Non-Classical Role of Vitamin D and Development of Optimal Vitamin D Cut-Offs for Cardiametabolic Health Outcomes

Over the last decade, vitamin D deficiency has emerged as a potential risk factor for the development of cardiometabolic diseases. However, the evidence from epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials (RCT) has yielded conflicting results. Moreover, vitamin D guidelines by the Institute of Medicine and the Endocrine Society have led to substantial disagreement about what defines optimal levels of vitamin D status, owing in part to the inter-laboratory differences in the measurement of vitamin D status (as measured by total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]) and the inconsistent findings from epidemiological and RCT data in relation to non-skeletal health outcomes. For non-skeletal health outcomes, disagreement still exists about whether the optimal level of 25(OH)D is higher than the currently recommended levels of 25(OH)D for bone health. Therefore, the objectives of this dissertation were; i) to assess the dose-response relationship between standardized total 25(OH)D levels and cardiometabolic health outcomes; ii) to develop optimal vitamin D cutoffs in relation to cardiometabolic health, and; iii) to assess the clinical utility of total 25(OH)D as a biomarker for adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes. Studies 1 and 2 used cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2001-2010), and studies 3 and 4 used prospective data from NHANES III (1988-1994) mortality follow-up. Standardized total 25(OH)D data was used in all four studies. In study 1, results showed that a higher total 25(OH)D was inversely associated with cardiometabolic disease, irrespective of race/ethnicity. In study 2, the optimal total 25(OH)D associated with normal glucose and insulin homeostasis was estimated at 60 nmol/L overall, but differed by race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic whites: 68 nmol/L, non-Hispanic blacks: 41 nmol/L, and Mexican-Americans: 54 nmol/L). In study 3, low total 25(OH)D (<50 nmol/L) exacerbated the risk of cardiometabolic mortality associated with metabolic dysfunction in normal-weight and obesity groups. Finally, in study 4, a single measurement of total 25(OH)D <30 nmol/L in middle- to older-aged adults was associated with high lifetime risk of cardiometabolic mortality, particularly among those with 2 major traditional CVD risk factors. Taken together, these findings suggest that low total 25(OH)D is a strong risk marker of adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes

ASSISTING INTERIOR DESIGN CLASS USING ONLINE 3D APPLICATION

Learning visual subject that involves creativity, technicality and drawing skills is very challenging, time consuming and sometimes very frustrating. It requires passion and patience in order to understand and master the skills. Our study focuses on implementing a method to assist the students in understanding visual subject particularly perspective drawing in interior architecture program at the College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD), University of Sharjah. An online 3D application known as Autodesk Homestyler has been used to assist sophomore students to understand perspective drawings. The main problems for these students are difficulties in visualizing and understanding 3D space, scale, proportion and object depth in perspective drawing. Implementation of this method allows the students to understand the subject effectively. Samples of student work, before and after the implementation are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method. The result shows that traditional drawing skills that enhanced and aided by the technology such as online 3D application will give more result that is promising and this hybrid method has great potential for future development

A Comparative Study between Jordanian Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient (U-Value) and International Building Codes, With Thermal Bridges Effect Investigation

Depletion of fossil fuel and the environmental effect associated with the use of it have made the topic of “thermal insulation regulations” a major concern in country Jordan and worldwide. This paper reviews the overall heat transfer coefficient U-value in Jordanian code for the building envelope, which represents how much the building envelope transfer heat to the outside environment. U-value was reviewed with respect to the following factors, heating degree days, the heating load required to achieve thermal comfort. Based on the review a new U-value of 0.65 W/m2.K was proposed and it was found that this value reduces the energy demand almost 50%. Moreover, the thermal bridge effect was investigated and it was found that an obvious increase in the U-value is present when having thermal bridges; this will affect the energy demand, almost 200%

