Jordan University of Science and
Technology
Deanship of Research
Funded
Research
(1999 & 2000)
January 2001
INTRODUCTION
A Royal decree
was issued on September 1, 1986 establishing the Jordan University of Science
and Technology (JUST) as an autonomous national institute for higher education.
It is located at 20 km to the east of Irbid, the second city in Jordan, and 80
km to the north of Amman, the capital. The area of its campus is about 11000
dunums with buildings that were constructed according to the latest
architectural designs appropriate to the nature of its scientific faculties.
The size of its campus reflects Jordan educational and research ambitions in
the various fields of science and technology. Since its foundation the university
has witnessed continuous growth in all aspects. The number of its faculties
rose from five to eleven, i.e. Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy,
Nursing, Agriculture, Science and Arts, Veterinary Medicine, Computer and
Information Technology, Applied Medical Sciences, and Graduate Studies. In
addition, the university has the Deanships of Research and Student Affairs.
Also there was a great increase in number of enrolled students which rose from
2300 in 1986 to reach 12000 in 2000/2001. Similarly, the number of the faculty
members rose from 110 when the university was founded to reach 550 at the
present. The University has 130 scholars still studying for doctorate degrees
in various specializations. The university awards B.Sc. degrees in 36 programs,
and graduate degrees in 56 different programs (Diploma, High Specialization,
M.Sc., and Ph.D.).
Research plays
a basic role in the mission of the university. We believe that the university
is an institution not only for training young men and women; but also for
developing, disseminating, and applying science and knowledge in order to
improve in one way or another the quality of life of the people. This can only
be achieved through research. Therefore; research is considered an integral
part of the development plans of Jordan. We look at research as a major goal of
academia and achievements in this area are extremely important. Only through
research, the improvement of the academic standards of the university’s faculty
members and the international recognition of the university can be
accomplished. The deanship of research is in charge of sponsoring, managing,
and coordinating research activities conducted by the university faculty
members. The major goals of the deanship are:
1- Encouraging researchers to address problems
that are of priority to the developmental needs of Jordan.
2- Providing needed services and advanced
laboratory facilities for research.
3- Attracting research funds from different
outside sources for research projects.
4- Building relations of cooperation and exchange
of expertise with research institutions and centers at home and abroad.
5- Patenting inventions and their registration in
order to protect the rights of the university and the researchers.
This volume
introduces the research activities at JUST to national and international
agencies. It includes the abstracts of the funded research during the year 2000
and a list of the funded research titles for the year 1999. Also included two
figures that show the number of funded research projects and budget allocated
for research during the period from 1987 to 2000. We hope that this volume
reflects the commitment and aspiration of our faculty members to research.
Deanship of Research
January 2001
Abstracts
for Funded Research
During the Year 2000
Faculty of Engineering
Theoretical & Experimental Study of
Separation of Alcohol-Water Mixture by Molecular Sieve
Hussein Allabon, Fahmi Abu Alrub, and
Ammar Eisa
Project No.: 18/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2900 JD
ABSTRACT
Separation of
alcohol – water vapor mixtures by adsorption of water vapor on molecular sieves
will be investigated. The effects of liquid composition, mass of molecular
sieves, alcohol – water vapor flow rate, and pore size on the efficiency of
separation will be studied.
A mathematical
model that describes the adsorption process will be formulated and solved for
each alcohol water mixture and the results will be compared with the
experimental ones.
Information System of Progress Evaluation of Public Project in
Jordan
Abdalla Qudah, and Hussien AL Battaineh
Project No.: 22/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1150 JD
ABSTRACT
An information
system for progress evaluation of projects was developed. The system includes a
relational database of contractors, consultants, general and periodic progress
information of public projects in Jordan. The system includes a list of all
classified contractors and consultants and their classification. The system
provides mangers and decision-makers with the progress curves and progress parameters
needed to identify and assess the extent of delay and cost overrun of a
particular project as well as of group of projects of common characteristics.
The information system was used to evaluate the progress of public building and
road projects. The evaluation is based on planned and actual progress data of
164 buildings and 28 roads constructed during the period of 1996 – 2000. The
evaluation aimed at identifying the different factors and characteristics
associated with projects that have encountered extensive delays and cost
overrun. The project characteristics considered in the evaluation were: (1)
contract duration; (2) contract value; (3) project location; (4) contractor
classification; (5) type of consultant; and (6) source of funding. The results
of the progress evaluation were: (1) public projects, specially roads, suffered
from extensive delay and cost overrun: the respective average time and cost
growths were 60.45% and 12.45% for road projects, and 20.32% and 3.93% for
buildings; (2) the higher the contract value and contract duration the less the
time and the cost growths; (3) international financing improves the cost
performance but has negative effect on time performance; (4) projects consulted
by private firm has less cost growth but more time growth than projects
consulted by public consultants.
Remote Sensing and GIS-Assisted
Modeling of Soil Induced
Erosion Hazards: A Case Study in the North & Northwest
of Jordan
Abdallah I.Malkawi, and Nezar A.
Hammouri
Project No.: 29/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1300 JD
ABSTRACT
Soil erosion is
considered as a major problem that restricts and reduces the use of
agricultural lands. The problem has a significant impact in arid and semi-arid
environments, commonly regions where quantitative information on erosion rates
is severely lacking. In Jordan, the agricultural lands are mainly located in
the northern and western parts of Jordan. These lands, which represent only
(5%) of Jordan, are the only source crops, therefore, the soil erosion is
considered as severe problem in Jordan.
The following
objectives are expected to be achieved during this study:
-
Estimating erosion impact in the north
and north-west of Jordan using GIS and Remote Sensing Analysis.
-
Estimating soil erosion parameters for
Jordan
-
Optimizing land use and prevention
procedure for sustained soil and land use.
-
Simulation human activities impact on
landscape process.
Behavior of Extended End Plate for Beam – to – Column
Connection
Khairedin M. Abdalla, G. Abu-Farsakh,
and S. Barakat
Project No.: 30/2000 Amount
of Fund: 5000 JD
ABSTRACT
The research
project will describes an experimental investigation into the structural
behavior of flexible end plate beam–to–column connections. A series of tests on
a variety of beams-to-column joints will be tested under gradually increasing
static loads. An optical technique will be adopted for the measurement of
rotations of the beam and the column. The moment rotation characteristic is the
most important influence on the response of members or frames. A review is made
of all available test data.
Multiobjective Reliability-Based Optimization of Prestressed
Concrete Girder Bridges
Samer Barakat, and Mohammed Qahtan
Project No.: 33/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1950 JD
ABSTRACT
A comprehensive
study on the optimal probabilistic design of prestressed concrete beams (PCB)
is presented. The Feasible Direction Method is used to obtain a set of optimal
geometrical dimensions of asymmetrical I-beam cross section, and amount of
prestressing steel. The bonded tendon type is considered in application of
post-tensioned beam with a single duct of parabolic shape. Many parameters were
analyzed including the effect of span length considering different loading
cases. The performance constraints in the deterministic approach, according to
the ACI 318/95 Building Code provisions, are based upon the flexural stresses,
the prestressing losses, the ultimate shear strength, the ultimate moment
capacity of the section with respect to cracking moment and factored loads, the
crack width, the immediate deflection and the long term deflection. A practical
and efficient reliability based-structural optimization (RBSO) approach is
conducted to design PCB. The solution is obtained using an optimization-based
program linked to a reliability analysis program. In this program, the first
order second moment reliability method for the aforementioned components and
systems is employed. Material properties, loading and models used to predict
structural behavior at all stages, are treated as random variables. An approach
of single objective RBSO (SORBO) of PCB to minimize the overall cost of the
beam in terms of concrete, prestressing steel, mild steel and formwork is given
by a one-point solution. This solution does not provide enough information for
decision making in the design process. Hence, the multiobjective
reliability-based optimization (MORBO) of PCB is shown to be practically
feasible and more beneficial than SORBO. An algorithm to handle uncertainty in
MORBO problems considering the -constraint method is used and the
Pareto optimum solutions are obtained. Secondary and tertiary competing
objective functions have been simultaneously applied for both minimizing the
overall cost and the long term deflection, as well as maximizing; the system
reliability index, the reliability of flexural strength capacity, and the
reliability of tensile stress at service stage. The probabilistic designs are
performed using two types of target reliability index. As a result of MORBO
solutions, the design charts and their interaction curves are developed. These
charts can be used by the designers in selecting the best-desired solutions.
Modeling of Turning Process
Fikri Dweiri, Mohammed Hayajneh, and
Wafa' Bataineh
Project No.: 34/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1620 JD
ABSTRACT
This thesis
proposes a new three-dimensional cutting process model. The basic features and
improvements over previously developed models include: (1) cutting force
calculations based on the concept of equivalent orthogonal cutting process
(EOC), which converts the modeling of three dimensional cutting process into
the modeling of orthogonal cutting processes. In the model, both cutting force
coefficient and chip load are considered as functions of cutting conditions,
tool geometry, machine-tool structural vibrations. (2) microstructure hardness
variation of work piece material has been taken into consideration. (3) the
regenerative mechanism and mode coupling effect in machining are included. The
structural dynamics equations, which include five vibration modes, are in the
form of a set of simultaneous different equations. The forth-order Runge-Kutta
method is applied to solve these equations numerically. Based on the proposed
model, systematic simulation of turning processes has been conducted. The simulation
results show the relation between the cutting force and surface finish (output
of the process) and the feed, spindle speed, depth cut, nose radius, rake and
lead angles (the input parameters of the process). The simulation results of
surface finish and cutting force are verified experimentally. The simulated
surface finish and cutting force are in agreement with the experimental
results.
Using MODFLOW and MT3D Groundwater Flow and Transport Models
as a Management Tool for the Azraq Groundwater System)
Mohanned Al-Sheriadeh, Yahia Majali,
and Randeh Hatamleh
Project No.: 35/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1850 JD
ABSTRACT
The present
research is intended to manage the withdrawal of groundwater from Azraq Field
without the danger of water being depleted or threatened by salinity intrusion
into the freshwater. The work methodology stems mainly on models simulation, by
the which the groundwater flow and constituents transport are first studied and
physically captured. Once completed, management options will be investigated on
the basis of scenario simulation to find out the best alternative which
groundwater system sustainability.
Effect of Soil-Water Separation Techniques on the Adsorption
Characteristics of Bacteria Onto Soil
Munjed Al-Sharif, Jamal Abu-Ashour, and
Samah Sami
Project No.: 36/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2850 JD
ABSTRACT
A suite of
laboratory batch experiments using a tracer bacterium, nalidixic acid-resistant
Escherichia coli (E.coli NAR), were used to study the effect of
three soil-water separation techniques on determining the adsorption
characteristics of bacteria onto soil. The used techniques are: centrifugation,
sedimentation, and filtration. For each method of separation three types of
adsorption isotherms were examined to investigate the applicable isotherm. They
are: linear, Langmuir, and Freundlich isotherm.
Results showed that, the used biotracer
survive well in soil and water for 7 days Period. The partitioning of E.coil
NAR with the used loamy soil was controlled by an equilibrium model. The
Equilibrium State was reached after 1-hr mixing. Linear isotherm applied to the
different separation techniques can best describes the adsorption of E.coli
NAR onto soil for the used range of E. coli NAR concentration.
Filtration technique provides the highest effect in biotracer retardation,
water-soil separation and hence the adsorption of E.coli NAR per unit
mass of soil. Whereas, gravity settling of E. coli NAR was not
significant when they are present in water, and gives the lowest amount of biotracer
adsorption.
Retention of Selected Heavy Metals on Clayey Soils from
Irbid Region
Munjed Al-Sharif, and Ruba A. Al-Zoubi
Project No.: 37/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1550 JD
ABSTRACT
The removal of
some heavy metals; namely, zinc and cadmium, from aqueous solutions through
retention on soil is investigated. A series of laboratory column and batch
experiments were conducted with soil from the Irbid region in order to study
the retention characteristics. The effect of metal concentration, metal type,
and soil clay content is observed and, eventually, used to establish a
relationship between the retention of heavy metals in soil and the previously
mentioned factors. The developed relationships provide useful tools for an
understanding of the retention of heavy metals in Irbid soil under various
conditions.
Since trace
elements could be toxic, mutagenic, or teratogenic when introduced to human
body, bio-systems, or environment. This work could contribute towards finding a
method of removal of such elements, and so in providing a safe water supply.
Results has
shown a high potential of Irbid soil to retain zinc and cadmium under different
influent concentrations and clay content.
Proposed Pavement Design Models for Jordan
Fouad Gharaybeh, and Amani Al-Motairi
Project No.: 38/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1370 JD
ABSTRACT
The aim of this
research is to produce special design models and charts pertinent to Jordan.
These models should be simple, easy to use, consider the Jordanian material and
climate and valid for all types of roads.
These
objectives will be achieved through recognition of the parameters in the
original American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) design models, characterization of the Jordanian pavement material and
environmental conditions, plug in fixed values for some of the parameters used
in the original models and eliminate some of the variables, production of new
developed models with the least number of variables and drawing design charts
for each road category used in Jordan.
Heavy Metals Distribution and Microbial Profile In Zarqa
River Water and Sediments
Munjed Al-Sharif, Moh'd Nuseer, and
Abed Salam Qublan
Project No.: 39/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1700 JD
ABSTRACT
This research
was aimed at studying the distribution of heavy metals including Cd, Cr, Zn,
Pb, and Cu in Zarqa river water and sediment. Water and sediment samples were
collected along the river from King Talal dam to Amman during February and May
2000,and the frequency of the sampling is monthly.
The results
indicate that the concentrations of heavy metals are below the values
recommended by Jordanian standards for irrigation water except Cr and Cd in the
dam and Jerash area. The concentration of heavy metals in the river sediment is
greater about by about 1000 times relative to that in water demonstrate the
importance of suspended matter as transport pathway for the metals. The most
contaminated area is located in Russiefa area within industry region and at the
confluence of the river with wastewater treatment plants.
Also, the
densities of total coliforms, salmonella, shigella, giardia lambila and
entamoeba histolytica in the river are studied, the result showed that the
river water contain high densities of coliforms and other bacteria and no contains
either giardia or entamoeba. The variation of densities of bacteria refers to
the point and nonpoint source source of pollution associated within the basin
of the Zarqa River. Also these result indicate that the Samra and Jarash
wastewater treatment plant are the major source of pollution in the river.
Simulation of Variables that Influence Spray Distribution
and Drift
Adnan I. Khdair, and Lau’y Zeatoun
Project No: 40/2000
Amount of Fund: 4970 JD
ABSTRACT
The objectives
of this research is to assist in the development of equipment and selection of
operating conditions to maximize the pesticide deposit on the target and
minimize the spray drift by studying the effects of several variables on spray
distributions and drift distances of spray droplets using laboratory test and a
computational fluid dynamics computer program (CFD) “FLUENT”. The simulation
variables include: operating pressure (1 to 30 bar), droplet size (10 to 2000 mm), wind velocity (0.50 to 10
m/s), initial droplet velocity (0-50 m/s), discharge height (0.25 to 4 m),
temperature (10 to 30 C), relative humidity (10 to 100%), and 20% turbulence
intensity.
A Study on the Safety Factor of Slopes Using Limiting
Equilibrium Approach
Abdallah 1.Husein Malkawi, and Tamara
Mubeideen.
Project No.: 41/2000 Amount of
Found: 1200 JD
ABSTRACT
Locating the
critical slip surface and the associated minimum factor of safety are two
complementary parts in analyzing the stability of slopes. Recently, a large
number of computer programs have been developed to solve slope stability
problems. However, most of them have used inefficient and unreliable search
procedures to locate the global minimum factor of safety. The main objectives
of this research are:
1. The SAS-MCT program will be used to study the
effect of number of slices on the determination of the factor of safety of the
slope. Circular and non-circular slip surfaces will be considered. In case of
non-circular slip surfaces different vertices will be considered.
2. The SAS-MCT program will be used to study the
use of different limiting equilibrium methods for the safety factor. This will
cover various method of stability as Fellenius (1936), Bishop (1955), Janbu
(1954,1973), Moregenstern-Price (1965), and Spencer (1967).
3. Various optimization search methods will be
considered to determine the most effective among them. These are grid method,
Jumping method and random walking method.
NOx Reduction in Acoustically Enhanced Combustion
Ghassan Tashtoush, and Mohamed
Abu-Qudais
Project No.: 55/2000 Amount of Fund: 3000 JD
ABSTRACT
NOx
is recognized as a fundamental component of the ground level ozone problem.
Since 1970’s the Utility Industry has been faces with grater pressure from the
EPA to reduce the flue gas emissions of SO2 and NOx.
Currently in UK, there are limits on the NOx Concentration in the
utility-boiler flue gas which are set at 650 mg /Nm3.NOx emission
have been reduced on a steady basis by improving the different elements of the
combustion process, by installing low NOx burners. The industry has
consistently tried to find ways by which NOx reduction can be
achieved, relatively inexpensive, and with the new Ozone Season limits, it is
becoming more of a requirement.
The objective
of this study is to seek a new technology in order to replace a flue gas reburn
technology which has been used in order to control nitrogen oxides pollutant
emitted from the power plants. The flue gas reburn system consists of a
recirculation unit which is effective in reducing the formation of NOx
pollutants but expensive in building and maintaining the system. The proposed
study will investigate a possible alternative means to achieve the same or even
better effectiveness in reducing the NOx pollutants with much less
cost.
