A comparative approach of forming love in the love letters of Ghassan Kanafani and Simón Bolívar

Este estudio representa un enfoque comparativo de la formación del amor en las cartas amorosas de Ghassan Kanafani y Simón Bolívar con un dominador común: La lucha por la liberación del patria de la ocupación, enamorarse y escribir cartas amorosas a la amada; Las cartas de ambos combatientes, o algunas de ellas, por lo menos, han llegado a ser publicadas, y convertidas en una propiedad de los lectores, así como se han convertido en una ventana a través de la cual podemos conocer a estos dos combatientes y grandes amantes.This study offers a comparative approach in forming love in love letters of Ghassan Kanafani and Simón Bolívar as they both have the involvement in national struggle in common in order to liberate their countries from occupation, falling in love and writing love letters to the beloved. Both of them have their letters or some of these letters – at least- published and became the property of all their readers. They became also a window through which we can become familiar with those two heroes freedom fighters and great lovers

YORwalK : Desiging a Smartphone Exercise Application for People with Intermittent Claudication

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a chronic cardiovascular disease. It is highly prevalent in older adults. Mobile Health (mHealth) and Telehealth technologies are considered two central digital solutions for enabling patient-centred care. There is evidence that physical activity apps can improve health outcomes in adults. The aim of this project is to develop a prototype of smart phone app to target patients with PAD, which we named YORwalK, to promote exercise and track changes in walking ability in this population. We used a multidisciplinary team combined with a User Centred Design approach. We performed an evaluation survey using modified System Usability Scale (SUS). The survey was to assess the usability of the App and completed by health care professionals. The App was developed based on the concept of promoting behaviour change through feedback and life style prompts. YORwalK features incorporate self-monitoring and motivating feedback. SUS result indicating higher usability of the App

Noni leaf and black tea enhance bone regeneration in estrogen-deficient rats

Objective: Black tea and Nonileaf are among the dietary compounds that can benefit patients with bone resorption disorders. Their bone regeneration effects and their mechanisms were studied in estrogen-deficient rats. Methods: Noni leaves (three doses) and black tea water extracts were fed to ovariectomized rats for 4 mo, and their effects (analyzed via mechanical measurements, micro-computed tomography scan, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction mRNA) were compared with Remifemin (a commercial phytoestrogen product from black cohosh). Results: The water extracts (dose-dependently for noni leaves) increased bone regeneration biomarker (runt-related transcription factor 2, bone morphogenetic protein 2, osteoprotegerin, estrogen receptor 1 [ESR1], collagen type I alpha 1A) expressions and reduced the inflammatory biomarkers (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, nuclear factor [NF]-κB, and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand) mRNA expressions/levels in the rats. The extracts also improved bone physical and mechanical properties. The extracts demonstrated bone regeneration through improving bone size and structure, bone mechanical properties (strength and flexibility), and bone mineralization and density. Conclusions: The catechin-rich extract favored bone regeneration and suppressed bone resorption. The mechanisms involved enhancing osteoblast generation and survival, inhibiting osteoclast growth and activities, suppressing inflammation, improving bone collagen synthesis and upregulating ESR1 expression to augment phytoestrogenic effects. Estrogen deficiency bone loss and all extracts studied (best effect from Morinda leaf at 300 mg/kg body weight) mitigated the loss, indicating benefits for the aged and menopausal women

Uncovering the processes and consequences of Egyptian immigrant parental involvement in their children’s education: Bridging cultural differences

Abstract For more than a decade, researchers have concluded that immigrant parents face several barriers to becoming involved in their children’s education. All studies agree that language and cultural differences are the most significant barriers to immigrants’ involvement in their children’s education, yet we know little about what these cultural differences are and how these cultural differences influence the school involvement of immigrant parents. This study integrates theories of cultural differences, acculturation, and culture shock and the corresponding literature to investigate the lesser involvement of immigrant parents in school-related activities. A focused ethnographic design was employed and a thematic analysis was conducted on data resulting from interviews comprised of hypothetical scenarios and open-ended questions given to twenty Egyptian immigrants and ten school personnel of the Waterloo Region District School Board. In addition, several close-ended questions were asked of Egyptian participants for the purpose of collecting demographic and language information. The findings of this study were categorized under four major themes of home-school relationship, cultural differences, acculturation journey, and resilience. Parent participants of this study had both positive and negative experiences with the Ontario educational system, were mainly involved in home-related activities and less involved in school-related activities, and had faced several barriers to their parental involvement in their children’s education. Unlike previous studies, this study found that cultural differences have both positive and negative influences on Egyptian immigrant parental involvement in their children’s education. The three identified cultural differences in this study are the consequences of the determined four cultural dimensions (high power distance, collectivism, high uncertainty avoidance, and high context); the differences between Ontario’s educational system and the educational system in participants’ home country; and the differences between the ways in which participants and school personnel expressed their concerns. In addition, the findings of this study provide an understanding of the conditions, processes, and outcomes of the acculturation journey that influence parent participants’ involvement in their children’s education. This study concludes by providing a comprehensive model to understand Egyptian parental involvement in their children’s education. The implications of this study are of special interest to school personnel, social workers, settlement workers, educators, researchers, and any stakeholders who work with immigrants in order to provide immigrants with the services that best meet their needs

Toxicity and Biodegradability of Novel Boronium vs Conventional Ammonium-based Antimicrobial Compounds in Wastewater Treatment Systems

