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This research focuses on the needs analysis and perspectives in evaluating English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses designed for medical students. The study intends to identify the medical students' perceptions of the frequency and importance of using English language skills. Two different instruments, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, were used to collect data. Respondents included 186 medical students, 4 ESP lecturers, and 10 Department of Medicine (DM) Subject Matter lecturers at Ibb University in Yemen. In this study, quantitative data were collected from three different subject groups (n=200) by means of three versions of the questionnaire. Correspondingly, some follow-up interviews, which were organised with a group of these three informants (n=29), complemented the data collection procedure. The collected data was analysed via the SPSS software package, followed by a qualitative data thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews. The findings showed some differences in which medical students believed the most frequent skills used are Listening and Reading, while their ESP and DM Subject Matter lecturers believed that medical students use Writing and Listening. The results revealed that although most of the English language skills and sub-skills in target needs were considered important or very important by all the participants, there were discrepancies in the preferences and priorities. The findings of this study are expected to be used as reference material for further research and give valuable considerations which may provide useful information for the ESP course designers to meet the target English needs of medical students in Yemen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ear keloids are abnormal continuously growing healing process following cutaneous injury. Surgical excision is the standard treatment strategy; however, 50–80% of cases develop recurrence. Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is commonly offered with a marked decrease in the recurrence rate. The variation in RT protocols used in different studies leads to a bias of results analysis. The aim is to present our experience of using surgical excision with postoperative radiotherapy for recurrent ear keloids. Also, studying different variables especially dose and keloid size that affects recurrence rate. Radiotherapy complications were reported and assessed. Patients and methods: Keloids between 2006 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-five ear keloids out of 83 cases who received RT after surgical excision were included in the study. Different dose regimens including 13 Gy/1fx, 8 Gy/1fx, 10 Gy/2fx, 15 Gy/3fx, and other fractionated regimens were used. The Median follow-up period was 35 months. Recurrence-free rate (RFR), side effects, and prognostic factors were assessed. Results: The overall 2-year RFR was 88 ± 5%. The 2-year RFR was 83 ± 8% for dose regimens with biological effective dose (BED) ≤ 40 and 92 ± 5% for regimens with BED > 40 Gy with an insignificant p value. The 2-year RFR was 74 ± 10% compared to 97 ± 3% for keloids > 2 cm and keloids ≤ 2 cm respectively (p value 0.02). The higher dose used for keloids with > 2 cm size significantly improved RFR. The orthovoltage therapy showed marginally better 2-year RFR compared to electron beam therapy; however, statistically insignificant (p value 0.09). The side effects were minimal with no reported second malignancy or serious G3-4 complications. Conclusion: Excision followed by RT is a safe and effective treatment for recurrent ear keloids. Low and modest radiation doses are effective; however, a higher dose is recommended for keloids > 2 cm. We recommend a prospective larger-scale study to test the effect of dose and keloid size on the treatment results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoma is a benign soft tissue tumor that is mostly found in the trunk, however, lipomas of the thumb are rarely reported, around 1% of cases. We report a case of a Saudi male aged 32-year-old who presented with a progressive left thumb swelling for a long time. The aim is to add more cases to the literature and to consider it as a differential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Economic Sciences, Management & Commercial Sciences (JESMCS) is the property of Association of Arab Universities and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Objectives: To explore patients’ thoughts and perceptions of information provision regarding dental implant treatment. Methods: This generic qualitative study involved 38 semi‐structured face‐to‐face and telephone interviews with 34 participants, who were at different stages of dental implant treatment. The interviews were transcribed verbatim. The data collection and coding process followed the principles of qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Clinical sources of information were generally trusted by patients; however, patients clearly lacked information relative to their own specific situation, concerns and preferences, and this may lead to patients’ reliance on other general sources of information. Crucial information on the long‐term prosthesis needs was requested by patients at all treatment stages. Issues concerning the longevity and functional capability of the implant restoration and the long‐term maintenance including optimisation of hygiene practice were questioned by patients and required greater explanation. Conclusion: With growing patient interest in implants for replacement of missing teeth, complete and accurate knowledge and understanding of implants should be established with patients. This should be undertaken with more reliance on reliable clinically based sources of implant information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Engineering Sciences is the property of Faculty of Engineering - Assiut University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In Islam, all legitimate motives for asylum are valid. From its beginning, Islam has provided for the granting of refuge as well as the protection of refugees. The Islamic concept, practices and principles on the matter are clear and unambiguous. Islamic Shari'ah embraces a comprehensive set of rules concerning this topic on the one hand; on the other hand, the greatest number of refugees are actually Muslims and those hosting them are nearly all Muslim States. The refugees currently fleeing to Europe from Muslim States may be divided into two groups, namely: those pushed to flee their countries under threats of war, torture or persecution; and those motivated to improve their status quo. It is self-evident that the first ones are the 'true refugees' in the eyes of Islam as well as international refugee law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of arrhythmia and recognized as a risk factor for thromboembolism. Endothelial damage or dysfunction may contribute to increase the risk of thromboembolism via the mediation of a prothrombotic or hypercoagulable