Artificial Neural Network Based Method for Classification,
Identification, Assessment and Performance Prediction of Pre-earthquakes and
Post-earthquakes Structures
Khaldoon Bani-Hani, and Samer Barakat
Project No.: 57/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2200 JD
ABSTRACT
The
post-earthquake performance of structural systems is tightly related to prior
knowledge of the structural characteristics as well as their performance
history and pre-earthquake responses. The future stability and reliability of
structures and their capabilities of static and dynamic resistance to external
loadings depend on the accuracy of the dynamic system models used in analysis,
design and construction. Additionally, for existing structures, handy response
history and performance records describing the structural response under different
environmental loads, such as strong earthquakes, blast waves and wind forces
are of great importance to verify, identify, classify and predict the
structural performance and sustainability. This study discusses the possibility
of introducing a new neural network based method to classify, identify
and predict the performance of structures. A comprehensive study is to be
conducted in an effort to verify the stability and reliability of recently
post-earthquake structures and the future performance of those structures and
the new structures. Besides, structures are expected to be classified in
several rated categories, according to their importance, strength,
geometry, damage resistance, crack developments, crack
patterns, yielding, ductility, material properties and
their future vulnerability for earthquakes resistance and structural
collapse.
Capital Budgeting of Municipal Projects
Abdalla Qudah
Project No.: 60/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2700 JD
ABSTRACT
Due to scarce
financial resources and improper planning and capital budgeting, most
Municipalities in Jordan face financial problems thus imparting their abilities
to deliver vital community services. Proper planning and capital budgeting
becomes more important as the demands on public services increase at a much
steeper rate than the increase in financial resources. This problem reduces to
a special problem of proper planning and allocation of limited resources to
achieve maximum value of public services and projects over a limited planning
horizon.
This research
aims at developing a capital budgeting system that addresses the planning and
capital budgeting problems faced by many municipalities and other public
agencies in a systematic approach. The system plans for services and
infrastructure projects as well as for income-generating projects and
investments. The system requires the decision makers to assign priorities among
the planned projects and services. Taking the set priorities and the projected
cash flow for each project or service, the projected capital budget over the
planning horizon, and the rates of discounts on investments and loans as input,
the system generates a feasible schedule of the planned services and projects
that maximizes the benefits without exceeding the municipality’s financial
capabilities.
The system is
implemented in an easy to use interactive computer program that utilizes a
search algorithm designed to schedule the high value services and projects as
early as possible. As a project is scheduled, either from available budget or
through a loan, the capital budget is updated according to the discounted
project’s and/or loan cash requirements. The updated budget is then checked
against the required cash of another project to determine the project’s
earliest possible start. This process is repeated until no further projects can
be scheduled within the planning horizon. This algorithm is repeated for
different combinations of services and projects. The combination that yields
the highest value is selected.
Self-Similar Fractality of Urban Growth Systems
Imad Al-hashimi, Abdil-Sahib Al-Azzawi,
and Hassan Abd Ali Abdul-Shaheed
Project No.: 63/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1700 JD
ABSTRACT
Fractal
Geometry is a mean to represent chaotic systems. It concerns with irregular
patterns made of parts that are in some way similar to the whole, e.g., twigs
and tree branches, a property called self-similarity or self-symmetry. There
are four main features of Fractal Geometry which are self-similarity,
hierarchy, irregularity and fractal (not-integer) dimensions.
Geometry is no
longer conceived in terms of straight lines (the Geometry of Euclid) but can
admit irregularity without abandoning continuity.
The city is a
mirror of society and culture. Its physical form is considered to be the
ultimate result of a multitude of social and economic processes constrained and
shaped by the geometry of the natural and man-made world. Cities growth imply
the same systematic order at each level of their hierarchy according to multi
fractal dimensions. The goal is to develop a mathematical tool to describe,
interpret and simulate reality.
Evaluation of Biomedical Wastes and Its Disposal Practices
in Irbid Hospitals
Wa'il E. Abu-El-Shar, Munjed M.
Al-Sharif, Attalla Rabi, and Mamdouh Allawzi
Project No.: 72/2000 Amount of Fund: 2000 JD
ABSTRACT
The mounted
awareness of the negative impacts of the improper handling of medical wastes on
human health and the environment initiated interest in the local Jordanian
media which questioned the current medical waste disposal practices of 13
hospitals in Irbid region. In response, this study has been examining the
overall medical waste management practices of the targeted 13 hospitals with
emphasis on the generated volumes, handling, treatment, and disposal of the
"developer and fixer waste produced from the x-ray units at these
hospitals. Each hospital was visited and evaluated using a specially prepared
questionnaire that was filled with the participation of the designated personal
at every hospital. The questionnaire covered many aspects of hospital solid
waste management and disposal including: general information, specialty,
services, employees, size, departments, handling disposal and management of
clinical waste, staff and responsibilities, training and awareness, and external
management of clinical waste. To date, site visits of all hospitals have just
been completed and the collected data is in the process of analysis.
Experimental and Theoretical Study of Multicomponent Ion
Exchange in Fluidized Bed
Fahmi Abu Al-Rub, and Hasan Mosa
Project No.: 73/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1650 JD
ABSTRACT
In this work,
the removal of different ions, such as copper and nickel from wastewater by ion
exchange in a liquid-solid fluidized bed is to be studied. The relative merits
of using ion exchange fluidized bed versus packed bed will be evaluated for the
studied ions.
A mathematical
model which combines an axial dispersion model with an equilibrium theory is to
be formulated for the multicomponent ion exchange in a fluidized bed.
Feasibility of Collecting Ambient Air Moisture by Forced
Condensation
Hamid Al-Jalil, Jumah Amayreh, and
Mohamad Al-Widyan
Project No.: 74/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2500 JD
ABSTRACT
In this
proposal, the potential and feasibility of collecting ambient air moisture and
converting it into a useful source of water is investigated. The quality of
this water resource is good and the quantity is theoretically unlimited. The
methodology of this research is to use a refrigeration system to cool specially
designed surfaces (dehumidifying units) to a temperature equal to or below the
dew temperature. As a result, air moisture in contact with the cooled surfaces
of the units will be forced to condense and then be collected for usage.
Necessary
sensors will be utilized to control the process by reporting the collected
water and ambient air conditions numerous times during the 24 hours of the day
by the aid of a data logger. This shall help determine the effect of ambient
conditions including mainly the relative humidity, temperature, …etc. on the
collection efficiency during the day. The eventual goal is to determine the
best times during the day and in different seasons for water collection.
Thermodynamic Analysis of Vapor-liquid Equilibria in Mixed
Aqueous-Organic Systems with Salts
Fawzi Banat, and Sameer Al-Asheh
Project No.: 77/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3800 JD
ABSTRACT
The ease of
components separation from a liquid mixture via distillation depends on the
vapor-liquid equilibrium characteristics of the liquid mixture. If an azeotrope
is encountered in distillation, its composition represents a limit to the
separation that can be achieved. Salt-effect distillation is a novel variation
on extractive distillation in which the “agent” added to the column to effect
the separation is a salt rather than a liquid. When a salt is added to a
mixture, the overall effect will be to increase the relative volatility and
probably shift the azeotropic point or even break it, if the salt is properly
selected. This work aims at studying the effect of different salts on the
vapor-liquid equilibrium of selected systems; in particular those systems that
can be separated by the membrane distillation process. Different thermodynamic
mathematical.
Treatment of Industrial Wastewater by Reverse Osmosis &
the Possibility of Usable Materials Recovery from the Wastewater Stream
Hani Abu Qdais
Project No.: 81/2000 Amount
of Fund: 6800 JD
ABSTRACT
A broad
spectrum of industrial wastewater (i.e. olive-oil, selfo-chemical, paint, dairy
industries) will be selected for the treatment in a specially designed and
fabricated laboratory scale reverse osmosis (RO) unit (see figure 1). The unit
will be run under a combination of various operational conditions such as, flow
rate, pressure, RO units arrangement (parallel and series) and recycling ratio,
with different quality parameters of the feed industrial wastewater, including
pH, temperature, and pollutants concentration.
The
concentration of the pollutants in the industrial wastewater samples will be
determined initially before being introduced into the RO unit, based on which,
proper pretreatment steps of the samples will be conducted. After that, the
industrial wastewater will be fed into the RO unit for treatment, and the
concentration of the pollutants will be measured in both the reject and
permeate water. The concentration estimations will be cross-checked by carrying
out a mass balance.
The methods and
techniques that will be utilized for concentration measurement, will depend on
the parameter of interest, and those will mainly include GC/MS,
spectrophotometry, BOD, and COD techniques. The data of each experiment will be
recorded and the reject ratio for each run to be calculated. The best
combination of operational conditions and quality parameters which gives higher
reject ratio will be determined for each industrial wastewater stream.
Recycled reject
Industrial
Permeate
Wastewater feeding
Legend
Pretreatment
process (activated carbon cartridge and pH adjustment)
High pressure pump
Reverse osmosis
module
Figure Shows a Block Diagram of the Reverse Osmosis
Treatment Unit
Environmental Impact Assessment of Road Construction
Projects
Hani Abu Qdais, and Saad Abu-Qudais
Project No.: 87/2000 Publication
Support
ABSTRACT
A methodology
to calibrate the environmental impacts of constructing or upgrading roads has
been provided. This methodology has been applied to upgrading
Unaizah-Shoubak-Wadi Mousa road in Jordan. This road connects the desert
highway to Petra. Which is considered one of the most significant archeological
sites in Jordan. To evaluate the possible environmental impacts of the proposed
road, three different construction alternatives were considered, screened and
analyzed. These alternatives were no action, rehabilitation of existing road,
and construction of new road. Analyzing the three alternatives showed that, the
second alternative was the best in terms of environmental and economical
impacts. Then the environmental impact of selected alternative has been evaluated
in terms of exploitation of raw materials, landscape disfigurement, sites of
historical, cultural, and archaeological, values pollution of water resources,
soil erosion, sedimentation, and tectonic stability, agricultural land take,
severance effect, building take, noise effect, vehicular emission, road
accidents, damage to existing infrastructure utilities, impact on local customs
and culture, and cumulative and induced impacts. Evaluation results indicated
that the most critical impact will be landscape disagurement along limited
length of the road, and limited number of buildings will be taken off. In
addition to noise and air pollution by engines emission will be significant,
especially during construction stage. On the other hand, accidents along the road
is expected to be significantly reduced. Finally, mitigation and compensation
techniques have been discussed for each impact, in an effort to solve the
conflict between upgrading the road and its effect on nature fragmentation
(environmental impact).
Constrained Motion Control Using Vector Potential Fields
Samer A. Masoud, and Ahmad A. Masoud
Project No.: 88/2000 Publication
Support
ABSTRACT
This paper
discusses the generation of a control signal that would instruct the actuators
of a robotics manipulator to drive motion along a safe and well-behaved path to
a desired target. The proposed concept of Navigation control along with the
tools necessary for its construction achieve this goal. The most significant
tool is the Artificial Vector Potential Field which shows a better ability to
steer motion than dose a scalar potential field. The synthesis procedure
emphasizes flexibility so that the effort needed to modify the control is
commensurate with the change in the geometry of the workspace. Theoretical
development along with simulation results are provided.
The Evaluative Image of the City A Case Study of Irbid City
Center
Ahmed Y. Al-Zoabi, and Amneh H.
AI-Zoubi
Project No.: 93/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2600 JD
ABSTRACT
The proposed
study is oriented toward studying the evaluative images of Irbid City Center in
order to provide some clear operational strategies to improve a city image
appropriate to its public through the process of shaping and reshaping of the
city.
This research
hypothesize that the professionals Vs public evaluative images of the city are
necessary components in improving the city image. A field survey will be used
to obtain these evaluative images of Irbid city center through in-person
interviews of the professionals (experts, architects, planners,.....) and the
public who experience the city using structured questionnaire with the help of
maps. The results of this study -as supposed, will enable us seeing the urban
environment in an evaluative manner-as seen by the research subjects, the
public who experience the city center and the professionals who are responsible
for the physical environment. This will give us a snapshot of the perceived
quality of the prominent features - as desired or undesired, which represent
the degree of satisfaction with the urban quality of the city, and the
different reasons (Meanings) associated with environmental characteristics. Add
that it will determine the component factors that go to build the image. All
these can provide basis for decision and Policy reasons in the time that such a
study can provide valid, reliable, and useful information for planning, design,
and management of desirable surroundings.
The Applicability of Sustainable City Paradigm to
Arabic-Islamic Cities: A Case Study of Jerusalem, Palestine
Ahmad Y. Al-Zoabi, and Ola M. Jarrar
Project No.: 94/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2400 JD
ABSTRACT
Making the world's villages,
towns and cities socially and economically sustainable is humanity's most
urgent challenge for the 21st century (Findlay, 1996). This issue has been the
focus of many researchers and several studies have been carried out in order to
establish a sustainable city model. Since this concept is highly contextual,
this study is concerned with the investigation of the applicability of
sustainable city paradigm to Arabic-Islamic cities in general and Jerusalem in
particular. Investigation is limited to one major theoretical area; city form
and two minor theoretical areas; street system, and land use.
Researchers
have suggested criteria, parameters and indicators for sustainable city model.
However, this research is intended to develop criteria, parameters and
indicators of the sustainable city form, street system and land use with
respect to local values and context of Jerusalem. Development of such criteria,
parameters and indicators could help to construct a sustainable Arabic-Islamic
City form model.
Modeling the Interaction between Shallow and Deep Aquifers
in Yarmouk Basin
Mohanned Al-Sheriadeh, Yahia Majali,
and Sa’ed Ayesh
Project No.: 96/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2200 JD
ABSTRACT
Westnorthern
Part of Yarmouk Basin Aquifer System is considered hydrogeologically
complicated by the fact that many faults exist and saline water of the deep
aquifers mixes with the fresh water of the shallow ones. The present research
is trying to resolve this problem by model simulation. In it the whole basin
was first studied and its physical state being understood. Next, the focus was
shifted to westnorthern part of the basin by telescoping meshing. At the end,
the interaction of the shallow and deep aquifers was quantified on the basis
that other factors were set appropriately.
Heritage Conservation and Islam
"A hermeneutical /critical approach"
Rami Daher, and Zain Khalaf
Project No.: 123/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1200 JD
ABSTRACT
The recent
noticeable popularity of heritage conservation within Islamic countries with
the inseparable excessive negative outcomes and heritage exploitation, evoked
the objective of this research which is to search the issue of heritage
conservation in such countries from an Islamic point of view in order to mold
rationales for heritage conservation and cultural continuity in Muslim
countries today. The research also proposes policies and practices for heritage
conservation projects within an Islamic milieu and out-looks (a document for
heritage conservation in Islamic countries).
This research
is exploratory in nature and is based on an inductive/ hermeneutical and
critical inquiry. The research will adopt a multi-method approach to inquiry in
order to increase the validity of the study. Methods will encompass
hermeneutics, and case studies. The research is of great philosophical and
practical importance since many heritage conservation projects are taking place
in Islamic countries but no serious research in the epistemology of heritage
conservation has been conducted to correctly address the question of
conservation in Islamic contexts.
Developing a Locale-Driven Methodology for Cultural Site
Management in Jordan
Rami Daher, and Mohammed Hussain
Project No.: 124/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1200 JD
ABSTRACT
Through the
last century, essence and consciousness of cultural heritage values and
significance, defined by historical cultural sites in Jordan, have been
experiencing limited and non-realistic management processes due to the absence
of a clear definition and proper identification of the values, dynamics, and
contexts that constitute each site's significance. Currently, many cultural
sites in Jordan, suffer from foreign and imported management policies that are
technically impractical, costly, and do not elicit enough local political
support to ensure implementation. In addition, most cultural resource
management projects and cultural site management endeavors are initiated by
foreign initiatives subject to global investment mechanisms and strategies.
Such financial mechanisms increase Jordan's dependency on foreign aids and
depts.
On the other
hand, local management strategies are aimed to achieve immediate solutions to what
is considered as urgent problems, however, this unplanned approach leads to ad
hoc decisions that result in unanticipated, negative consequences in the short
and long terms. Furthermore, achievement of cultural site management is also
challenged by the lack of successful funding strategies, which aim to impose
policies instead of practical and comprehensive decision making, considering
the conservation and protection of cultural resources. Most of these policies
are unsustainable to the local communities involved in such sites.
The objective
of this research is to develop a "locale-driven" methodology for
cultural site management in Jordan. The research hypothesizes that first; the
'locale' and place politics and dynamics should inform cultural site manage
strategies and policies. In addition, the research hypothesizes that current
financing mechanisms are impeding to development. New funding and financing
mechanisms should be developed that emerge from the community's local concept
of development.
The research
will accommodate two main methods within a phenomenological framework. The
first method will investigate previous cultural site management policies and
methods through international and regional case studies. The second method will
heavily be based on intensive fieldwork that will explore current cultural site
management processes in action at AlQastal Development and Conservation
Project, located at the Highway route to Queen Alia airport. The selection
criterion of this location is based on: first, the cultural, contextual,
historical significance and value they reflect, second, the evaluation of
management policies based on "realities" of the sites, considering
locale dynamics, values, and environmental condition.
Deformation Control of Rotating Shallow Caps With
Unconstrained Central Hole
Maki K. Rashid
Project No.: 125/2000 Amount
of Fund: 850 JD
ABSTRACT
Several
researchers considered the geometrical variations associated with the high
speed rotating objects that resulted from high internal mechanical stresses.
None of them considered a methodology for controlling such deformations in
rotating shallow shells. Conical and spherical shell geometies has no
flexibility in controlling deformation in such problems. Nevertheless,
combination of these geometries can give devastating results. Such work has
application in hybrid machines where the magnetic levitation of rotating
objects replaces the traditional bearings. In addition, the work would show how
to integrate the analysis, design, and, computer aided manufacturing in one
place by using the most recent techniques in this area. A constrained
parametric computer graphic would be used for the geometrical representation of
the shallow shell. Then a computer analysis should be carried to construct monograms
for deformation control of rotating shallow shells. In addition to the
geometrical combination layouts for the spherical and conical shells, nine
dimensionless groups related to material, inertia, and geometrical parameters
are to be investigated in this work.