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are highly effective as disinfectants, herbicides, and pesticides; thus, overuse causes elevated levels of residual toxicity in domestic and industrial wastewater. QACs can be toxic to essential bacteria breaking down pollutants in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and can remain untreated in effluent, harming the environment, and contributing to antibiotic resistance, posing risks to human health. Novel boronium-based antimicrobial compounds have demonstrated efficacy in eliminating bacteria, fungi, and viruses. If the boronium compounds exhibit lower residual toxicity, they could offer a promising alternative to QACs. Because these compounds are still in development, their potential toxicity to the biological WWTP process is yet to be fully evaluated. Therefore, the objective of this study is to conduct a comparative toxicity analysis between the QAC (alkyl (ethylbenzyl) dimethylammonium chloride) and three novel boronium compounds. The analyses performed follow guidelines set by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and utilize a standard freeze-dried aerobic bacterial culture that closely mimics WWTPs’ mixed bacteria communities. Toxicity is assessed by measuring and comparing the dissolved oxygen consumption rate (DOCR) of the bacterial culture, which was fed an ideal substrate, in the presence of the test compounds at varying concentrations. Experiments were conducted by comparing QAC to boronium compounds at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 22 mg/L, based on expected residual levels in wastewater. Initial results show that the QAC is less toxic than the boronium C16 compound and that the QAC is less toxic than the pyridine boronium C16 compound. However, the bacteria used in this study exhibited signs of adaptation to the boronium C16 compound with concentrations of 22 mg/L, 5.5 mg/L and 0.344 mg/L and to the pyridine boronium C16 compound with concentrations of 11 mg/L, 5.5 mg/L, 2.75 mg/L and 1.375 mg/L. Additionally, initial results show that the Gemini salt is less toxic than the QAC. The duration of future experiments for the QAC and the three boronium compounds will extend beyond 7 days to better capture bacterial adaptation and to determine if boronium compounds exhibit lower residual toxicity than QACs

Toxicity and Biodegradability of Novel Boronium vs Conventional Ammonium based Anti Microbial Compounds in Wastewater Treatment Systems

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are highly effective as disinfectants, herbicides, and pesticides; thus, overuse causes elevated levels of residual toxicity in domestic and industrial wastewater. QACs can be toxic to essential bacteria breaking down pollutants in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and can remain untreated in effluent, harming the environment, and contributing to antibiotic resistance, posing risks to human health. Novel boronium-based antimicrobial compounds have demonstrated efficacy in eliminating bacteria, fungi, and viruses. If the boronium compounds exhibit lower residual toxicity, they could offer a promising alternative to QACs. Because these compounds are still in development, their potential toxicity to the biological WWTP process is yet to be fully evaluated. Therefore, the objective of this study is to conduct a comparative toxicity analysis between the QAC (alkyl (ethylbenzyl) dimethylammonium chloride) and three novel boronium compounds. The analyses performed follow guidelines set by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and utilize a standard freeze-dried aerobic bacterial culture that closely mimics WWTPs’ mixed bacteria communities. Toxicity is assessed by measuring and comparing the dissolved oxygen consumption rate (DOCR) of the bacterial culture, which was fed an ideal substrate, in the presence of the test compounds at varying concentrations. Experiments were conducted by comparing QAC to boronium compounds at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 22 mg/L, based on expected residual levels in wastewater. Initial results show that the QAC is less toxic than the boronium C16 compound and that the QAC is less toxic than the pyridine boronium C16 compound. However, the bacteria used in this study exhibited signs of adaptation to the boronium C16 compound with concentrations of 22 mg/L, 5.5 mg/L and 0.344 mg/L and to the pyridine boronium C16 compound with concentrations of 11 mg/L, 5.5 mg/L, 2.75 mg/L and 1.375 mg/L. Additionally, initial results show that the Gemini salt is less toxic than the QAC. The duration of future experiments for the QAC and the three boronium compounds will extend beyond 7 days to better capture bacterial adaptation and to determine if boronium compounds exhibit lower residual toxicity than QACs.https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/honors_college_posters/1046/thumbnail.jp

Unloading shoes for intermittent claudication: a randomised crossover trial

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the functional effects and acceptability of rocker-soled shoes that were designed to relatively “unload” the calf muscles during walking in people with calf claudication due to peripheral arterial disease. Methods: In this randomised AB/BA crossover trial, participants completed two assessment visits up to two weeks apart. At each visit, participants completed walking tests whilst wearing the unloading shoes or visually-similar control shoes. At the end of the second visit, participants were given either the unloading or control shoes to use in their home environment for 2 weeks, with the instruction to wear them for at least 4 hours every day. The primary outcome was 6-minute walk distance. We also assessed pain-free walking distance and gait biomechanical variables during usual-pace walking, adverse events, and participants’ opinions about the shoes. Data for continuous outcomes are presented as mean difference between conditions with corresponding 95% confidence interval. Results: Thirty-four participants (27 males, mean age 68 years, mean ankle-brachial index 0.54) completed both assessment visits. On average, the 6-minute walk distance was 11 m greater when participants wore the control shoes (95% CI -5 to 26), whereas mean pain-free walking distance was 7 m greater in the unloading shoes (95% CI -17 to 32). Neither of these differences were statistically significant (p=0.18 and p=0.55, respectively). This was despite the unloading shoes reducing peak ankle plantarflexion moment (mean difference 0.2 Nm/kg, 95% CI 0.0 to 0.3) and peak ankle power generation (mean difference 0.6 W/kg, 95% CI 0.2 to 1.0) during pain-free walking. The survey and interview data was mixed, with no clear differences between the unloading and control shoes. Conclusions: Shoes with modified soles to relatively unload the calf muscles during walking conferred no substantial acute functional benefit over control shoes