Food elimination based on IgG antibodies in irritable bowel syndrome: a randomised controlled trial

Background: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often feel they have some form of dietary intolerance and frequently try exclusion diets. Tests attempting to predict food sensitivity in IBS have been disappointing but none has utilised IgG antibodies. Aims: To assess the therapeutic potential of dietary elimination based on the presence of IgG antibodies to food. Patients: A total of 150 outpatients with IBS were randomised to receive, for three months, either a diet excluding all foods to which they had raised IgG antibodies ( enzyme linked immunosorbant assay test) or a sham diet excluding the same number of foods but not those to which they had antibodies. Methods: Primary outcome measures were change in IBS symptom severity and global rating scores. Non-colonic symptomatology, quality of life, and anxiety/depression were secondary outcomes. Intention to treat analysis was undertaken using a generalised linear model. Results: After 12 weeks, the true diet resulted in a 10% greater reduction in symptom score than the sham diet ( mean difference 39 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 5 - 72); p = 0.024) with this value increasing to 26% in fully compliant patients ( difference 98 ( 95% CI 52 - 144); p< 0.001). Global rating also significantly improved in the true diet group as a whole ( p = 0.048, NNT = 9) and even more in compliant patients ( p = 0.006, NNT = 2.5). All other outcomes showed trends favouring the true diet. Relaxing the diet led to a 24% greater deterioration in symptoms in those on the true diet ( difference 52 ( 95% CI 18 - 88); p = 0.003). Conclusion: Food elimination based on IgG antibodies may be effective in reducing IBS symptoms and is worthy of further biomedical research

Photoshop (CS6) Intelligent Tutoring System

In this paper, we designed and developed an intelligent tutoring system for teaching Photoshop. We designed the lessons, examples, and questions in a way to teach and evaluate student understanding of the material. Through the feedback provided by this tool, you can assess the student's understanding of the material, where there is a minimum overshoot questions stages, and if the student does not pass the level of questions he is asked to return the lesson and read it again. Eventually this administration is a special teacher for the students and can continue with him until he fully understands the lesson without weariness or boredom, regardless of the level of student

Analysis of Infusion Pump Data from CHEO

The thesis objective is to analyze smart infusion pump data from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario to learn about pump usage. Trends in compliance and hard limit events were shown to be potentially associated with drug library updates, and can be used to assess library changes. In a case study for the drug gentamicin, selection errors were the cause of more than 50% of hard limit events. A human computer interaction issue was identified as the problem, where gentamicin has two library entries that are named in a manner that may be confusing. Decision trees were used to determine factors that are associated with hard limits. Results showed that higher hard limit event rates were associated with the NICU and Emergency profiles, and with patients who weighed over 48 kg; these factors can be used to target training and research. This thesis contributes to research in medication errors and patient safety

Training Assessment of Palestinian Contractors

The construction industry is the instrument through which urbanization is undertaken. As it is generally recognized as the major locomotive, the construction industry sets the tone for the national economy. In recent months, the construction activities have increased considerably and several major housing and infrastructure projects are now under way both in the West Bank and Gaza. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a training programme, which is conducted in the Gaza Strip for Palestinian contractors. The primary purpose of the programme was to improve management and increase productivity of existing small scale construction enterprises in Palestine. An assessment of Improve Your Construction Business (IYCB) is made. The qualitative research of interviewing was used in this study. This has been conducted by reviewing project documents, reports, publications and interviewing all the project's stakeholders, at the institutional level as well as the level of the intended direct and indirect beneficiaries. The paper concludes with a set of findings and recommendations in order to supply the necessary feedback and information needed to assess and possibly revise policies, strategies, objectives, institutional arrangements and resources

Appraisal of Hybrid Foundations on Loose Granular Soil of Western Saudi Arabia

Western Saudi Arabia is the most important geographic location for the Islamic world. Millions of pilgrims annually visit the region. To accommodate this huge number of pilgrims, various tall buildings are constructed, yet there is a need for many more. The demolition of old buildings is also in progress. The soil supporting of the foundations mostly comprises sand with varying relative density. Most of the buildings are supported by conventional foundations, which require deep excavation for low relative densities. The combinations of pile and raft or hybrid foundations have been effectively used in tall buildings around the globe. In this research, COMSOL Multiphysics FEM analysis has been adopted to investigate the performance of a hybrid foundations with different pile combinations supported on loose granular soil. The results reflect the effective utilization of the hybrid foundation on loose sand. The arrangement of piles in the foundation system can affect the economy and safety of the structure

Under the Same Sky: Cairo

I lived for ten years on the 14th floor of a high-rise in Cairo. I was amazed to discover the vast variety of life on the rooftops that lay beneath me. I took photos, excited by the different scenes of daily life that I witnessed. The people who live on the rooftops have a different and separate life from the people who live in the buildings themselves; those residents as well as the pedestrians on the street below have no idea what goes on above them

Learning Computer Networks Using Intelligent Tutoring System

Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) has a wide influence on the exchange rate, education, health, training, and educational programs. In this paper we describe an intelligent tutoring system that helps student study computer networks. The current ITS provides intelligent presentation of educational content appropriate for students, such as the degree of knowledge, the desired level of detail, assessment, student level, and familiarity with the subject. Our Intelligent tutoring system was developed using ITSB authoring tool for building ITS. A preliminary evaluation of the ITS was done by a group of students and teachers. The results were acceptable

Training Assessment of Palestinian Contractors

The construction industry is the instrument through which urbanization is undertaken. As it is generally recognized as the major locomotive, the construction industry sets the tone for the national economy. In recent months, the construction activities have increased considerably and several major housing and infrastructure projects are now under way both in the West Bank and Gaza. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a training programme, which is conducted in the Gaza Strip for Palestinian contractors. The primary purpose of the programme was to improve management and increase productivity of existing small scale construction enterprises in Palestine. An assessment of Improve Your Construction Business (IYCB) is made. The qualitative research of interviewing was used in this study. This has been conducted by reviewing project documents, reports, publications and interviewing all the project's stakeholders, at the institutional level as well as the level of the intended direct and indirect beneficiaries. The paper concludes with a set of findings and recommendations in order to supply the necessary feedback and information needed to assess and possibly revise policies, strategies, objectives, institutional arrangements and resources