Enhancement of Soil Physical Properties and Nutrient Content
by Composted Olive Cake
Faisal Qassem, Mohamad Al-Widyan, and
Hamid Al-Jalil
Project No.: 126/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1330 JD
ABSTRACT
In this
research project an attempt will be made to thoroughly investigate the
potential and feasibility of composting of the olive mills solid waste (olive
cake). It is a fact that this kind of waste is produced in large quantities in
Jordan and is undoubtedly the single most important agricultural residue in the
country. Composting is a biological process that stabilizes organic wastes and
converts the material into a useful and safe product. In particular, composting
characteristics and behavior of the material during composting will be examined.
The method of composting chosen for this work is the aerated static pile, which
minimizes the effort and labor required for mixing the compost pile ingredients
and allows for more control over the process.
The other major
aspect of this work involves the possibility of utilizing the final product
(olive cake compost) as a soil amendment. This includes specifically the effect
of adding and mixing the compost with the soil on the basic soil physical
properties such as bulk density, water holding capacity, infiltration rate,
…etc.
The Effects of Changing the constituents Weight Percentages
on the Properties of AL-Mg-Graphite Composites
Adel Mahmood Hassan, Mohammed Hayajneh,
and Mohammad Al-Omari
Project No.: 127/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1200 JD
ABSTRACT
Among the many
techniques available to synthesize metal matrix composites (MMCs),
solidification processes are particularly attractive due to their simplicity,
economy and flexibility. Aluminum-graphite composites have widely being
acknowledged as potential candidate materials for anti-friction applications.
The presence of graphite in Al-alloys ensures smooth functioning in surface
under the conditions of boundary lubrication and assist in improving the
friction and wear properties. However, in order to qualify the composite for
engineering applications, it is important that the addition of reinforcing
phase should also assist in improving some of the metal matrix properties. The
extreme importance of this subject has motivated this research. Thus, the main
objectives of the project are: (1) Designing a mixer to stir the molten metal
during casting. (2) Casting of AL-Mg-Graphite composites to produce the test
specimens for the present investigation. (3) Studying the effect of graphite,
Mg, AL weights percentages on some properties of AL-Mg-Graphite composite. (4)
Examining the effect of porosity on properties of the produced composite.
GIS as a Tool in Urban Design
Fuad Malkawi, and Mazen Kana'an
Project No.: 128/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4000 JD
ABSTRACT
Humans have
been using maps since the dawn of History. The Greeks, the Romans, and even the
Arabs, who were the leading cartographers during the Middle Ages, have always
realized the importance of improving mapping techniques to coop with the new
realities of the world. Nevertheless, the ways in which geographic information
were displayed remained, until recently, limited. New needs for more advanced
mapping techniques arose as societies became more developed; the building of
roads, canals, railways required the location of towns, lake etc. to be
accurately known. The development of electronic computers during the Second
World War and their spread for non-military uses in the 1950's lead to the
development of computer programs allowed the storage and manipulation of
geographic information. In the 1970's a new approach to organize geographic
information on computers, known as geographic information systems (GIS), that
revolutionized mapping appeared.
Although the
majority of GIS applications are concerned with mapping and surveying, it is
used for diverse computer based applications involving the capture,
manipulation, analysis and display of geographic information. For these
reasons, GIS is currently used heavily in many disciplines such as geography,
agriculture, environmental studies, forestry, geology, and civil engineering.
However, we find minimum utilization of the systems in urban design despite our
knowledge of their advantages. A current geographic information system includes
a wide range of programmed tools for spatial analysis such as spatial overlay,
network analysis or digital terrain modeling. Those various tools make the
system a practical tool in urban design models; i.e. land use analysis,
circulation pattern analysis, visual analysis, evaluating design proposals,
developing concepts at 3D dynamic level, etc. In this research I will
investigate those various applications that make GIS valuable for urban
designers.
The research
will be practical in its nature. The value of GIS to urban design will be explained
through a case study. I will take the city of Irbid as a case study using its
database to show how urban designers can benefit from GIS not only in
organizing and analyzing the data, but also in the synthesis phase and even the
design phase. Indeed, the research will show how a GIS can be utilized in any
step of the urban design process.
Traffic Delay at Roundabouts in Jordan
Bashar Al-Omari, Hashem Al-Masaeid, and
Yahia Al-Shawabkah
Project No.: 129/2001 Amount
of Fund: 2000 JD
ABSTRACT
Roundabouts are
widely used here in Jordan and in other parts of the world especially in Europe
and Australia. This is due to the many advantages roundabouts have over
conventional signalized and unsignalized intersections. Roundabouts are safer,
more efficient, and have higher capacity and less delay since entering drivers
for most of the time do not stop and adjust their speeds to take advantage of
approaching gaps in circulating traffic, particularly during off-peak periods.
A large number of studies have been conducted on the capacity of roundabouts,
however, less attention has been given to the traffic delay at roundabouts.
In this
research an effort will be made to develop models for estimating roundabout
delay as a function of the influencing factors such as the traffic volumes and
geometric conditions. The produced models can be used as tools for evaluating
the performance of roundabouts in Jordan.
The Effect of the Gas-Gap Formation Due to Shrinkage on the
Rate of Heat Transfer During Solidification
Osamah Haddad, Mohamad Al-Nimer, and
Mahmood Sliety
Project No.: 130/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1300 JD
ABSTRACT
The
solid-liquid phase change (melting or solidification) of multi- constituent
systems is important in many engineering applications, such as the making of
ice, the freezing of food, the solidification of castings and ingots, crystal
growth, welding, energy storage, etc.
Due to the
density difference between solid and liquid, liquid metal is subjected to
shrinkage and as a result a gas-gap may form. The gap forms at the interface
between the cast and the internal surface of the mold. This situation occurs
especially when the dimensions of the mold are respectively small.
The objectives
of the present study are: (1) To develop a mathematical model to investigate
the gas-gap formation process at the casting -mold interface of a cylindrical
casting, (2) To study the effect of the gas-gap on the rate of heat transfer
from the mold during solidification & (3) To investigate the heat transfer
coefficient between the casting and the mold.
Digital Image Compression Using Modified Vector Quantization
Algorithms
Hazem Al-Otum
Project No.: 131/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1100 JD
ABSTRACT
Spectacular
advances in technology have altered the related disciplines of computing and
telecommunications beyond all recognition. Great developments have been made in
the field of digital image coding. One of the most exciting techniques is the
Vector Quantization (VQ). Here, there is a lack in investigating different
topics related to encoding color images using VQ. Consequently, the expected
contributions of this research can be: 1) Investigation and designing of a
modified algorithm for codebook production that reduces the number of
iterations as well as the computational cost required for the coding process.
2) Investigation and designing new (or modified) algorithms for color image
coding that exploit the high correlation between the color components in the
color images.; and 3) Designing of a VQ codec (based on expected results in 1,2
&3) for different color image applications.
Soil Thermal Conductivity: Effects of Density, Moisture,
Salt Concentration and Organic Matter
Nidal H. Abu-Hamdeh & Randall C.
Reeder
Project No.: 132/2000 Publication
Support
ABSTRACT
The thermal
conductivity of soil under a given set of conditions is most important as it
relates to a soil’s microclimate. The effect of bulk density, moisture content,
salt concentration, and organic matter on the thermal conductivity of some
sieved and repacked Jordanian soils was investigated through laboratory
studies. These laboratory experiments used the single probe method to determine
thermal conductivity. For the soils studied, thermal conductivity increased
with increasing soil density and moisture content. Thermal conductivity ranged
from 0.58 to 1.94 for sand, from 0.19 to 1.12 for sandy loam, from 0.29 to 0.76
for loam, and from 0.36 to 0.69 W / m K for clay loam at densities from 1.23 to
1.59 g/cm3 and water contents from 1.4 to 21.2 %. The results also
show an increase in the amount of added salts at given moisture content
(volumetric solution contents q ranged from
0.03 to 0.12 m3 m-3 for the sand and from 0.09 to 0.30 m3
m-3 for the clay loam) decreased thermal conductivity. Increasing
the percentage of soil organic matter decreased thermal conductivity. Finally,
it was found that the sand had higher values of thermal conductivity than the
clay loam for the same salt type and concentrations.
Thermal Conductivity of Disturbed Soils Under Laboratory
Conditions
Nidal Abu-Hamdeh, Randall Reeder, Adnan
Khdair, and Hamid Al-Jalil
Project No.: 133/2000 Publication
Support
ABSTRACT
Fundamental
information on how salts and water affect thermal conductivity of soil would be
useful in modeling water and energy movement in systems containing
salt-affected soils. The results showed that thermal conductivity decreased
with an increase in the amount of added salts. Thermal conductivity for sand
ranged from 1.17 to 0.56 W / m K at concentrations of NaCl from 0.02 to 0.10 kg/kg,
from 1.13 to 0.52 W / m K at concentrations of CaCl2 from 0.01 to
0.05 kg/kg, and from 1.05 to 0.45 W / m K at concentrations of MgCl2
from 0.01 to 0.05 kg/kg. Thermal conductivity for clay loam ranged from 0.61 to
0.16 W / m K at concentrations of NaCl from 0.02 to 0.10 kg/kg, from 0.58 to
0.10 W / m K at concentrations of CaCl2 from 0.01 to 0.05 kg/kg, and
from 0.55 to 0.08 W / m K at concentrations of MgCl2 from 0.01 to
0.05 kg/kg.
Perception of Children Safety at the Streets of
Single-Family Homes as A Function of Street Layout
Majd Al-Homoud
Project No.: 144/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1900 JD
ABSTRACT
Over time
safety of children playing around their homes formed a main source of worry for
parents, since the street in front of the house is the traditional playing area
for children. Hierarchies of spaces that are created by the street layout
affect natural surveillance, zones of influence, and territorial controls, and
therefore, children's safety. The target population was located at the city of
Amman, Jordan; year 2000. The suggested hypothesis that perception of children
safety at the streets of single family homes is associated with street layout
was tested at a setting using random sampling. The total sample size was 51
single-family householders from the housing complex. The data was collected
through face to face interviews with one of the parents of each household using
a structured questionnaire. The results of the study demonstrated that the
shape of the street is the most affecting factor to predict perception of
children safety at streets of single- family homes.
Consistency of Continuous Horizontal Curves Under Adverse
Weather Conditions
Hashem R. Al-Masaeid
Project No.: 147/2000 Amount
of Fund: 500 JD
ABSTRACT
The author
developed guidelines for geometric consistency of simple and continuous
horizontal curves under dry-and daytime conditions. The major objective of this
study is to investigate the impact of adverse weather conditions; including
rain- and nighttime conditions, on geometric design consistency and develop
guidelines for design purposes.
Data on
geometric design elements of two-lane continuous horizontal curves, traffic
speed, and rain intensity will be collected through the course of this study.
The data will be analyzed using statistical analysis packages. It is expected
that the results of this study will provide guidelines for a consistent design
of two-lane highways.
Electrochemical Destruction of Chloro-Phenols Solutions
M. O. J. Azzam, and Y. Tahboub
Project No.: 159/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3000 JD
ABSTRACT
Phenolic wastes
in wastewater arise in many segments of the process industry including oil
refineries, coke plants, chemical and plastic plants. Phenols have been
classified as one of the 65 priority pollutants. Present guidelines limit
phenols concentration in wastewater to 0.1 mg/liter (0.1 ppm), where phenols
here refer to aromatic derivatives that contain one or more hydroxyl groups.
When phenols contain halide compounds, the acceptable concentration limit in wastewater
falls to 0.02 mg/liter (20 ppb). Electrochemical methods for wastewater
treatment have recently attracted a great deal of attention mainly because of
their ease of control and the increased efficiency provided by the use of
compact bipolar electrochemical reactors and by the large surface area of three
dimensional electrodes. This work proposes a modification to a designed
electrochemical cell to study the effect of different parameters on the anodic
destruction of chlorinated phenols solutions. Specifically, the effect of
current density on the destruction of 2,4,6 tri-chlorophenol solutions is to be
investigated.
Non-equilibrium Entropy Production Under the Effect of the
Dual-Phase -Lag Heat Conduction Model
Mohammed Al-Nemr
Project No.: 160/2000 Publication
Support
ABSTRACT
In the present
work, the nonequilibrium entropy production under the effect of the
dual-phase-lag heat conduction model is investigated. It is shown that the
entropy production cannot be described using the classical form of the
equilibrium entropy production where using this form leads to a violation for
the thermodynamics second law. The effect of the phase-lags in temperature and
in heat flux on the nonequilibrium entropy production is investigated. Also,
the difference between the equilibrium and the nonequilibrium temperatures
under the effect of the dual-phase-lag heat conduction model is studied.
Olive Oil Alcohol Esters as Fuel for Diesel Engines
M. Abu-Qudais, and Mohamad Al-Widyan
Project No.: 161/2000 Amount of Fund:
2000 JD
ABSTRACT
In this study
an attempt will be made to thoroughly investigate the potential and feasibility
of converting neat olive oil into a fuel that can be utilized in Diesel
engines. This step will serve as a preliminary test for the potential of using
waste (used or fryer) vegetable oils for the same purpose.
The utilization
of both neat and used vegetable oils (VOs) in Diesel engines has been long
established because VOs are renewable and locally available. However, in their
crude forms, VOs cause many problems to engine performance and components
mainly due to their high viscosity. Therefore, in this project, the chemical
process known as transesterification will be applied to VOs to convert it into
alcohol esters, which are much less viscous and possess fuel characteristics
close to those of the standard diesel fuel. Furthermore, numerous studies have
reported much less pollutants using VO esters.
A test Diesel
engine will be run on the alcohol esters thus produced and the traditional
engine performance parameters will be examined and compared to those of diesel
fuel. This includes efficiency, specific fuel consumption, power output, ….etc.
Moreover, the effect of using the alcohol esters on engine exhaust emissions
such as UHC, CO, NOx, … etc. will be studied.
Finite Difference Time Domain Analysis of Cylindrical
Structures Containing Ferrite Media
Nihad Dib
Project No.: 162/2000 Amount of Fund: 1100 JD
ABSTRACT
The main
objective is to extend the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) technique to
analyze cylindrical structures containing ferrite media. Computer codes will be
developed which could be used to study any microwave cylindrical structure that
might contain magnetized ferrite regions. The codes will be general such that
multi-layer, multi-strip cylindrical structures can be analyzed. Mainly,
cylindrical microstrip line, coplanar stripline (CPS) and coplanar waveguide
(CPW) on ferrite substrate/superstrate will be studied. Field distribution and
parameters like propagation constant, and characteristic impedance will be
investigated. The effect of many variables on these parameters will be studied
too.
Shear Strength of Rock Joints
Omer Mugeid, and Abdelkareem Al-Zoubi
Project No.: 163/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2500 JD
ABSTRACT
The present
study will be conducted to investigate the shear strength and failure mechanism
of open offset non-persistent rock joints using a uniaxial load.
A series of
Uniaxial compression tests will be performed on large size samples made of
rock-like material. The parameters that will be investigated are: the effect of
joint geometry and arrangements on the shear strength of rock mass, the normal
displacements in vicinity of rock joint and rock bridge, the shear displacement
along the rock joint and rock bridge, the mode of failure, and mechanism of
coalescence.
Evaluation and Prediction of Sinkholes, A Case Study in the
Eastern Part of the Dead Sea
Abdallah Malkawi, and Mohammed
Al-Sakran
Project No.: 164/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4500 JD
ABSTRACT
Sinkholes appeared for the first
time in the early 1960s at the most Southern end of the Dead Sea Shore and
continue to develop thereafter. However, sinkholes become a major concern in
1990 with the appearance of several sinkholes at various depths, sizes and
shapes at several locations among others Ghor AI Haditha, Wadi Numeira, Qunaiya
and Wadi Hasheen.
The study will
involve: (1) Studying sinkhole phenomena and their mechanism of development in
the eastern part of the Dead Sea, (2) Geological hydrological and geotechnical
evaluation of sinkholes will be carried out to aid in understanding of these
sinkholes, (3) GIS and Remote sensing assisted models will be used to predict
the occurrence of these subsidences & (4) Mathematical modeling and
prediction of areas that sinkholes may develop.
Electroosmotic Dewatering of Local Minerals and Biosolids
Rami Jumah, Fawzi Banat, and Sameer
Al-Asheh
Project No.: 177/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4500 JD
ABSTRACT
There is a vast
range of industries which require means to remove water from colloidal
suspensions, clays and fines. The efficiency of conventional non-thermal
dewatering techniques depends on the particle size of the product, being
dewatered. The electroosmotic dewatering (EOD) becomes the ideal process for
the dewatering slurries, with particle sizes in the ultrafine range and
possibly for heat sensitive materials which may not be dried thermally.
Electroosmotic dewatering utilizes the surface charges which prevent fine
particles from agglomerating and are responsible for inherent stability of
colloidal suspensions. Moreover, in EOD there is a potential to remove water
with smaller amounts of energy than that required by vaporization process. This
work attempts to study the EOD of local minerals and biosolids under the effect
of different process parameters such as voltage, current, electrode material,
initial bed height, initial solid content, pH, and type of filter medium.
Development of Three Different Models to Simulate Liquid
Contaminant Flow in Capillary Porous Media During Air Sparging
Yahia Majali
Project No.: 178/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1800 JD
ABSTRACT
The
distribution and motions of the air, water and contaminant phases in the
saturated zone of a heterogeneous, unconfined aquifer resulting from air sparging
will be modeled using three different approaches: (1) continuum approach with
macroscopic parameters and laws [
e.g., Darcy's Law]; (2) fingering at the Darcy scale; and (3) channeling at the
pore scale. Each of these approaches is expected to represent fluid phase and
contaminant concentrations and movements for different porous media and air
injection conditions. At low injection rates into coarse media the continuum
approach should approximate the diffuse flow of air and contaminant vapor
through the saturated porous media, while at higher injection rates into finer
media fingering and the channeling approach are more suitable to describe the
flow regime. As a first step, air and water phases will be investigated using
the above three approaches, and comparison to previously conducted laboratory
experiments will be carried out to test, calibrate and validate the models and
deduce conditions for which each is best suited. Eventually single constituent
and multiconstituent, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will be included and
investigated. These different modeling approaches are expected to be
independent and suitable for particular conditions but complementary in
understanding the complex phenomena.