state. Objectives: The aim of the current study is to investigate endothelial dysfunction (represented by brachial flow-mediated dilatation “FMD”) and inflammation (represented by hs-CRP) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Subjects and methods: Forty-two patients with AF taken from the Cardiology Department and Outpatients Clinic, Specialized Medical Hospital, Mansoura University, in the period between February 2011 and May 2011 were enrolled in our study, the patients were then subsequently divided according to the clinical type of AF into Group I: comprised 20 patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) with mean age 57.35y. Group II: comprised 22 patients with chronic AF (CAF) with mean age 57.68y. Twenty control subjects without AF were enrolled in this study (Group III). Patients and control groups were subjected to clinical evaluation, electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography and brachial FMD (using external brachial ultrasonography. Serum level of hs-CRP was assessed in all subjects. The diameter change induced by FMD was expressed as the percent change relative to that at the initial scan (FMD%) according to the following equation: Results: Left atrial diameter was significantly increased when compared either GI or GII with control group (3.96±0.27; 4.7±0.48 vs 3.05±0.35cm) (P <0.001). Brachial flow-mediated dilatation difference and percentage change of FMD were significantly lower in groups I and II in comparison to group III (0.09±0.05; 0.09±0.04 vs 0.79±0.07mm) and (1.96±0.98; 1.99±0.89 vs 18.3±3.26) (P <0.001). High sensitive CRP was significantly higher when compared either group I or group II with control group. Also hs-CRP has significantly increased when compared GII with group I (8.35±1.55; 10.58±1.75 vs 3.61±0.61mg/L) (P <0.001). Conclusion: Patients with PAF are comparable in the degree of endothelial dysfunction (reflected as impaired brachial artery FMD) and inflammatory element (reflected as a higher serum hs-CRP) to CAF. This may explain why the risk of thromboembolism in PAF is comparable with that in CAF patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background and aim: Patients with diabetes mellitus are at increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a serious complication of diabetes, as it can contribute in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and has been weakly linked with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Our aim was to investigate the effect of presence or absence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) on systolic and diastolic LV function in normotensive type 1 diabetic patients by using both conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Subjects and methods: Fifty two type 1 diabetic patients entered this study. They were divided into two groups. The first group included 24 patients with evidence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. The second group included 28 patients without evidence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. In addition to 18 healthy normal weights non diabetic subjects as a control group. Complete clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, lipid profile, urinary albumin excretion, HbA1c and 12 leads ECG were done to all participants. Conventional and tissue Doppler indices of systolic and diastolic left ventricular function were recorded. Results: Heart rate was significantly higher in diabetic patients with CAN compared to both diabetic patients without CAN and normal control subjects (P <0.001, <0.001, respectively). Glycemic control as assessed by HbA1c was more worse in diabetic patients with CAN compare to diabetic patients without CAN (P <0.001). As regard conventional echo-Doppler, there were a significant difference in A wave velocity and E/A ratio in diabetic patients with or without CAN compared to control (P <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, respectively). Tissue Doppler indices show a significant difference at the lateral annular side in Em and Am velocity and Em/Am ratio in diabetic patients with or without CAN vs. control (P <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.05, <0.05, <0.01, respectively) and also, between diabetic patients with CAN vs. diabetic patients without CAN (P <0.001, <0.05, <0.01, respectively). Also, tissue Doppler indices show a significant difference at the septal annular side in Em and Am velocity and Em/Am ratio in diabetic patients with or without CAN vs. control (P <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.01, <0.05, <0.05, respectively) and also, between diabetic patients with CAN vs. diabetic patients without CAN (P <0.001, <0.05, <0.01, respectively). Contrary to that, no significant differences were found in LV systolic function parameters measured by either conventional or tissue Doppler imaging among the three groups. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that, LV diastolic function was impaired in normotensive type 1 diabetic patients and, the presence of CAN is associated with more deterioration in diastolic function. Systolic function is seems to be unaffected. TDI should be the preferred modality in evaluation of LV function as it can detect minimal changes in diastolic function much earlier than conventional echo-Doppler. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A hybrid energy system (HPS) simulation model is developed to maximize the renewable energy extraction at Farafra, an oasis in Egypt. In Farafra a microgrid composed of 2*1.6 MW+1*2MW+2*2.5MW diesel generating units (DG) is already installed and serve an electric demand consisting of 52365 KWh/day. The system may need to be upgraded. In the model, part of the load is recommended to be supplied as deferrable load. Also battery/convertor modules are added in the HPS so that when renewable power generation exceeds local demand, energy can be stored and used during times when renewable power is not available or the electrical load increases. The model is based on two types of renewable power generation: wind turbine generator and photovoltaic generator in conjunction with existing diesel generators supply sources. The HOMER software was used to select an optimum hybrid energy system sized according to the electric demand, the availability of renewable energy resources and to maximize the renewable energy to total energy ratio. The optimization process simulates every system configuration in the search space and the feasible ones are sorted by total net present cost (NPC). Sensitivity analysis shows that the most least cost and optimized hybrid system is combination of 231 Enercon (330 kW) WTG; 155 Surrette 4KS25P batteries; and a 283 kW Convertor requiring only 3916 hours annual operation of one of the 1.6 MW diesel generators and 2306 hours annual operation of the 2.0 MW diesel generator. The two 2.5 MW diesel generators are saved. The photovoltaic array was not chosen because its costs were not justified with this particular solar regime and diesel cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]