TINGKAT KETERAMPILAN DASAR SEPAKBOLA SSB PUTRA MUARA CUNDA U-16 KOTA LHOKSEUMAWE TAHUN 2019

ABSTRAKAlkhalidi, Muhammad, Wali. 2019. Tingkat Keterampilan Dasar Sepakbola SSB Putra Muara Cunda U-16 Kota Lhokseumawe Tahun 2019. Skripsi, Program Studi Pendidikan Jasmani Kesehatan Dan Rekreasi, Fakultas Keguruan Dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Syiah Kuala. Pembimbing:(1)Dr. Zulfikar, M.Kes.,(2) Karimuddin, S.Pd, M.Pd.Kata Kunci: tingkat keterampilan dasar sepakbola.Sepakbola merupakan permainan beregu yang terdiri dari sebelas pemain, salah satu bertindak sebagai penjaga gawang, pada saat mengikuti pertandingan pemain sering melakukan kesalahan-kesalahan teknik dasar seperti teknik passing yang tidak tepat ke arah tujuan, teknik dribbling yang mudah di rebut lawan, tidak berani melakukan heading sehingga menunggu bola jatuh ke tanah, dan teknik shooting yang lemah dan tidak tepat sasaran. Penelitian ini berupaya mengungkapkan tingkat keterampilan dasar sepakbola SSB Putra Muara Cunda U-16 Kota Lhokseumawe Tahun 2019. Pendekatan yang di gunakan adalah pendekatan kuantitatif. Dengan jenis penelitian deskriptif. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah atlet SSB Putra Muara Cunda U-16 Kota Lhokseumawe dan sampel yang berjumlah 24 orang. Teknik pengambilan sampel yang dilakukan adalah total sampling. Pengumpulan data yang di gunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah tes keterampilan dasar sepakbola yang di ukur dengan passing dan stopping, heading, dribbling, shooting. Data diolah dengan menggunakan statistik dalam bentuk perhitungan rata-rata, dan persentase.Berdasarkan hasil analisis data, temuan penelitian ini dapat di kemukakan sebagai berikut. 12 atlet berada pada kategori baik dengan rata-rata 64,45 dan persentase 50%, 10 atlet berada pada kategori cukup dengan rata-rata 58,74 dan persentase 41,66%, 2 atlet berada pada kategori sedang dengan rata-rata 52 dan persentase 8,33%.Simpulan penelitian ini adalah keterampilan dasar sepakbola pada SSB Putra Muara Cunda U-16 Kota Lhokseumawe Tahun 2019 berada pada kategori baik. Hal ini berarti passing dan stopping, heading, dribbling,dan shooting yang dimiliki oleh pemain berada pada kategori baik

Solarflux

Solarflux is a technological company developing solar concentrators to provide clean thermal energy. The issue that Solarflux is facing is the high installation cost of trenching in order to connect their concentrator to the grid for power. Therefore, Solarflux is looking into design alternatives to provide off-grid power to their product. Our capstone team is collaborating with Solarflux to help address this issue by designing a system to provide their solar concentrators with off-grid power. The goal of our final design is to provide Solarflux with 115 VAC of renewable, off-grid power via a photovoltaic (PV) solar powered system that will be attached to their flagship product. Our system will be powering the concentrator\u27s motor for sun tracking, and control system for operations. This means that we must be able to have enough solar power during the day to operate the system at peak power, as well as enough stored power to maintain system operations during the night, as well as any minimal sunlight event. The scope of our project is to design a solar powered system able to operate at a peak power of 200W, to supply enough battery storage for 2 to 3 days worth of stored power while maintaining healthy battery life, to develop a means of attaching our system onto the existing concentrator\u27s design, and to provide our client with electrical schematics and wind loading analysis to demonstrate the practicality of our design. Our proposed solar powered system consists of 10 solar panels collecting our DC power, a charge controller to regulate the voltages being outputted from the panels, 4 batteries to provide 14.4 kWh of storage, an inverter that will convert our power to 115 VAC to feed into the concentrator, and fuses where necessary to avoid dangers of electrical overload. This system has a minimum 10 year life expectancy with light maintenance required, and easy manufacturability as one cohesive product for our client

Job-search behaviour of Omani Graduates: Sohar University – a case study

Abstract Purpose of the study: The objectives of the study were to critically analyse and explore the factors affecting job-search behaviour and to analyse the effect of such factors on job-search behaviour. Design/Methodology: 145 samples were obtained using a well-structured questionnaire from the population of 677 graduated students from Sohar University, using convenience sampling technique and the data collected was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings: The results of the study revealed that most of the graduated students do not have a clear method to apply for a future job whereas they believe that the internet is the best way to find a job and the degree they possess will help them to find a job in the field of their expertise. It was also revealed that they were confident that they have gained sufficient knowledge and skills required from the university and they prefer to have a clear plan to find a job. Research Implications: It was suggested that the Government should create jobs based on skills and open channels to recruit skilled graduates.&nbsp; It was also suggested that the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) should try to alter the curriculum and introduce professional/technical courses eliminating the gap between the HEIs and the labour market. &nbsp; Practical Implications: The study will help the colleges and the universities in conducting workshops and the related activities in engaging students towards increasing their skills. Originality: No study was carried out before to study the job-search behaviour of Omani students and this is a study of its own kind