A Seasonal Water Quality Modeling of King Talal Reservoir
Mohanned Al-Sheriadeh, and Mohammed
Najeeb
Project No.: 180/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1500 JD
ABSTRACT
King Talal
Reservoir of Jordan is plagued with contaminants coming to it from point and
non-point sources of the upstream wastewater treatment plants, agricultural
land, industries, and mines. The inflow of these contaminants associated with
the geometrical and hydraulical characteristics of the reservoir have led to
water eutrification and persistent anoxia below the shallow water. This study
will address the various quality problems of the reservoir water and will try
to model their changes, both with depth and during the seasons. By so doing,
internal and external sources of water pollution in the reservoir can be
identified and proper treatment methods can be devised.
Change in Traditional Bedouin Home Layout as a Function of
Lifestyle
Majd Al-Hmoud, and Amal Alawneh
Project No.: 181/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1900 JD
ABSTRACT
Traditional and
indigenous societies used to be collectivist societies that are moving to
individualism as an impact of western cultures. Home as a social,
psychological, and physical package reflects reality and ideals of a culture.
Phenomenally the traditional Bedouin home sustained its identity over
generations. The staying power of this landscape of the traditional home is
attributable to its cultural importance. The hypothesis of the study suggests
that the more the Bedouins lifestyle move towards modernization, the more
symbolic the traditional Beit become. A face to face structured questionnaire
will be used to elicit the data, year 2000. The sampling technique will
stratify for house density in villages of the North Eastern Jordan Badia and
will proportionally randomize for a quota sample for the three house type
categories of house layouts associated with traditional Bedouin home (Beit
Al-Sha'r).
The Sonic Image of the Environment: Characterizing and
Evaluating Sound Scapes
Nathir Abu-Obeid, and Dina Abdelkareem
Project No.: 182/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2785 JD
ABSTRACT
This research
focuses on how people perceive and evaluate their sonic environments and what
are the various dimensions and variables that give the local sonic environments
their identity. Hence, the research will include selection of the sonic
environments and acoustic communities and studying them in terms of the
different dimensions (acoustic, geographical, functional, and socio-cultural).
Then, those concepts will be translated into measurable variables (i.e,
semantics). Recordings for the chosen environments will be conducted and
subjects will be asked to rate the environments through the semantics. The data
will be analyzed to investigate the perceived quality of the environments,
their perceived character, their evaluation, and the correlational relationships
between variables.
Micropiles as A Technique to Control Upward Movement of
Foundation of Light Structures on the Expansive Clays of Irbid Area:
Experimental Study
Osama Nusier, Baha'a Muhie Eddin Yousif
Project No.: 200/2000 Amount
of Fund: 5000 JD
ABSTRACT
The main
objective of this research is to study the effect of micro-piles on the heave
of clay possessing high swelling characteristics and upon which lightweight
structure will be constructed.
To achieve this
aim, two steel boxes will be constructed with dimensions (50*50*35)cm, and
micro-piles with different diameters and lengths will be manufactured, the
micro-piles will be placed in the compacted clay inside the box and will be
surrounded by a sand interface, several dial gages will be fixed on the model footing
to measure the upward movement, then the effect of micro-piles diameter will be
studied and a design procedure will be proposed for the optimum number,
diameter and length of
micro-piles to achieve full or partial reduction of heave.
2- Faculty of Medicine
Plastination, a New Method of Preservation
Nabil, A. Khouri.
Project No.: 24/2000 Amount of
Fund: 13450 JD
ABSTRACT
The
best-modernized and effective techniques that had been recently introduced to
the worlds of Anatomy and Pathology is Plastination. The great flexibility as
well as the non-toxic and low health hazards effect of the plastinated
specimens led many Anatomists worldwide to utilize and improve this new
technique. Furthermore, the disadvantages of formalin and phenol used by the
old methods of preservation, which are described as toxic, skin irritant and
concerogenous agents, led us to initiate this research. One important
objectives of this research is to overcome our major problem namely the lack of
cadavric materials. This method provides specimens in which tissue water and
part of the tissue fat is replaced by polymerized resin (BLODUR). This is
performed after embalming with a very low formaline concentration formula and
storage for at least 3-4 months at -5 C. Plastination is then carried out in
several steps including; fixation and staining, acetone dehydration,
impregnation, and curing. This method has proven to be the most valuable tools
for teaching and research Other advantages gained by using this technique is
the ability of leaving the specimens exposed to air without drying or
decomposing. Finally, long usage of less health hazardous specimens and the
reduction of their maintenance with respect to deterioration.
Comparison of Performance of Students in Basic Medical
Sciences: Traditional vs. Parallel Programs
Marwan Abu-Hijleh, Jamil Al-Alami,
Abdel-Fatah Al-Hader, and Zeyad El-Akawi.
Project No.: 42/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2260 JD
ABSTRACT
Several studies
have correlated the grade point average (GPA) gained in the secondary school
and the students' university performance. However, there is no study in Jordan
to correlate the secondary school GPA cumulative and the medical students'
performance in particular. A retrospective study of two cohorts of students
(total approx. 450) who entered the medical school in 1997 and 1998, will be
conducted to analyze the academic performance level of the students in three
basic medical sciences courses taken in the second year of the medical program.
Students will be divided into two categories based on the criteria of entrance
into the medical college. Category I includes students who entered through a
tough pre-medical competition based on their high school GPA (the Traditional
Program students) (TP). Category II comprised those students who entered
through a pliable pre-medical competition based on their high school GPA and
their willingness to pay higher university fees (the Parallel Program students)
(PP). The TP students and PP students will be compared on the basis of various
university test scores and grades, high school GPA, source of the secondary
school diploma, and gender using analysis of variance to assess the statistical
significance of any differences. The results of this study can help in identifying
the characteristics of students who are most likely to perform poorly.
Thereafter it will help educators and policy makers identify crucial risk
factors that impede effective learning and implement suitable corrective
measures.
Treatment of Chronic Urinary Retention
Ibrahim Al-Ghalayeeni, and Ibrahim
Banihani
Project No.: 65/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1000 JD
ABSTRACT
Men with
features of chronic urinary retention, that is a residual volume of greater
than 300 ml after voiding comprise approximately 15% of patients undergoing
bladder outflow surgery for obstruction. Previous studies have noted that this
group have higher mortality rates and a less satisfactory outcome following
surgery. Evidence that low voiding pressures may predict poor outcome have been
contradicted by recent reports and therefore the significance of urodynamic
evidence of both obstruction and detrusor failure in this condition remains
unclear. In other clinical situations intermittent catheterisation (ISC) has
proved a very satisfactory method of bladder emptying in the presence of poor
detrusor contractility. In this study we aim to determine whether a preliminary
period of regular bladder emptying by ISC prior to outflow surgery improves
outcome in men with chronic retention. We also aim to identify features that
predict poor outcome and hence identify a sub-group of men who will not benefit
from surgery, thus avoiding unnecessary morbidity.
Propofol Exhibits Antiepileptic Activity In Hippocampal
Pyramidal Neurons
Sameer A. Otoom
Project No.: 66/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2400 JD
ABSTRACT
Propofol was
reported to exhibit an antiepileptic activity. This study was performed to
investigate the effect of propofol on evoked and spontaneous seizure-like
activity induced by a model of epilepsy known as the veratridine model. Studies
were performed on rat brain slices using conventional electrophysiological
intracellular techniques. Alteration of sodium channel function by veratridine
(0.3 µM) induced evoked and spontaneous seizure-like activity in hippocampal
CA1 pyramidal neurons. Propofol concentrations (50-100 µM) inhibited both
evoked and spontaneous bursting induced by veratridine. The inhibitory effect
of propofol (100 µM) was associated with hyperpolarization and an increase in
membrane input resistance and current threshold. Results from this study are
valuable in solving critical questions regarding the antiepileptic activity of
propofol and strengthen the validity of the veratridine model in testing for
potential antiepileptic drugs. Further experiments are needed to confirm these
results and to investigate whether propofol has any proepileptic activity on
the veratridine model.
Effect of Warm Co2 on Shoulder Pain Following Laparoscopic
Cholecystectomy
Kamal Gharaibeh
Project No.: 67/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1200 JD
ABSTRACT
100 Patients
Scheduled for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy will be randomized to two groups.
Group (1): Pneumoperitoneum will be carried out using the ordinary Co2. Group
(2): Pneumoperitoneum will be carried out Using Warm Co2 (Thermoflator or
Similar apparatus). Postoperatively shoulder Pain will be assessed in both
groups for 72 hours, the location will be in princess Basma Teaching Hospital,
Private Hospital and King Abdullah Hospital. The main Objectives of this
research can be Summarized as follow: Evaluation of the effect of Using
pre-heated Co2 or normal Temperature, Co2 on Shoulder Pain Following
Laparoscopic Cholecystomy which may be as high as 79.6%.
Effect of Long-Term Exposure of Male Rats to Sodium Fluoride
on Sex-Behavior, Aggression and Fertility
Hameed Bataineh, and M.H. Al-Hamood
Project No.: 68/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2700 JD
ABSTRACT
Humans are
exposed to fluoride from a number of sources including medicines, pesticides,
fertilizer residues, dental products (tooth paste and mouth rinses) paediatric
supplements, fluoridated water and food. Sodium fluoride has been used in
municipal water fluoridation system for over half century because of its proven
cariostatic properties.
In the light of
the fact that lack of adequate reproductive toxicity data, this work has been
planned to evaluate the long-term ingestion of sodium fluoride on fertility,
sex behavior, aggressive behavior and structure of male reproductive system of
the rat.
Nifedipine Can Prevent Ethanol-Induced Gastric Mucosal
Damage in Rats
K. Karim, H. Zahawi, O. Hameed, and Z.
Hassan
Project No.: 71/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1000 JD
ABSTRACT
Department of
Pharmacology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science
and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. The effect of nifedipine on ethanol induced
gastric mucosal damage and mast cell count in the glandular wall of the stomach
in rats were studied. One ml of 50% ethanol administered into the stomach via
intragastric tube resulted after one hour in 100% rate of gastric mucosal
damage as demonstrated by the gross and histopathological evaluation. This was
associated with a significant decrease in the mast cell count in the mucosa,
submucosa and muscle layer, (using aqueous solution of 0.5% w/v toluidine
blue). Nifedipine in a dose of 35 mg/kg administered intragastrically either
with ethanol or 30 min before ethanol resulted in a
significant reduction in number, length and area of gastric mucosal lesions
with a preventive index of 40% and 92% respectively together with no change in
the number of mast cells in all three layers. In conclusion, these results
offer evidence that oral calcium channel blockers may play an important role in
the protection against chemically induced gastric injury and therefore offer
insight into the mechanism of gastric ulcer formation. This knowledge may prove
important in the development of new and improved therapies for the treatment
and prevention of gastric ulcer in man.
The Basal Activity of Pyruvate Kinase and
Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in People Residing at the Below Sea Level
Environment
Fayig El-Migdadi, Mohammad Rawachdeh,
and Amal Ghazi Mohammed
Project No.: 82/2000 Amount
of Fund: 8500 JD
ABSTRACT
It was found
that transfer from normal altitude to low altitude cause decrease in
phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) activity. Thus the decrease serum levels of
lactate at low altitude can be due to a decrease glycolytic flux rate as a
result of PFK-1 inactivation and /or a decrease in glucose availability;
another possible account may be an increase rate of lactate clearance. The
significance of this metabolic adjustment was suggested to involve
theregulation of glycolytic and phosphorylation. Based on this fact, it is
hypothesized that Pyruvate kinase (PK) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
(G6PD) activity in people residing in the Jordan Valley (JV), which is located
at 360 meters below sea level, is proposed to be lower than that in people of
Irbid city and Amman, which are located at 600-650 meters above sea level. In
addition, the incidence and expression of PK and G6PD in people residing in the
JV is hypothesized here to be different than those residing in Irbid and Amman.
Based on this fact, it is hypothesized that prevalence of PK and G6PD deficiency
in the JV is different (higher) than Irbid and Amman city. Our specific
objectives are:
1. The basal activity of PK, G6PD and lactate
dehydrogenase in JV, Irbid and Amman.
2. The incidence of PK and G6PD deficiency in JV,
Irbid and Amman.
Levels of Serum Sex Hormones in Ischemic Heart Disease and
Hypertension
Mohammed Ja’far, and Abdel-Fattah
Al-Hader
Project No.: 95/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1600 JD
ABSTRACT
Both male and
female sex hormones secretion varies with age of human being and in different
diseases. Also concentration of sex hormones usually decreased at middle and
old age particularly in female at menopausal period, while opposite hormones
increased in both sex, i.e. estrogen in male and testosterone in female. After
menopause, unfavorable changes in the lipid profile develop because of estrogen
deficiency which might be a risk factor for hypertension or ischemic heart
disease. In this study we will estimate the concentration of these sex hormones
(Total testosterone, free testosterone, estradiol, and ostenedione, hormones
bindings globulin and Renin sodium profile) in ischemic heart disease and
hypertensive patient. We will examine the relationship between the level of
these hormones and the development of coronary artery disease in female menopause
patient and hypertensive patients both male and female. We will also measure
the concentration of these hormones in patient with acute myocardial
infarction. 100 male and 100 female patients will be studied in this project,
all composed of different groups with 50 patients in each group. Selection
arranged as normal subject ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction
and hypertensive patients.
The Effectiveness of Antibiotics in Acute Respiratory Tract
Infections
Anwar Batiha, and Ghada Anis
Project No.: 100/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2100 JD
ABSTRACT
The discovery
of antibiotics constitutes a major breakthrough in this century. They provided
a magic weapon against many serious bacterial infections. However, these drugs
have been abused. Today, antibiotic abuse is considered one of the major
challenges of modern medicine. Bacterial resistance, side effects, and the huge
cost are among the consequences of inappropriate use of these antibiotics. The
major objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of antibiotics in
a very common condition in which they are commonly and probably inappropriately
used, Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTI). To achieve our objective, a
randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is being currently
conducted. A total of 200 patients will be randomized into 2 groups: the first
group will receive the antibiotic and the other group will receive the placebo.
A verbal consent will be obtained from all participants. Each patient will be
physically examined, relevant information will be obtained using a structured
questionnaire prepared for the purpose of this study, and a throat swab will be
taken for culture. Follow up assessment will be carried out at 48 hours, 1
week, and 2 weeks after the first visit. Outcome assessment was based on
evaluation by the physician and self-reports by the patients. Differences
between the 2 groups will be assessed for statistical significance using the
chi-square test for proportions or the t-test for means.
Incidence of Legionella Pneumphila in Water System of
Hospitals in Northern Jordan
Ziad Elnasser, and Mohammad Al-Azab
Project No.: 116/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3300 JD
ABSTRACT
Legionella
pneumophila is considered one of the common organisms that are associated with
a typical pneumonia all over the world. The problem of Legionaries disease in
Jordan is never studied, and most physicians treat such conditions by either
giving antibiotics empirically or considering the condition as viral pneumonia
and not treat. We will study the scope of this problem in Jordan by analyzing
the habitat of the organism's possible finding, which include water tanks of
hospitals, health centers, hotels and schools of three different cities in
Jordan (Irbid, Amman, and Alsalt). The specimens are going to be taken from the
water reservoirs showers, and air conditioning systems. The specimens are going
to be collected and transported in special refrigerators to the clinical
laboratories of JUST. The specimens are going to be cultured on a selective
agar for Legionella, and will be quantified, and then the organism is going to
be finally identifies by doing direct immunoflourescent technique.
Plasmid Pattern Profiles in Coagulase Negative Staphylococci
in Northern Province of Jordan
Ziad Al Nasser, and Ali Aljaberi
Project No.: 117/2000 Amount
of Fund: 9200 JD
ABSTRACT
Coagulase
negative staphylococci is considered one of the important opportunistic
pathogen in immunocompromised patients. Virulance factor associated with
infection is studied in the past especially the role of the slimy layer and
adherence. We are going to study the role of plasmid profiles among Coagulase
negative staphylococci in association with different clinical condition, and
the possibility of using our finding as an epidemiological tool to trace the
source of infection in medical personnel and as indicator for the non proper
use of antibiotics. we are going to take specimen from patient infected with
these organism, medical personnel, and from other university students as
control. Plasmid will be extracted from the isolated Coagulase negative
staphylococci and there pattern will be analyzed after running them over
agarose gel electrophoresis.
Anticonvulsant Activity of the Intravenous Anesthetic
Propofol and Other Conventional Antiepileptic Drugs on Seizures Induced by the
Cholinergic Agonist Piolocarpine an Electrophysiological Study in Vitro
Zuheir Hasan
Project No.: 118/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4000 JD
ABSTRACT
Propofol is a
short acting anesthetic, which is now widely used for the induction and
maintenance of anesthesia. However, some controversy still surrounds its use,
because of sporadic report suggestion the occurrence of seizures following its
administration. In order to determine the effects of propofol on seizure
activity, the present in vitro electrophysiological study was designed to
investigate the effects propofol on limbic seizures induced seizures induced by
the cholinergic agonist pilocarpine. Hippocampal slices of 400 microns in
thickness will placed in a recording chamber and prefused with artificially
CSF. To examine the effects of propofol on pilocarpine induced seizures,
pilocarpine (5 mM) will be added to the bathing media and spontaneous seizure
activity will be recorded before and after prefusing the slice with propofol.
