performed, and questionnaires administered to all 20 printers and eight of nine news production staff members. New onset of lower extremity discomfort following the changes in the composing room was reported by 25% of printers and 13% of news production staff; 60% of printers and 25% of the news production staff reported lower extremity discomfort following the floor surface change. Static standing postures were observed among printers at the make/up banks. The author concludes that an ergonomic hazard existed in the composing room among printers due to static standing postures. Unadjustable workstations were also creating an ergonomic hazard for short statured workers. The author recommends measures to remedy the situation
Examination of the factors social TV acceptance among Arab students
No full textSocial TV is a new media platform that allows users to watch television shows and movies together with friends and family online. It has the potential to revolutionize the way that people watch television, but it is still in its early stages of development. This study examines the factors that influence social TV acceptance among Arab students. A survey was conducted among Arab students in the United Arab Emirates to collect data on their social TV acceptance and the factors that influence it. The survey used a Likert scale to measure the respondents' level of agreement with statements about social TV. The data collected from the survey was then analyzed using statistical methods On a sample of 100 students, the results of the study shown the relationship between Cultural values with Interdependence, Social norms with Interdependence, Cultural values with Perceived Ease of Use, Social norms with Perceived Ease of Use, and Media consumption habits with Perceived Ease of Use. Use, Interdependence and Acceptance of Social TV resulting from students' follow-up to social TV. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024
Hepatorenal Syndrome: Diagnosis and Effect of Terlipressin Therapy in 4 Pediatric Patients
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