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease among a Sample of Undergraduate Medical Students in Baghdad

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a commonly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder in adults, it develops when the stomach contents reflux and rise up into the esophagus as a result from lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction. Very few studies on magnitude of GERD in student community have been done. The study aim was conducted to determine the prevalence of GERD among sample of  medical students and the potential risk factors associated with it. Method: A cross sectional descriptive study conducted on a sample of 300 undergraduate students of medical college/Baghdad university from 15th of January -1st of June 2020. All participants answered online questionnaire for GERD symptoms. The questionnaire included demographic data like age, gender, height and weight, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Statistical data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Results with a P value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total 300 participants of medical students, 216(72%) females & 84 (28%) males participants were evaluated for GERD, the mean (SD) age of the participants was 21.93(1.81)years, the prevalence of GERD was 13.3%, 86 (28.7%) of the participants had positive family history of GERD and had statistical significant association with GERD (P-value=0.001),28(9.3%) were sleeping within one hour of meal/dinner(P-value=0.001),antacids & PPIs takers were 38(12.7%) & 41(13.7%) respectively and had significant statistical association with GERD (P-value=0.001for each of them),20(6.7%) suffered from frequent belching (P-value=0.001).About 10.3% (31) of participants had Oesophageal-Gastro-Dudenoscopy (OGD), it was found statistically significant (P-value=0.03). No significant association between results of GERD score, general characteristics and dietary habits. Conclusions: This study found small prevalence of GERD among participants: Sleeping within one hour of dinner or meal, positive family history of GERD/heartburn/regurgitation, intake of antacids & PPIs for symptoms relief, having Oesphageal-Gastro-Dudenoscopy (OGD) and frequent belching were associated with GERD symptoms, no significant association was found between GERD and dietary habits

The effect of inter laminate layer on flexural strength for unsaturated polyester resin reinforced hybrid fabric composite

Link to publisher's homepage at https://ijneam.unimap.edu.my/The present study aims to examine the effects quality, sequence and direction of the layers for three types of fibers: orthogonal glass fibers, randomized glass fibers, short carbon fiber cut on the bending test using a bonding material, unsaturated polyester. The manual modulation method was used to manufacture a composite material of unsaturated polystyrene and three layers of glass fibers with 25% volume fracture a compound material of unsaturated polystyrene supported by chopped carbon fiber and fractions of 10% volume, and the manufacture of the hybrids with (glass - regular glass - random glass) and layers (regular glass - random glass - regular glass) and layers (regular glass - carbon 5% - regular glass). The results showed that the fiber orientation played an important role in determining the mechanical behavior of the composite materials. The values of the ionic coefficient increased by increasing the number of orthogonal layers of glass compared to random samples. The flexural stress for epoxy reinforcement by different kind hybrid composite according to the results, the mechanical behavior between the glass and hybrid composites may be due to the differences in the mode of load transfer at the fiber - matrix interface and, consequently, in the interfacial bond strength and who fiber can be interlaminating layers of composite

Influence of Different Temperatures on the Polymerization Pre- and Post-Cured of Various Resin Materials

Objective: To evaluate and compered the effect of different temperatures (5°C, 37°C and room temp. ±23°C) pre- cured and post-cured for three universal- Chroma composite materials (Hybrid-Nano fillers, Supra-Nano, Nano filler) on the polymerization degree and micro-hardness. Materials: A seventy-five disc-samples-shaped were fabricated from (Omnichroma, Vittra APS, DenFil N), for each test in different temperatures (5°C, 37°C and room temp. ±23°C) were light cured according to manufacture instruction. The Fourier trans-form infrared spectroscopy was used to the polymerization degree measured for each sample while the micro-hardness was measured by the using of Vickers hardness test. Data were analyzed using One-Way-Analysis of Variance at level p < 0.05. Results: The analysis showed that there was significant difference in the polymerization degree and in the micro-hardness of the samples fabricated at the different temperatures when heated pre- and post- cured of all materials increase, in the polymerization degree and the micro-hardness of the samples. Conclusions: Increasing three universal- Chroma composite materials (Hybrid-Nano fillers, Supra-Nano, Nano filler) temperature whether pre-cured and post-cured allows for maintaining or increasing polymerization degree and hardness of three universal- Chroma composite materials especially DentfilN Nano- filler composite