Extracellular stimulation and recording of hippocampal neuronal activity in
normal and epileptic slices will be performed by standard electrophysiological
techniques as previously described. The proposed experiments should give
further insight on the effects of propofol on seizures activity as well as the
effects of propofol on cholinergic synaptic transmission.
Incidence of Ischemia in Patients with Diabetic Foot
Infection
Muhammad Khammash
Project No.: 119/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1000 JD
ABSTRACT
Diabetic foot
infection is the commonest cause for hospital admission in diabetic patients.
More than 50% of lower extremity amputations occur in patients with diabetes.
Beside neuropathy and high blood sugar, peripheral vascular disease is a major
factor in the evolution and complication of the diabetic foot infection.
Peripheral vascular disease and leg ischemia are correctable factors when
discovered early or during the management of diabetic foot infection. It has
been found that around 10-25% of patients with diabetic foot infection are
having a chance of improving the blood flow to their feet and so improving
healing and, more important, reducing their chance of having major amputations.
Beside history
and clinical examination, Doppler ultrasound examination of the lower extremity
vessels, together with measurement of the Doppler pressure of the blood flow
and the ankle brakial index pressure, could give an idea about the degree of
ischemia and detect patients who need Angiography and proceed for surgical or
radiological intervention to improve the foot blood flow. Doppler U.S
evaluation of lower limb vascularity is an easy, reliable and non invasive way
of evaluation which can be done in the ward by the treating physician.
Assessment of Urine Cultures’ Bacterial Pathogens and their
antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in Princess Basma Teaching Hospital
ElSheikh Mahgoub, and Hana Saeed Khalil
Project No.: 120/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2800 JD
ABSTRACT
The objective
of this study is to assess and determine the reasons for negative routine
cultures of urine from patients suspected to have urinary tract infection. The
project has been in progress for the last three months. So far, 1000 specimens
of urine have been cultured, organisms isolated identified and their
susceptibility pattern to antibiotics determined. This research project will
continue till statistically valid results are obtained.
Lower gastro-intestinal fistulas
Abdulkarim H. Al-Omari,
Ibrahim Bani-Hani, and Tareq Al-Jaberi
Project No.: 122/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1000 JD
ABSTRACT
Causes
of lower gastro-intestinal fistulas in the west are: Malignancy, Crohn’s
disease, Diverticulitis, & Iatrogenic. Most authors advocate early surgery
for these patients after: Resuscitation, Treatment of sepsis, & Octeotide
trial. Our study has two limbs: Retrospective review of cases over the last
five years in Princess Basma Hospital & Prospective evaluation of cases
over the coming two years in King Abdullah Hospital. We aim at the followings:
To compare the causes of fistulas in our group of patients with those of
others, To see whether the modern techniques of investigations were used in our
patients, To compare the outcome of our management with those of others, To
come up with recommendations regarding the best methods of investigation and
management that suit our patients & To apply these in the prospective part
of the study.
Effect of Diabetes Mellitus and Glucose Imbalances on
Different in Vitro Parameters of Immune Competence
Ammar Daoud, Nezar Abu-Harfeel, and
Merhe Tayyar
Project No.: 136/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4500 JD
ABSTRACT
Diabetes
mellitus (DM) is one of the evolving metabolic disorders among Jordanian
population. The two types of DM (I and II) are the results of; insulin
insufficiency (absolute or relative) due to massive damage to insulin producing
cells (Beta cells of the pancreas) for type I, and insulin resistance for type
II. This disorder results in elevated levels of blood glucose.
Long term,
badly controlled DM will lead to complications such as; retinopathy, neuropathy
and nephropathy and chronic infection. On the other hand, DM affects the immune
system. This effect results in elevation in the rate and kind of infections
that occur in diabetic patients. This effect lowers the immune response in
different branches of cellular and humoral system.
This research
proposal is intended to investigate the impairment of cellular immune system of
diabetic patients. This will enable us to understand the effect of both hypoglycemia
and hyperglycemia conditions on lymphocytes of diabetic patient.
The Effect of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points
(HACCP) System Application on Quality of Dairy Products (Yogurt and Halloumi
Cheese)
Atallah Rabei’, Reyad Shaker, and Akram
Banat
Project No.: 140/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1600 JD
ABSTRACT
This study was
aimed to identify the quality of dairy products (Yogurt and Halloumi cheese)
produced and consumed in Jordan and study the effect of applying HACCP program
on the quality of these products which are produced in Danish Jordan Dairy
Company (DJDC).
Samples of
yogurt and halloumi cheese were collected from five Jordan dairy plants for
microbial analysis. It was observed that the mean of Aerobic Plate Count (APC)
and the count of Coliform, Staphylococcus aureas and Yeasts and Molds for
yogurt collected from those factories were 5.6x104,4.7,1.2x101
and less than 10 CFU/g respectively, but the mean of APC and the count of
Coliform, Staphylococcus aureas and Yeasts and Molds for halloumi cheese
collected from those factories were 3.0x 06, less than 10, 5.5x105
and 8.3x102 CFU/g respectively.
Before applying
HACCP system, samples of yogurt and halloumi cheese were collected from DJDC
for microbial analysis but the work in this phase is in progress. And it's
early to conclude our results because the study is still in progress.
Ophthalmic Screening of Older Preschool Children in Local Irbid Society
Najeeb Haykal, Muawyah Al-Bdoor, and Fahmi Okour
Project No.: 148/2000 Amount of Fund: 2000 JD
ABSTRACT
A
total number of 500 children aged between 3 and 6 years in Irbid area will be
screened by trained ophthalmic doctor targeting local pediatric clinics and
kindergartens. The method would include external eye examination, checking pupillary reactions,
ocular alignment and motility, measuring visual acuities, ophthalmoscopy and,
where appropriate, refraction.
This survey
would help identifying the prevalence of various eye problems in Jordanian children, and the ophthalmic needs of this
important sector of our population as well as establishing long term
prophylactic and therapeutic management plans. It would also help assessing the
feasibility of establishing a permanent similar
screening service for the local society in order to pick up ophthalmic
disorders early enough for an effective treatment.
Age-Specific Prevalence & Causes of Blindness in an
Older Population in Jordan
Fahmi Okour, Najeeb Haykal, and M.
Bdour
Project No.: 149/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2000 JD
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To
study the prevalence of blindness in subjects aged 50 years and over, the
causes of blindness in the same age group and to identify preventable causes of
blindness.
Methods:
Subjects aged 50 years and older at different sites in the North of Jordan are
being studied. Ophthalmological examination includes measurement of visual
acuity, anterior segment examination, retinoscopy, ophthalmoscopy, visual field
assessment. WHO definitions of blindness and visual impairment are used.
Results: So
far, the leading causes of blindness in Jordan, found by our study, are
cataract, refractive errors, glaucoma, and failed medical or surgical
treatment.
Conclusions: A
survey to determine the age-specific prevalence and causes of blindness needs
to be conducted in Jordan. Our study will provide baseline data for the
planning, implementation and evaluation of eye service and other preventive
programmes.
Cystinuria: A Survey of School Children in Hartha, North
Jordan
Kamel Ajlouni, Ibrahim Bani-Hani, Anwar
Batieha, Wajih Owais, Hashem Jaddou, and Mohammed Al-Khatib
Project No.: 150/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2000 JD
ABSTRACT
Cystinuria is a
rare hereditary disease which affects 1 in 600 - 1000 individuals, clinical
observations suggest a high prevalence of the condition in a town in north
Jordan, Hartha. Therefore, a survey was undertaken among school children of the
town during May and June 2000. A total of 984 children (476 boys, and 508
girls) 6 - 17 years of age were included in the study. Each participant was
examined for the presence of cystine in his urine and completed a questionnaire
which gathered information on socio-demographic factors, family history, and
medical history. Cystinuria was detected in 19 males (4.2%) and 28 females
(5.8%) with a total prevalence of 5%.
The condition
increased with age from 0.7% among children 6 - 9 years 5.2% among children 10
- 14 years, to reach 9.4% among children 14 - 17 years of age (p = 0.00).
Cystinuria was more common among children with renal colic, urinary tract
infection, and renal stones but none of these associations was statistically
significant. Absenteeism from school was significantly more likely among
children with cystinuria (1.65 day compared with children without cystinuria
(1.36 days), (p = 0.00).
Conclusion: The
prevalence of cystinuria is very high in the studied community which provides
an opportunity for in-depth studies of the modes of inheritance, factors
associated with stone formation, treatment options, and possible ways of
prevention.
Light and Electron Microscopic Study of Human Cerebellum and
Inferior Olivary Nucleus
Qasem Dwairi, and Saleh Banihani
Project No.: 151/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3200 JD
ABSTRACT
In order to
perform its function as the main center for balance and equilibrium in our
body, the cerebellum interact with spinal cord, inferior olivary nucleus,
vestibular nuclei and several other structures. This project is focusing on
studying the human cerebellar Purkinje neurons and their main direct in-put
which arise from the inferior olivary nucleus.
The inferior
olivary nucleus functions to organize movement in time by entraining motor
neuronal firing through rhythmatic activation of the cerebellum. This
sophisticated mechanism are achieved via olivocerebellar fibers, which make
synapses on the cerebellar Purkinje cells which collaborate to regulate the
motor activity of the body.
The Purkinje
cells are the only neurons of the cerebellar cortex that send their axons
outside the cereballar cortex. Purkinje neurons also, receive synapses directly
from the climbing fibers (Olivocerebellar fibers) and indirectly from the mossy
fibers through the granular neurons. Therefore Purkinje neurons seem to play an
essential role in the processing of information that reach the cerebellar
cortex.
The exact
mechanisms of how these functions are achieved are not well understood. This is
attributed at least to minimal available information about the structure of
human brain. The available literature related to the neurons in the inferior
olivary nuclei indicated that these neurons have special morphological features
such as Zonula adherans, gap junctions, and glomeruli. Unfortunately these
features were demonstrated in animal models only. To the best of our knowledge
the neurons in the inferior olivary nucleus have not been studied in human at
the light as well as EM levels. Studies on these structures may provide
additional features of these structures in human. Subsequently the
morphological studies may elucidate the possible function of these neurons. The
main objectives of this project include:
-
To study the morphology of inferior
olivary neurons at light and electron microscopy.
-
To study their synaptic relationship
with Purkije cells and other cell.
-
To conduct immuno-histochemistry
studies on these neurons using specific antibodies as connexons-43 and
neurofilaments (Perpherin). These antibodeis would localize to axons and
synaptic circuits.
-
To conduct light and electron
microscopy.on the most important cell population of the cerebellum; the Purinje
cells.
-
Describe the sub-population types of
proteins contained in these structures using specific staining methods namely;
basic fuchsin-astra blue and Golgi methods.
Study of Cryptosporidium parvum& Giardia Lamblia, their
Diagnostic Methods, Risk of Infection and Various Stages of Development in
Laboratory Animals
Elsheikh Mahgoub, Bahaa Latif, and Anas
A. Almahbashi
Project No.: 152/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3100 JD
ABSTRACT
The main
objective of this project is to: (1) Compare the
efficiency of different methods used for diagnosis of Giardia lamblia and
Cryptosporidium parvum in stool
samples. (2) Correlate
infection with presence of these parasites. (3) Study the
developmental stages of Cryptosporidium spp., isolated from human feces, in
experimentally infected animals. The study will
assess increasing infections with Giardia and Cryptosporidium in man and
animals in Jordan. In addition it will determine the best methods of early
detection. Specimens will
be examined by iodine and trichrome stain in wet mounts, concentration and staining
with modified Kinyuon Ziehl-Neelsen and direct monoclonal immunofluorescent
antibody.
Comparison Between The Efficiency of ELISA & Indirect
Hemagglutination(IHA) in Detection of Antiadult Worm Igg for Patients Infected
With Schistosoma Mansoni.
Elsheikh Mahgoub, and Nabil A. Abdel
Aziz
Project No.: 165/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3000 JD
ABSTRACT
In addition to
evaluating these two tests as far as specificity and sensitivity is concerned,
the study will lay down the basis for future epidemiological surveys and
vaccine trials when developed. The main objectives of this study are to: detect
anti worm immunoglobulinG in sera of patients infected with Schistosoma
mansoni and compare the specificity and efficiency of ELISA and IHA in
detection of anti adult worm IgG for Schistosoma mansoni.
Sera collected
from patients with symptoms of schistosomiasis and control healthy individuals
will be examined by ELISA and IHA for anti adult worm IgG.Stools will be
examined by the direct method.
Stress from Exercise Causes Changes in Serum Testosterone
Levels in Humans
Ibrahim Banihani, Faeq Meqdadi, and
Nabil Al-Bashir
Project No.: 167/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4400 JD
ABSTRACT
A pilot
(Comparative) study (N=5) of serum levels of leutinizing hormone (LH) and
testosterone (T) between male trained athletes (High-school students, I6-18
years old) living in North and South Shouna in the Jordan Valley (JV), 320-360
meters below sea level, and those living in Ramtha and Irbid, 550-650 meters
above sea level, was conducted in November, 1999. A similar study (N=20-40) is
needed to confirm the results and data from the pilot study. Serum Levels of LH
and T were also measured in these athletes following a 20-Km non-competitive
run. The air temperatures on the day of the experiment was comparable (25°C in North and South Shouna
versus 23°C in Ramtha and
Irbid). Before exercise. Serum levels of LH and T in athletes of the below sea
level environment (North and South Shouna) were similar to those levels in
athletes of the above sea level environment (Ramtha and Irbid). Exercise caused
a significant increase in serum levels of both LH and T only in athletes of
North and South Shouna. It seems likely that the higher secretion of LH that
contributes, at least in part, for the higher serum levels of T following
exercise. Taken together, these data suggest that exercise has an effect on LH
and T Secretion that is similar to that of fasting. And finally, the below sea
level environmental factors, such as the high barometric pressure, as well as
the genetic background of the athletes that affect the pituitary and adrenal
cortex as well as the testicular tissue to secrete more of LH and T.
An Immunohistochemical Study for the Expression of Molecular
Markers (P21, Cyclin Dl, Cyclin D2, Cyclin E) in Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma
as Diagnostic, or Prognostic Tests
Kamal Bani Hani, Nidal AI Masri, and
Hanan Nabil Karam
Project No.: 169/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4500 JD
ABSTRACT
Gastric
adenocarcinoma; a lesion in which the neoplastic epithelial cells grow in gland
patterns in the stomach. Genetic alterations occurring in this process could
serve as biomarkers for the risk of malignant progression, improve
surveillance, and contribute to early diagnosis. We will examine four potential
biomarkers, cyclin (D1, D2, E), and p21 in a prospective gastric adenocarcinoma
patients.
A total of 50
patients will be enrolled in an endoscopic surveillance cohort, gastric biopsy
specimens will be collected at each endoscopy, in addition to surgurgical
specimens. Incident cases of adenocarcinoma will be matched to control patients
within the cohort by duration of follow-up, age, and sex. Biopsy specimens will
be analyzed for cyclin (D1, D2, E) and p21 protein levels by
immunohistochemistry using formalin/paraffin sections.
Respiratory Morbidity in Different Jordanian Industries
Ahmad Boran
Project No.: 183/2000 Amount
of Fund: 5600 JD
ABSTRACT
There is
increased realization that repiratory morbidity rates in particular
occupational asthma is on the increase through out the world. The prevalence of
repiratory symptoms in different Jordanian industries will be investigated.
High, medium and low exposure levels of dusts and fumes will be identified from
amongst various factories in Jordan. Respiratory symptoms will be investigated
using a modified Medical Council Research questionnaire to allow for
occupational asthmatic symptoms to be vitalograph to measure lung function
indicators in workers who are eposed to different pollutants in the industry
will be used. Biological profile will be investigated using available atomic
absorption instruments available at JUST and the Criminal Investigation
laboratory.
3- Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences
Burkitt’s lymphoma in
Jordan with emphasis on detection of Epstein-Barr virus
Nidal M. Almasri, Hasan S Khalidi, and
Suha Fouad Abu-Jabarah
Project No.: 44/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4950 JD
ABSTRACT
Malignant
lymphoma (ML) is one of the commonest forms of malignancies in Jordan.
Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) is a type of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is endemic in
Africa but occurs sporadically in other parts of the world (including Jordan),
and has a strong association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
In this
research we studied the features of BL in Jordan with emphasis on detection of
EBV in them. Out of 197 ML, we found that 15 BL cases were diagnosed during the
years 1996-1999 in the Pathology Departments of Al-Bashir Hospital and Jordan
University of Science and Technology. We re-examined hematoxylin and eosin
stained slides of these cases to confirm the diagnosis, and reviewed the
clinico-epidemiological data of them.
Also, we
performed immunohistochemical staining (IHC) on the paraffin sections of the 12
cases with available paraffin blocks, to study the expression of CD3, CD20,
CD43 and CD45, CD45RO by BL neoplastic cells. In Situ Hybridization (ISH) was
also performed to detect the presence of EBV.
We found that
the median age of BL patients was 5 years with a male to female ratio of 5:1.
50% of the cases involved the abdomen, while the remaining 50% involved the
head & neck region. In situ hybridization studies showed that 58.3% of
these Jordanian BL cases to be positive for EBV, a rate which is considered
intermediate between cases in endemic and non-endemic areas.
Hodgkin’s Disease in Jordan with Emphasis on Detection of
Epstein-Barr Virus
Nidal M. Almasri, Hasan Khalidi, and
BadrEldin Mirgani Yousif
Project No.: 59/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2800 JD
ABSTRACT
Prior studies
have show an association between Epstien-Barr virus (EBV) and Hodgkin’s (HD).
In developed countries, there is a bimodal incidence of HD and a predominance
of nodular sclerosis subtype (NS); while in underdeveloped countries, the
bimodality of incidence is not always present with high rates in children and
predominance of mixed cellularity subtype (MC).
The aims of
this study are to: 1) Detect EBV encoded latent membrane protein (LMP-1), and
EBV encoded RNAs (EBER1 & EBER2) in HD among Jordanian. 2) Correlate the
incidence of EBV positivity with subtype, age, site and sex.
A total of 64
cases were analyzed, 34 with MC (53.1%), 28 with NS (43.8%) and 2 cases with
lymphocytes predominance HD (3.1%). Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue
sections were analyzed for EBV encoded LMP-1 using anti-LMP-1 (DAKO, carpenteria,
CA). These cases were also analyzed for leukocyte common antigen (LCA), CD15,
CD30, CD20 (B cell marker) and CD45RO (T cell marker).
LMP-1 was
detected in Reed-Sternberg and Hodgkin’s cells in 25 of 64 cases (39.1%). 18/34
MC (52.9%), 7/28 NS (25%), and 0/2 lymphocyte predominance HD (0%).
HD in Jordan
appears to run an intermediate course between developed and under-developed
countries. The findings further support the hypothesis that there is an strong
association between EBV and HD. The association is significantly
higher in MC subtype compared with NS subtype. The EBV association has no
relation with age, sex and site of HD in our cases.
Prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in
Irbid Town
Al-Sheikh Mahjoob, Mamdooh Muqaddam,
and Faisal Awad
Project No.: 166/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2000 JD
ABSTRACT
Staphylococcus
aureus (S.aureus) Is gram positive bacteria that have sphere shape and clusters
morphology. Strins of S.aureus which are resistant to B-lactamase stable penicillins
historically termed methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA
mediated by mecA gene, encoding the penicillin binding protein 2a (PBP2a)
enzyme, which has reduced affinity for beta lactams agents Nosocomial infection
caused by MRSA has been a major problem in large medical centers. This
infection is sometimes life threatening for patients with underlying condition,
despite extensive care. Therefore important goals include eradication the
sources of the organism and preventing the spread of organisms to the patients.
In this study we will use the slide latex agglutination test (Denka Seiken Co.,
Ltd.) as a new method for detection of PBP2a in MRSA and oxacillin disk
diffusion as conventional method. Oxacillin minimum inhibitory concentration
(MICs) measures all isolates show discordant results between slide latex
agglutination test and oxacillin disk diffusion. The objectives of this project
are: 1- To describe the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus
aureus in Irbid town. 2- To establish a simple, sensitive, and cost effective
test for detection of this organism. 3- To suggest a policies and protocol to
eradicate and the spread of this organism.
Molecular, Biochemical, and Antibigram Patterns of
Helicobacter Pylori from Various Upper Gastrointestinal Diseases and Non-Ulcer
Dyspepsia in Irbid, Jordan
Raymond Batchoun, Mamdouh Moqaddam,
Hesham Al-Zureiqi, and Taha Abdul Aziz
Project No.: 168/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3250 JD
ABSTRACT
Helicobacter
pylori is a spiral gram negative microaerophilic bacteria associated with
chronic gastritis, duodenitis, peptic ulcer, duodenal ulcer, non ulcer
dyspepsia, and stomach cancer. The diseases pattern is dependent on presence of
cage A and Vac A genes that control the severity of infection, and cancer
development. Additionally H. pylori is becoming multi resistant to
antimicrobial therapy all over the world. In Jordan, Helicobacter pylori or
spiral bacteria were detected in gastric biopsies obtained from patients under
going endascopy, with various upper GI upsets, microscopically, with limited
reponse to antiulcer, antimicrobial. The objectives of this project are: (a)
Isolation and biochemical characterization of Helicobacter pylori from the
various clinical conditions of upper GI upsets from patient's referred to
endoscopy unite in north Jordan, (b) Determination of ulcerogenic strains in
relation to cag A and vac A using PCR technology and its correlation with
desease pattern, & (c) Determination of the MIC of antimcrobials used in H.
Pylori eradication employing E-test, which will become guidelines in treatment
selection.
Detection of BCL-2 Oncogene in Malignant Lymphoma Cases in
Jordan from Paraffinized Embedded Tissues Using PCR Method
Nidal Al-Masri, Jameel Al-Alami, and
Mohammed Faza’
Project No.: 197/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3500 JD
ABSTRACT
Malignant
non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are often associated with specific chromosome
translocations which is important mechanisms in the pathogenesis of NHL. In
follicular lymphoma (FL) which is low-grad NHL approximately 90% of cases carry
the translocation t(14;18) where as 20% of diffuse lymphomas (an
intermediate-grad NHL) carry the translocation t (14;18) (q32.2;21).
In this
translocation, the BCL-2 oncogene is translocated from chromosome 18 into the heavy
chain immunoglobulin locus on chromosome 14. This results in a BCL-2/IGH fusion
gene . This
translocation constitutes the most common chromosomal translocation in NHL of
B-cell type and led to the discovery of the BCL-2 gene. The BCL-2 gene is a
survival gene located on chromosome
(18;q21.3) and consists of three exons. the bcl-2 protein has the function to
prevent programmed cell death (apoptosis) and its localized to the inner
mitochondrial membrane and prevents the
apoptosis of the tumor cell.
The
translocation t(14;18) is most commonly detect by Southern analysis and
polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) at the molecular level. Southern blot analysis (SBA) is an expensive
procedure, requires large amounts of DNA (10-30mg),
radioactivity based method and associated with show turnaround time. On the
other hand, PCR characterized by speed (1-3days), ease, lower cost and the
ability to amplify small amounts of DNA (1mg
).
In Jordan, no
studies have been done to evaluate the association of FL and BCL-2
rearrangement by PCR method from fixed-paraffin-embedded tissue. This will be
the first study of NHL and BCL-2 t ( 14;18) it will also attempt to establish
the diagnosis of FL by PCR from archive samples.
Thermophilic Bacteria in Jordan and Biotechnology
Application
Ziad Al-Naser, Wajeeh Oweis, and Anis
Maraqa
Project No.: 198/2000 Amount
of Fund: 7100 JD
ABSTRACT
This is a
biotechnology study designed to isolate the Thermophilic bacteria from hot
springs & geothermal areas in Jordan, after complete isolation we will
extract the DNA from pure culture and apply molecular biology techniques and
analysis to the extracted DNA. Our major attention will be focused on isolation
Four different genes that have important value in industry (Amylase, Xylanases,
Proteases, and DNA-polymerases) and then they will clone in host vector to
produce expected enzymes. The main reasons
for selecting enzymes from thermophiles are their high stability and reduced
risk of contamination.
Diagnostic Efficiency of Cardiac Troponin I, Troponin T,
Myoglobin and CK-MB Mass for Early Evaluation of Patients with Acute Chest
Pain: A Comparison of Cardiac Troponins, Myglobin and CK-MB for Diagnosis of
Acute Myocardial Infarction
Mohamad Nuser, Sameer Otoom, and Bassam
Mahmoud Ababneh
Project No.: 206/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4700 JD
ABSTRACT
The major
challenge for physicians is identification of patients who have acute coronary syndromes
and who may benefit from treatment. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the
leading cause of cardiovascular
death. Early diagnosis is of paramount importance. Delays in clinical
decision-making may reduce the opportunity to deploy available strategic to
salvage myocardium. In patients with
chest pain, the diagnosis depends on the selected use of cardiac markers.
Mainly all institutions
have relied on serial testing serum levels of creatine kinase (CK-MB) after
hospital admission.
Myoglobin and Cardiac Troponins: cTnI and cTnT are new tests with diagnostic
and prognostic
potential. The troponin (Tn) complex (subunit 1, T, and C) on the actin
filament regulates the force and
velocity of muscle contraction. Troponin T (TnT) anchors the Tn complex to tropomyosin;
troponin C (TnC) bind calcium ions and initiates the contractile response; and
troponin-I (TnI) inhibit actin - myosin cross-linking. cTnT and cTnI are highly
sensitive and specific
markers of myocardial necrosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction,
like CK-MB they are detectable within 3-12 h of onest of symptoms but troponin
concentration remain raised for four times longer than CK-MB concentration. The
time profile of cardiac troponin parallels that of the CK-MB
fraction, it has an added benefit of late detection of MI, its level remains
elevated for 5-7 days after myocardial injury. Unlike CK- MB fraction which is
not helpful for early decision-making because
it can detect only two- third of infarcts within 4 hours of admission, with the troponins,
it makes it possible to detect minor myocardial injury and earlier diagnosis of
a cute MI can be made.
4- Faculty of Dentistry
The Incidence Of Oral Cancer In The North Of Jordan
Ma’amon A. Rawashdeh
Project No.: 26/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2720 JD
ABSTRACT
Oral cancer is
a serious and growing health problem throughout the world. The World Health
Organization (WHO) assesses that oral cancer is the third commonest malignancy
among males and sixth commonest in females.
In 1990, cancer
of the oral cavity and pharynx represented about 5% of cancers diagnosed in
USA, and of the 30,000 newly diagnosed cases in 1990, 8000 deaths were
predicted due to the disease. In the UK and Wales the incidence of oral cancer
represents about 2% of all malignancies, and there are 1900 new cases of oral
cancer and 960 deaths from the disease each year.
To my best
Knowledge no data are available on this topic in the North of Jordan. This
study will provide a baseline record of the incidence of oral cancer. It is
hoped that the study will help in raising the level of awareness of oral cancer
in Jordan.
Cytotoxicity of Dental Casting Alloys used in Jordanian
Dental Laboratories
Ahmad Al-Hiyasat, Homa Darmani, and
Omar Bashabsheh
Project No.: 51/2000 Amount of
Fund: 12,000 JD
ABSTRACT
Certain dental
alloys may elicit adverse tissue and cellular reactions by releasing elements
into the oral cavity which then produce harmful biological effects. Since these
alloys are used to construct medical prostheses, the possibility of tissue
damage must be analyzed through pre-clinical risk assessment. Thus relevant pre-clinical
biological tests are highly desirable as a basis for such a risk assessment.
The aim of this study is to first carry out a survey to find out which dental
cast alloys are used in Jordanian dental laboratories and dental surgeries. A
questionnaire will be developed and distributed to dental laboratories in
different geographical areas in Jordan. The most frequently used dental cast
alloys will then be investigated by determining and analyzing the different
elements released from them by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Lastly,
cytotoxicity of these dental casting alloys will be investigated using a well
established fibroblast cell cytotoxicty model.
Clinical Effect of a Full Arch Maxillary Occlusal Splint on
Patients with Signs and Symptoms of TMJDisorders
Firas Al Qurkn
Project No.: 69/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1800 JD
ABSTRACT
Several
epidemiological studies have shown the high prevalence of signs and symptoms of
TMJDisorders in the population. Most studies reported at least 50% of the
general population having at least one sign, although only 30% of individuals
may be aware of symptoms. Pain is the most common reason for patients to seek
treatment. It is widely accepted that occlusal splints play an important role
in the treatment of TMJDisorders, particularly where muscle pain is a prominent
symptom. The aims of this study are to diagnose patients with TMJDisorders, to
investigate the clinical effect of hard occlusal splint on patients complaining
of signs and/or symptoms of TMJDisorders and to compare the results with
studies done on other populations. Criteria for diagnosing the patients and
evaluating their symptoms established and a small number of patients have
received the treatment but the time is not due to reevaluate changes
insymptoms.
Dental Personnel Exposure to Mercury Released from Dental
Amalgam Restorative Materials
Wael Al-Omari, and Ahmad Al-Hiyasat
Project No.: 102/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2900 JD
ABSTRACT
There is no
doubt that mercury is toxic and that dentists and their assistant are
potentially exposed to mercury through the use of amalgam. There has never been
any reported study that has investigated the dental mercury hazards in Jordan.
The purpose of this project is, therefore, to identify and evaluate the
relationship between practice characteristics in Jordan and urine and blood
mercury levels to estimate the degree and sources of mercury exposure resulted
from dental amalgam fillings and the outcome of pregnancy. Information will be
collected about practice characteristics in different regions of Jordan, in the
form of comprehensive questionnaire containing mercury related questions. Urine
and blood samples will be collected from dentists, dental assistants, and
pregnant women having amalgam fillings, and if possible from the newly born
babies and analyzed for total mercury content. The urine and blood samples will
be stabilized, refrigerated and the total mercury content will be measured
using cold atomic absorption method. A questionnaire will be delivered to
assess the neurobehavioral performance of the participants. We hope that this
project will highlight the state of mercury exposure and the potential risks
that could result from that and come forward with recommendations to minimize
those risks.
Prevalence of Oral Pigmentation and Oral Candidosis in
Workers and Children at Risk for Lead Exposure
Aceil Qassim Al-Khatib
Project No.: 141/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4100 JD
ABSTRACT
Lead has been
shown to be deposited in oral tissue if injested in sufficient quantities or
over a long course of time inducing oral pigmentation which can be identified
by an oral exam. Iron deficiency aneamia which is more common in people with
lead poisoning predisposes to oral candidosis. The aims of this investigation
are to determine the prevalence of oral pigmentation, the prevalence of candida
albicans among workers and children at risk, and to assess the knowledge of
lead poisoning among exposed workers.
Characterization of Actinobacillus Actinomycetemcomitans
Fimbriae and Their Role in Adhesion to Human Oral Epithelial Cells
Mohammad Hammad, and AbdelKareem
Al-Sallal
Project No.: 195/2000 Amount
of Fund: 7000 JD
ABSTRACT
Actinobacillus
Actinomycetemcomitans is reported to be an active etiological agent for
"Localized juvinile periodontitis which is a highly destructive form of
inflammatory periodontal disease that affects relatively
young patients. This organism has a fimbria which play an important role in the
adherence of this bacterium to the host cells. In Jordan, there are no previous
reports on the isolation of this organism from patients
suffering from periodentitis. So, this project deals with the isolation,
cultivation of this organism and also with the effect of thyme extract
on the growth of an isolated organism on the adherence mechanism in
comparison with known antibiotics and month washing solutions, using light and
electron microscopes for such observations.
5- Faculty of Pharmacy
Moisture Interaction with Pharmaceutical Excipients
Mutaz Sheikh-Salem, Bashar Al-Taani,
and Dima Al-Fayoumi
Project No.: 10/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3600 JD
ABSTRACT
Many
pharmaceutical Excipients are hydrophilic and have the ability to pickup and
retain large amounts of moisture in their structure. Water presence in the
excipient may influence the physical and chemical properties of the excipient
and the product where the excipient is used. Sorption isotherms of the
following Excipients: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl cellulose,
Crospovidone and chitosan will be constructed by equilibrating them in
dessicators of different relative humidity. The excipents will be studied as
received from the manufacture and after fractionating them into different
particle sizes by sieving. After equilibration the Excipients will be also
analyzed using differential scanning calorimetery for the state of water.
The Excipients
after equilibration will be mixed with moisture sensitive drug (cefadroxyl) and
stored for appropriate period of time and analyze for drug degradation.
Isolation and Characterization of Active Components from
Annona Reticulata
Feras Q. Alali, and Ahmed Al-Kofahi
Project No.: 45/2000 Amount
of Fund: 5300 JD
ABSTRACT
In order to
verify the presence of cytotoxic annonaceous acetogenins, C35-C37
polyketide, in the cultivated species Annona Reticulata L.
(Annonaceae), a pilot sample, bark and stem, was collected from Der-Ala, Jordan
Valley, Jordan, where the plant is cultivated. The sample was cut, dried,
milled and extracted with ethanol, the residue remained after evaporation
(F001) was tested against Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BST) and showed an LC50
value, dose to kill 50% of the shrimp, of 200 ppm. We are now pursuing a large
scale activity-guided isolation and fractionation leading to the active
constituents.
Solid State Characterization of Fluconazole
Khouloud A. Alkhamis, Aiman Obaidat,
and Adi Nuseirat
Project No.: 50/2000 Amount
of Fund: 5000 JD
ABSTRACT
Purpose. Fluconazole is an antifunal drug that is used in the treatment
of candidacies. Fluconazole has at least two different polymorphs. Several
techniques have been used to characterize these two forms. However, generation
of different polymorphs was not performed by previous investigators. Therefore,
it is of interest to prepare new polymorphs and solvates of fluconazole and to
characterize them using different techniques. Methods. Different polymorphs and
solvates will be prepared by crystallization of the original powder in
different solvents at different cooling rates. The different polymorphs will be
detected using thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and Fourier Transform
Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The intrinsic dissolution and the solubility of
the aforementioned polymorphs will also be determined. The results that will be
obtained from the generation and the characterization of the different
polymorphs of fluconazole will be very useful in improving the bioavailability
and therefore the efficacy of fluconzale.
Improving the Compressibility Properties of Powders by Using
Additives
Bashar Al-Taani, and Mutaz Sheikh-Salem
Project No.: 54/2000 Amount
of Fund: 5900 JD
ABSTRACT
Compressibility
is an important property of powder to be formulated into tablet dosage form.
Many solid drugs resist compression into acceptable tablet due to their inherent
properties. Certain tablet additives may improve the compressibility properties
of poor compressibility drug. Some additives of different physical properties
such as hydrophilicity, type and molecular weight will be used to improve the
compressibility properties of a poor compressibility drug. The additives used
are methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl
methylcellulose. The additives will be mixed with the drug at different levels
and the compression profile will be studied mainly by using Heckel analysis
method.
Design and Synthesis of New D1-dopamine receptors ligands
Amjad Qandil, and Mohammad Hassan
Project No.: 56/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4300 JD
ABSTRACT
This research
aims at the Design and Synthesis of novel and potentially active dopamine
agonists. This work focuses on the class of D1-ligands, a class of
compounds represented by the very high affinity but partial agonists: 3-phenyl
benzazepines and the somewhat lower affinity but full agonists: 4-phenylisoquinolines.
Both classes are rigid analogs of -phenyl dopamine with the main
difference between the two classes is the conformation of ethylamine side chain
and the planarity of the compound. The most active derivatives of
4-phenylisoquinolines are more planar and have the side chain in the trans-anti-conformation
while the 3-phenyl benzazepines have it in an extended gauche-conformation.
The compounds proposed in this research will simulate the planarity of the
4-phenylisoquinolines and the ethylamine side chain conformation of 3-phenyl
benzazepines. This is an effort to enforce the pluses and reduce the
shortcomings of these two classes.
Comparative Chemical Studies on Some Aromatic Medicinal
Plants of Jordan
Fawzeyyah Jawad, and Muhsen Al-Mahmoud
Project No.: 78/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4250 JD
ABSTRACT
The volatile
oil content of some aromatic medicinal plants of Jordan are to be investigated
and comparative qualitative and quantitative studies are to be carried on for
several plant species collected at different times of the year. In addition to
the relation with different environmental factors that may affect the quality
and quantity of these oils.
Plant materials
are collected from different environments at different times of the year and
the volatile oil obtained from each sample is extracted and investigated for
its physical and chemical properties by several analytical methods of analysis
including chromatographic methods and GC/MS analysis.
Some related
biological studies and the incorporation of specific concentrations of some of
these oils in different pharmaceutical bases are to be studied.
Vitamin C and Lipid Disturbances in Animal Fed Alcohol
Khalid Al-Ani
Project No.: 79/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4500 JD
ABSTRACT
It is known
that alcohol ingestion is associated with a variety of functional and
structural disturbances including cardiovascular diseases and liver cirrhosis.
Chronic alcohol
ingestion is associated with a variety of secondary metabolic effects that
alter lipid metabolism leading to hyprlipidaemia and accumulation of fat in the
liver especially triglycerids and cholesterol ester.
Our previous
experiments indicate that supplementation of high dose vitamin C to animals fed
alcohol reduce or diminish the effect of alcohol ingestion that when related to
lipid disturbances.
In this project
we attainted to study the possibility of preventing the structural changes in
the liver and aorta caused by alcohol ingestion by simple dietary manipulation
such as high vitamin C supplementation.
Synthesis and Evaluation of some mefenamic acids prodrugs
for transdermal delivery
Bassam Tashtoush, and Khaled Shawakfeh
Project No.: 98/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3000 JD
ABSTRACT
Mefenamic acid,
is one of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used through the oral
and suppository routes for the treatment of pain and inflammation. These NSAIDs
cause gastrointestinal distress but with lower extent than aspirin. One
approach to reduce the GI distress associated with the chronic use of these
compounds was the prodrug approach, designed to deliver the parent compound
after various chemical or enzymatic transformation. Another approach to reduce
these side effects is by delivering the drug by percutaneous administration
where many drugs have been formulated in transdermal delivery system.
In this work we
are trying to improve the penetration of mefenamic acid across the stratum
cornium barrier in order to achieve either local or systemic action. Four
prodrugs will be synthesized by esterification of mefenamic acid with a
tertiary amine salt.
The main
objectives of this work are to synthesize and characterize these prodrugs and
then evaluate the stability in buffer, plasma and skin. We will also evaluate
the permeability of these prodrugs compare to the parent compound in vitro
through the excised mouse skin using Franz diffusion cell.
Topical Drug Delivery System Of Tetracycline HC1 For The
Treatment Of Acne Using Niosomes
Shereen Assaf, and Hind H. Abu Judeh
Project No.: 101/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2000 JD
ABSTRACT
Tetracycline
HC1 (TC-HC1), an anti acne water soluble drug, was used as a model drug. Its
entrapment efficiency (E%) was investigated using tween 60 vesicles (niosomes).
Neutral niosomes, made of 400 µmole ( 50:50) mole % tween 60: cholesterol,
entrapped TC-HC1 at pH (4.5) with E% of (8.20%), whereas negatively charged
niosomes, prepared by inclusion of 10 mole % Dicetyl phosphate (DCP), entrapped
TC-HC1 at pH (4.5) with E% of (21.0%).
In-vitro
preliminary release studies indicated that neutral niosomes made up from tween
60 could retain a considerable amount of TC-HC1 over a prolonged period of
time, whereas the extent of release from negatively charged DCP niosomes was
higher.
The
susceptibility of P. acnes to the antibacterial activity induced by TC-HC1 was
performed by a growth inhibition zone method (agar diffusion). The method was
quantitative for both free and niosome -encapsulated drug. Neutral
niosome-encapsulated TC-HC1 retained its antibacterial activity and gave
greater inhibition zone than negatively charged ones.
The neutral
niosomal system was osmotically active upon the addition of an NaC1 solution
with similar tonicity as that of sweat solution, which concentrates in the
pilosebaceous glands, leading to reduction in the niosomal size and consequently
to an increase in the amount of drug released from niosomes. This suggests that
sweet may increase the amount of drug released from topically applied niosomes.
6- Faculty of Nursing
The Effect of the Health Belief Model in Explaining Medical
Care Seeking Decisions of Jordanian Patients Experiencing Myocardial
Information Symptoms
Suha Omran, and Musa Al-Hassan
Project No.: 90/2000 Amount of
Found: 1800 JD
ABSTRACT
Studies
investigated the nature of factors affecting medical care seeking decisions of
patients experiencing myocardial infarction symptoms were athearchtical (Dracup
et al., 1995). Furthermore, how Jordanian myocardial infarction patients decide
to seek medical care has never been investigated. Theoretical explanation of
medical care seeking decisions may form essential components of intervention
strategies that help patients experiencing myocardial infarction symptoms seek
medical care promptly. The purposes of this study are to measure the interval
between Jordanian patient's recognition of their MI symptoms & their
decisions to seek medical care and examine the significance of the Health
Belief Model constructs in distinguishing between delayers and non-delayers in
seeking medical care. Two researchers-developed questionnaires, will be used to
measure the HBM constructs and health characteristics of the participants. The
questionnaires will be administered to all patients who will be admitted to
cardiac care units of 3 major hospitals in Amman area over a two-month period
to confirm or rule out myocardial infarction. Descriptive statistics and
discriminant function analysis will be used to analyze the collected data.
The Meaning of Hope Following Spinal Cord Injury
Hashim Fraijat
Project No.: 91/2000 Amount of
Found: 1800 JD
ABSTRACT
The purpose of
this study is two-fold: to describe the meaning of personal hope following
spinal cord injury (SCI), and to investigate the subjective relationships
between functional status, social support, spirituality, coping responses, and
hope in patients with SCI. The six research questions include: (a) what meaning
dose hope have for patients with SCI? (b) what is the relationship between
functional status and hope of patients with SCI? (c) what is the relationship
between social support and hope of patients with SCI? (d) what is the
relationship between spirituality and hope of patients with SCI? (e) what is
the relationship among functional status, social support, spirituality, coping
responses, and hope of patients with SCI?
Spinal cord
injury is considered one of the most life-changing injuries a person can
experience. Spinal cord injury affects between seven to eleven thousand persons
each year in the united states (American Paralysis Association, 1995). In
Jordan, diseases of the nervous system and SCI are considered the second
leading cause of death (World Bank, 1996). Like many chronic illnesses, SCI is
a condition of long duration having residual features that impose limitations
on the individual's functional capabilities (Hayes, 1994).
This is an
exploratory study employs a descriptive correlational design. Subjects will be
derived from a convention sampling from medical files of the only spinal cord
injury unit which located at the Royal Medical Services. (such as) main SCI
units rational royal med. Subjects will be selected to obtain a broad
representation of SCI patients. The sample size will be determined by Cohen's
and Cohen's (1983) power analysis for simple regression analysis.
Nurses' attitudes toward elderly patients in acute care
settings
Issa M. Hweidi
Project No.: 92/2000 Amount of
Found: 1800 J.D
ABSTRACT
The purpose of
this study is to examine the relationship of nurses' attitudes toward elderly
patients and selected nurse subjects demographic variables such as: nurses'
age, gender, socioeconomic status, educational level, clinical experience,
religion, residential area, and experience of living with elderly.
The exploration
of nurses' attitudes toward elderly patients is expected to identify health
care needs and problems of this age group. Exploring such variables will assist
health care policy makers in selecting nursing staff that can address and meet
the needs, concerns, and expectations of Jordanian elderly in acute care
settings. Furthermore, this study will help in improving the quality of nursing
care provided to such patient sand provide bases for future research on nurses
attitudes toward elderly patients.
This study will
be conducted in 4 hospitals located in the Northern part of Jordan that represent
the public, military, and the private sector. Over three month period nurses
from selected units will be considered as potential subjects. A convenience
sample of 300 Jordanian nurses working in the selected units will participate
in the study. Kogan attitudes scale (Kogan, 1961) will be used as a mj to
measure nurses' attitudes toward elderly patients, demographic data will be
obtained through the personal information sheet developed by the purpose of the
study and the right to withdraw from the study at anytime. Confidentiality for
participants will be maintained. All part ….pants will be salved to provide a
written consent from for participation in this study. Descriptive statistics
will be used to describe all variables of interest, and frequents will be
tabulated for all variables. Co relational analysis will be computed to detect
the relationship between nurses' attitudes and the sociodemographic variables
of interest.
Jordanian Adolescent Health Risk Behavior Survey (JAHRBS)
Salwa Obeisat
Project No.: 134/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1300 JD
ABSTRACT
According to
the WHO, UNFPA, & UNICEF (1997) adolescents constitutes 20% of the world
population, of these 85% live in the developing countries. Purpose: a) to
assess the prevalence of health risk behaviors among Jordanian adolescents in
five risk categories: injuries, tobacco use, alcohol and drug use, dietary
behaviors, physical inactivity; b) to examine the relationship between selected
demographics (age, place of residence, socioeconomic status, parents marital
status, parents educational level) and the prevalence of health risk-behaviors
among Jordanian adolescents. Research Question: a) What are the health
risk-behaviors prevailed among Jordanian adolescents? b) Is there a
relationship between selected demographics and the prevalence of health
risk-behaviors among Jordanian adolescent?. Sample: A convenience sample of 6oo
adolescent will be selected randomly from both private & public schools in
Irbid governorate. Instrumentation: a modified version of the Center of Disease
Control (CDC) 1999 Youth Health Risk Behavior Survey questionnaire. Plans for
data analysis: The data will be analyzed using descriptive and Correlation
analysis.
The Differences in the Levels of Labor Pain Between
Primiparae and Multiparae Jordanian Women Who Delivered Vaginally
Lubna Abu-Shaikha
Project No: 135/2000 Amount
of Fund: 1300 JD
ABSTRACT
Pain is
considered an integral part of the process of labor. Throughout the years, the
major goal of health care professionals in the field of obstetrics was to
ensure optimal childbirth with minimal pain and discomfort. The purposes of
this study are to assess and compare the levels of pain during labor between
primiparous and multiparous Jordanian women and to establish a database for
pain during labor in Jordan. With a convenience sample of 100 postnatal women,
a retrospective descriptive design will be used. Labor pain will be measured
using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and a structured interview form. Demographic
information will be gathered using a demographic questionnaire designed for
this study. Parametric tests will be used to analyze the data.
7- Faculty of Science & Art
Antibacterial Activity of Some Jordanian Medicinal Plants on
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Clinical Specimens
Mamdouh M. Meqdam, Ahmad AI-Kofahi, and
Fadia Ibrahim
Project No.: 2/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3550 JD
ABSTRACT
During the
period between February to April, 2000 a total of 100 clinical specimens were
collected from different hospitals in Amman/Jordan. The antimicrobial activity
of both ethanolic and aqueous extracts of eighteen medicinal plants belonging
to 11 families and used in traditional medicine in Jordan were tested. Extracts
of certain parts of these plants were subjected to preliminary testing against
20 pathogenic microorganisms including three reference strains ( E. coli #
25922, Staphylococcus aureus # 25923, Pseudomonas aerugenosa # 27852 ) using
the disk diffusion method. Results evaluated as the diameter of inhibition zone
of bacterial growth showed that 200 mg/ml of 18 plant extracts have
antimicrobial activity against most of the tested bacteria ( 45%) with a
significant difference between the two types of extracts. Three plants
exhibited broad spectrum activity: Rhus coriaria L., Eugenia caryophyllus L.
and Thymus vulgaris. The most susceptible bacteria was Enterobacter while the
most resistant bacteria were Klebsiella species and Staphylococcus species.
Further fractionation of the most active plants using different organic
solvents and antimicrobial testing showed that Rhus coriaria fraction number 7
and 8 is the most active ones. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the
active extracts ranged from 6.25-25 mg/ml whereas the minimum bactericidal
concentrations ranged from 12.5-50 mg/ml.
Determination of Pesticide Residue in Jordanian Surface
Water by
GC/MS
Yahya R. Tahboub, Mohammed F. Zaater,
and Ziad A. Al-Talla
Project No.: 3/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3800 JD
ABSTRACT
The development
and evaluation of an analytical method for determination of pesticide-residue
in Jordanian Surface water by Gas chromatography/Mass spectrometry was
evaluated. Fifteen pesticides including Organochlorine and Organophosphorous
were selected. Optimization of various chromatographic conditions, and
extraction methods was performed. The best temperature program was between 70
and 244 C0 and the mass rang between 50 and 410 u at the TIC mode.
The method showed that Liquid-Liquid extraction with (70:30) petroleum ether:
dichloromethane is preferred over other Liquid-Liquid extraction methods with
other solvents or combination, and Solid-phase extraction methods. The method
is linear for all pesticides between (0.07-1.5) ppb. Recoveries vary between
(80%) for Malaoxon and 92% for most of studied pesticides. Analysis of (30)
surface water samples of Jordanian surface water samples of Jordanian surface
water from (15) sites indicated non-to-very low level of studied pesticides.
Destruction of Freon 12 (CF2C12) By
Catalytic Hydrogenation Reactions
Rateb H. Hina, Rasha Al-Fayyoumi
Project No.: 4/2000 Amount
of Found: 4900 JD
ABSTRACT
Halogenated
alkanes are one of the chemical compounds that have drastic effects on the
depletion of Ozone layer. When these compounds go through photolysis reactions
in the upper atmosphere, they produce free radicals that consume ozone and
damage its shield. Examples of such haloalkanes are the CFC's compounds: CFCl3,
CF2Cl2, and CF2C1Br. This research
involves the preparation of supported transition metals catalysts and their
alloys. These catalysts are newly prepared and expected to have high catalytic
activity and selectivity. Also their stability will be studied and surface area
will be measured. Then, by hydrogenation reactions the reactivity and selectivity
of the catalysts will be investigated on the destruction of Freon 12 (which is
used as coolant in refrigerators and air conditioners) and the conversion of
the Freon 12 to harmless materials to the environment. Finally, by using Gas
Chromatography and Gas Chromatography/Mass spectroscopy the products will be
analyzed.
Jordanian Population Data On The PCR - Based Short Tandem
Repeat Loci-CSF1PO, TPOX,
THO1, D13S317, D7S820, & DI6539
Nabil Al-Bashir, Ahmad Batiha, Mohammed
Alazab, and Suzan Momani
Project No.: 5/2000 Amount
of Fund: 9100 JD
ABSTRACT
Genes in the
form of DNA molecules (chromosomes) are transmitted from generation to
generation. Nucleotide sequences encoded in the DNA molecule are unique to
every individual, and all the cells from a person, except for red blood cells
and sperms or eggs, contain identical sequences of nucleotides, which are the DNA subunits. Red blood cells do not have DNA,
and sex cells have half amount of DNA found in other cells. The uniqueness of
each person DNA allows the unequivocal identification of any individual, thus,
the name
DNA “fingerprinting.”
In 1990, the
amplitype STR forensic DNA
amplification and typing kit a non isotopic forensic DNA test based on the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as introduced and made commercially available
by the cetus corporation and was qualified for forensic testing.This test
permitted amplification and detection of nine on human chromosome six. The STR
assay format, frequently described as a vertical electrophoresis’s based on detecting
alleles in amplified DNA by hybridization to sequence-specific probes that are
immobilized on a membrane. In late 1993,the STR PCR amplification and typing
kit developed by Roche Molecular Systems became commercially available.
One could ask
many questions in this field such as: what is the allele and genotype frequency
for these marker for Jordanian population? are they meet Hardy Weinberg
equilibrium? does the interbreeding between different group affect these
frequencies or not?
The aim of this
study is investigating the allele and genotype frequency distribution of these
loci in Jordanian population. Statistical analysis to determine whether allele
frequencies are in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium as well to obtain some parameters
of medicolegal interest and to confirm the usefulness of the polymarker loci in
forensic casework and paternity testing. The data will be compared with other
sample populations. such as other Caucasians, Hispanic, Afro-Americans, and
Japanese.
Subculturing
are believed to have effect on the distribution of the allele and genotype
frequencies. So comparison will be done between groups in the major group.
Another aim for this study is to examine the effects of population subdivision
of ethnic groups on the pattern of genetic variation in a total sample.
Phenotypic studies to determine whether these intra/interbreeding results in
concentrated appearance for some trait in an ethnic group.
Synthesis and Reactivity of S-Bonded Thiophene(S) Complexes,
Models for Hydrodesulfurization of Thiophenes
Mazin Y. Shatnawi, and Mohammad A.
Al-Anber
Project No.: 6/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3600 JD
ABSTRACT
Thiophenes and
other organosulfur compounds are associated with fossil fuels deposits. These
compounds have to be removed from petroleum fractions due to the deleterious
problems they cause during refining (catalyst deactivation) or the
environmentally hazardous pollutants they form upon oxidation (SOx).
Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) is the catalytic removal of sulfur, as hydrogen
sulfide, from organosulfur compounds in petroleum distillates by treatment with
hydrogen over a supported metal catalyst.
In this
project, we intend to design experiments to form coordinatively unsaturated
molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) complexes that will be reacted in situ
with the Thiophenes. The produced complexes will be characterized by several
techniques, and then be subjected to several specific reactions such as
reactions with nucleophiles (like H-) and electrophiles (like H+).
The results of this project will be used in the development, or refinement of
an HDS mechanism.
Synthesis of Sclerotigenin:
A New Antiinsectant Benzodiazepine Natural Product
Naim Al-Said, and Zakariyya Ishtaiwi
Project No.: 7/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4100 JD
ABSTRACT
Condensation of
ethyl amino acetate with isatoic anhydride in acetonitrle in the presence of
triethylamine yielded amide 1. The free amino group in amide 1 was coupled with
different benzoyl chloride derivatives 2 (X= H, NO2, N3)
in THF to from diamide 3 in respectable percentage yield. The transformation of
diamide 3 to sclerotigenin will be investigated in the final phase.
Sclerotigenin
Fluorimetric and Spectrophotometric Study of the Inclusion
Complexes of Nifedipine and Glibenclamide with Cyclodextrins in Aqueous
Solution
Nathir, A.F. AI-Rawashdeh, Idrees
AI-Momani, Khaled Shawakfeh, and Samah A. Ata
Project No.: 8/2000 Amount
of Fund: 5950 JD
ABSTRACT
As the
complexation process implies an interaction producing a protection of the
included species, the Cyclodextrins (CDs) have been used in the pharmaceutical
industry to encapsulate drugs that are sensitive of light and atmosphere and
can be easily handled and stored in powder form. Also, substances which are not
very soluble in water become more soluble in the presence of CDs.
In this
proposed project, the absorption and luminescent characteristics of the
inclusion complexes of the proposed drugs with Cyclodextrins will be
investigated, with the object of characterizing the inclusion processes involved,
and giving a clearer understanding of the factors affecting complexation, which
is of vital importance to the use of these systems for the development of new
analytical or industrial methodologies. In particular, the mechanism, the
photostability, and the formation constants of the inclusion complexes of
Cyclodextrins with proposed drugs in aqueous solution will be investigated.
Determination of Organochlorine pesticide residues in honey
via Gas chromatography / Mass spectrometry (GC / MS)
Yahya R. Tahboub, and Thaer A. Barri
Project No.: 9/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3100 JD
ABSTRACT
The development
and evaluation of an analytical method for determination of organochlorine
pesticide residues in honey by Gas chromatography / Mass spectrometry was
described. Eleven Organochlorine pesticides were selected. Optimization of
various chromatographic conditions and extraction methods was performed. The
best temperature program was between 80 C0 and 240 C0 and
the mass rang between 40 and 410 u at the TIC mode.
The method
showed that liquid- liquid extraction with 80:20: petroleum ether:
dichloromethane is preferred over other liquid-liquid extraction methods with
other solvents or combinations followed by elimination of matrix interference’s
through a cleanup step with florisil cartridges which were eluted with 50:50
hexane:dichloromethane The method is linear for all pesticides between 5 to 50
ppb and recoveries vary between 80.2 % for endrin and 110.8 % for endosulfan
(II).
Analysis of
real honey samples were carried out for eighteen locally produced samples from
six locations and five imported samples, the results indicated to non- to very
low level of studied pesticides.
Effect of Soil Amendment with Olive Mill Byproduct Under
Soil Solarization Upon Growth of Three Legumes Crops and Associated Mycorrhiza
Khalid Hameed, Muneer Al-Turk, and
Taher Assaf.
Project No.: 14/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3100 JD
ABSTRACT
Olive oil
by-products (Jift) are increasingly reaching cultivated soil. Previous
observation indicated a variable number of Mycorrhiza spore in soil treated
with such product. Present investigation was designed to reveal the impact of
those products on the Mycorrhiza associated with three different legume crops,
faba bean, chickpea, and lentil. Field and greenhouse experiments were
conducted using treated soil with the following rates of Jift, 0: 10, 1:9, 2:8,
3:7, and 4:6, on the basis of V:V ratio. Those mixtures of soil and olive mill
by-product were subjected to, fungicide (Metalaxyl, four Kg per donum), solarization,
and methyl bromide fumigation. Crop plants were sampled three times along the
duration of growing period; first at start of flowering, second at start of
podding, and the third sampling was done at physiological maturity. At each
stage one plant from each experimental unit was cut at the soil level and the
following parameters were recorded: plant height, number of branches, number of
leaves,, number of flowers, number of pod, number of seeds, plant dry weight,
number of Mycorrhiza spores in the soil, and root infection percentage.
Production of Magnesia from the Dead-Sea Water and
Carnallite
Mohammad Al-Mulqui, Isam Arafa, and
Fares Khairallah
Project No.: 16/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4200 JD
ABSTRACT
The present
research aims to study various factors (parameters) affecting the reaction of
producing Magnesia from Dead-Sea water. Parameters such as the brine
concentration, the nature of precipitating agent, the temperature and duration
of the reaction are very important in determining the quality and yield of
Magnesia.In addition, the process of manufacturing Magnesia from Carnallite (produced during Potash production)
will be tested as an alternative route. The findings of this project will be
discussed with the Arab Potash Co., and the Jordan magnesia Co. We hope that
this study will contribute positively to the chemical industries of Dead Sea. þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ
The process
that will be followed in the production of Magnesia is based on: First,
precipitation of magnesium as the hydroxide using various bases such as (NaOH,
Ca(OH)2,CaO,Na2CO3, dolime, and organic bases
(amines)).Second calcination at different temperatures to produce various
commercial grades of Magnesia. The various parameters that may affect quality
and yield will be investigated as well as the optimum conditions (mentioned
before) required for the production of industrial grade Magnesia.
Conversion of phosphogypsum waste into Ammonium &
Potassium fertilizers
Mohammed Al-Mulqui, Isam Arafa, and
Ahmed Hijazi
Project No.: 17/2000 Amount
of Fund: 5200 JD
ABSTRACT
This
investigation is based on reacting phospho-gypsum with solutions of ammonium
carbonate to produce ammonium sulfate and limestone. Also, reactions of
phospho-gypsum with potash (KCl) from the dead sea will be investigated for the
preparation of potassium sulfate. This involves the following steps: (1)
Pretreatment of phospho-gypsum with water, to remove residual phosphoric acid
and insoluble salts. (2) Conversion of phospho-gypsum to ammonium sulfate. The
effect of temperature, PH, reaction time, and the purity of phospho-gypsum will
be examined. (3) Conversion of phospho-gypsum to potassium sulphate. The effect
of temperature, PH, and the time of the reaction will be examined.
The Effect of Methamidophos Insecticide on the Murine
Humoral Immune Response to Larval Toxocara Canis Infection
Nizar Abuharfeil, Zuhair Amr, and Ala'
Mohammed Al-Akhdar
Project No.: 19/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2100 JD
ABSTRACT
The objective
of this study is measuring the levels of anti-Toxocara canis antibody classes;
IgG and IgM in control and Methamidophos exposed mice that infected with T.
canis. And investigate the presence and levels of anti nuclear antibodies in T.
canis infected mice exposed to two different levels Methamidophos.
Groups of 40
mice will be used; one uninfected control other group infected with T. canis
only, and one uninfected and exposed to high level (1/5 LD50) of Methamidophos
the other infected and exposed to high level, and the last two groups, one
Uninfected and exposed to low level (1/10LD50) of Methamidophos the other
infected with T. canis eggs and exposed to low level.
Blood will be
collected from mice (4 mice at a time) twice/week during the first 2 weeks,
then biweekly for 2 month. Then Sera will collected from the mice and will be
tested for the presence of IgG, IgM, and ANA. By ELISA.
Application of Yeast Cells in the Measurement of
Rheumatoid Factor By "Passive" Agglutination
Nizar Abu-Harfil, and Eyad
Talal
Project No.: 20/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2350 JD
ABSTRACT
In this study,
yeast cells Saccharomyces cerevisiae instead of latex particles were
used in rheumatoid factor kits to diagnosis rheumatoid factors by passive
agglutination. Aggregated yeast cells were removed by centrifugation in
Ficoll-hypaque solution. Tannic acid and carbodiimide methods were applied for
coating of yeast cells by purified human IgG molecules. Removal of cellular
aggregates in yeast cells suspension was achieved by using glycine buffered
saline followed by centrifugation on Ficoll-hypaque solution and the remained aggregates was 0.28%. Constant numbers of yeast cells
(12X106 cells/ìL) and different concentrations of human IgG were used
in the coating process by two different methods (tannic acid and carbodiimide).
After coating, passive agglutination was performed with serial dilutions of
anti human IgG (5 mg/mL).
A
comparison study between the coated yeast cells and commercial latex kits were
conducted to find out the precision, accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of
the new method. The new reagent is comparable to well-known international
reagents like TECO DIAGNOSTICS, and CHRONOLAB, Switzerland.).
Determination of peroxide by derivative spectroscopy
Biamperometric-segmented flow analysis
Salem Barakat, Abdul-Rahman Attyat, and
Dia Shamekh Al Rubaee
Project No.: 23/ 2000 Amount
of Fund: 4000 JD
ABSTRACT
The
determination of peroxide and hydroperoxide was achieved by using two
techniques, derivative spectroscopy and biamperometric-SFA techniques.In The
derivative spectroscopy the condition were optimized using triphenylphosphine
oxide/ triphenylphosphine couple. triphenylphosphine react with hydroperoxide
present in sample to produce triphenylphosphine oxide which is absorbed at 280
NM in the mixture of heptane –ethanol (1:3) using 2nd derivative
mode.In 2nd techniques biamperometric-segmented flow analysis system
was developed to determine the presence of peroxide and hydroperoxide by
monitoring of (Iˉ/I2 ) couple. Surfactant was used as emulsifier for oil
sample and also organic solvent chloroform-acetic acid mixture (2:3).
Reading Strategies of Advanced ESP Learners
Brenda Refaei
Project No.: 27/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2400 JD
ABSTRACT
This study
explores English as a Foreign Language students use of reading strategies and
the influence of a text's metacommunicative language. The study sought to
answer three questions, how do student's use a text's metadiscourse, what
strategies do students use to make sense of the text, and how well do these
strategies work? Students were interviewed about their reading experiences.
Verbal reports of their reading the text "Tea, Anyone" were tape
recorded and transcribed. Students were also asked to summarize each paragraph
of the text as well as answer ten true/false questions related to the text.
Students do use a text's metadiscourse for a global understanding of the text.
Most students involved in this study received little if any instruction in how
to use reading strategies while they read. The majority of strategies students
did use were related to learning new vocabulary items. These strategies worked well
to get a global understanding of the text, but not very well for a close
reading of the text as evidenced by the true/false responses. It is recommended
that EFL reading instructors include reading strategy instruction and
vocabulary instruction in the context of the text.
Preparation and Characterization of High Temperature
Superconductors (HTSCs)
Borhan Albiss, M. K. Hasan, and M. Ali
Al-Akhras
Project No.: 28/2000 Amount
of Fund: 5400 JD
ABSTRACT
Since the
discovery of high temperature superconductors (HTSCs)
in
1987, a great attention is paid to develop the preparation techniques for these
materials in the forms of polycrystals, single crystals, thin films, wires and
tapes. The three major HTSCs YBCO, BSCCO and TBCCO are called copper-oxide
superconductors HTSCs However,
these compounds suffer from major problems. One of the major problems is the
reduction of its capacity for carrying high electrical currents due to
existence of the weak links such a problem will terminate its technological
applications. Moreover, applying magnetic field will reduce the electrical
current sustains by these materials. Making good quality samples will reduce
the effect of weak links and reduce the impurities inside materials, and more
critical currents can be driven in the sample due the increase in the critical
currents (Jc). The main objectives of this project are:1) To prepare
high Tc - Superconductor samples using Solid-State Reaction method.
2) Characterization of these materials including its structural, thermal,
electrical and magnetic Properties. 3) To study the effect of magnetic field
and temperature on these properties. And 4) To study the effect of different
kinds of irradiation on these materials.
The Effect of Interactional, Classroom Peer Work on the Treatment
of Mistakes in Students’ Academic Essays
Abdullah A. Khuwaileh
Project No.: 31/2000 Amount
of Fund: 550 JD
ABSTRACT
There is a wide
body of theoretical and practical research on the importance of the writing
skill in teaching and learning Academic English. The focus of the vast majority
of this research has been on error analysis, testing, needs and evaluation of
writing. However, the purpose of this study was to measure the effect of
classroom peer work on the development of students' ability of academic essay
writing, a topic which is relatively a neglected area. By focusing on the
treatment of writing mistakes, the study gives more attention to the students'
role in developing their ability to identify their errors and to treat them
properly through a process of three stages carried out under the supervision of
their teacher (the researcher). Therefore, the study aims at reducing if not
eliminating these mistakes through classroom interaction. After establishing a
control group and an experimental one, we found that maximizing the students'
role in learning essay writing initiated very positive results on their ability
to write essays free of mistakes and even to speak to audience. The three
stages-intersectional process of essay writing was very practical in Jordan
University of Science and Technology: (hereafter JUST) where the study was
carried out. But it can be applied in other English language teaching
situations similar to that of JUST. Therefore, the process is highly recommend
in the case of teaching paragraph writing, term papers and skill integration
not only for Arab learners of English, but also for other speakers of English
who have different first languages.
Evaluation of the Reproductive and Fertility Toxic
Potentials of Aluminum Chloride on Male and Female Mice
Ahmad Batiha, Wael Khammas, and Isam
Mayyas
Projct No.: 43/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3500 JD
ABSTRACT
Adult male and
female Swiss mice will be exposed to different concentrations of AlCl via
drinking water for a period of 12 weeks. The effect of AlCl on male and female
fertility and reproduction will be assessed by using standard procedures.
Several reproductive parameters will be investigated such as the rate of
pregnancy, the number of implantation’s, the number of viable fetuses and the
number of resorptions. In treated males sperm quantity and quality will be
investigated. Testicular and ovarian histology will be conducted. The effect of
AlCl on body and organ weights for both males and females will be monitored.
The results of this work will be of grate value to assess the environmental
hazard of exposure to AlCl.
Detection of Hepatitis C Virus Antigen by PCR in Thalassemia
Nabil Al-Bashir, Musa Barqawi, and
Ahmad Jameel Bashireh
Project No.: 46/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2500 JD
ABSTRACT
The goals for
this research are to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus in
Thalassemia patients by ELISA, and to detect the presence of hepatitis C
antigen by PCR. Genotypes of hepatitis C will also be determined. Blood samples
will be collected, and hepatitis C antibodies and the antigens will be screened
using ELISA and PCR, respectively. Amplified cDNA in the positive samples will
be digested by specific restriction endonncleases for genotype determination.
Phenotype - Genotype Correlation in Thalassemia in Jordan
Nabil Al-Bashir, Musa Barqawi, and
Mohammad Jameel Salem
Project No.: 48/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2100 JD
ABSTRACT
The objective
of this research proposal is to determine the genotypes of Thalassemia patients
by using the PCR. Another objective is to investigate the relationship between
different types of mutations that cause Thalassemia with the clinical course of
the disease. Blood samples will be collected from Thalassemia patient, for Hb
electrophoresis, hematological parameters and PCR reaction for mutation
determination. These results will be correlated with the clinical course of the
disease, which will be search in the medical records for each patient.
Molecular study of local phytopathogenic Agrobacterium
strains
isolated from Northern Jordan
Fouad Al-Momani, and Sammy Al-Basheir
Project No.: 49/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3900 JD
ABSTRACT
Agrobacterium
is a plant pathogenic bacterium. The pathogenicity is due to interkingdom
genetic exchange between bacteria and plant. Part of an extrachromosomal DNA of
the pathogenic will be transferred from the bacterium to the host plant cell.
The recipient plant cell will change into malignant cell that divides without
control to form a tumor known as crown gall disease. The oncogenes of the tumor
inducing (Ti) plasmid of the pathogenic isolates was deleted and instead of
them the gene of interest such as pest drought or salinity resistance. The host
range specificity of Agrobacterium is wide or limited. Some very
important plant crops especially serial are not included as host for A.
tumefaciens some unique strains of A. tumefaciens proved their
capability to transform plant cells with any selected gene, the transformed
cells expressed the gene of interest. In this research we will conduct
microbial survey of the genus Agrobacterium from different ecological habitats
especially infected plants as grape, olive, apple, stone fruits and other
herbaceous plants. The Ti plasmid of the pathogenic isolates will be isolated
and will be used as a vector for plants improvement after being disarmed from
its oncogenes. We are anticipating a unique isolates that could be able to
transform monocot or economic plants.
Effect of Sodium Nitrite on Isolated Mouse T, B and NK
Lymphocytes in vivo and in vitro
Nizar Abu- Harfeil, and Jeehan
AL-Zeidat
Project No.: 52/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2640 JD
ABSTRACT
It is known
that chemicals may induce selective toxicity, which may alter the interaction
between immunocompetent cells, especially if the toxicity occurs during
proliferation and differentiation. Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) is one of the
chemicals that has an effect on the health of both animals and humans. It is a
widely used chemical in the manufacture of drugs such as pain relieving agents,
in muscle contraction, in the food industry as a preservative, and in dye
manufacturing.
Since the
effect of sodium nitrite on separated T, B and NK lymphocytes has not been
investigated previously, this research aims to investigate the effect of sodium
nitrite on the proliferation of isolated lymphocytes of mice both in vivo
and in vitro exposure. Subtoxic doses of sodium nitrite will be administered
orally, and serial dilutions of sodium nitrite will be added in vitro to
isolated lymphocytes using glucose consumption and MTT tetrazolium methods to
measure the proliferative activity of lymphocytes.
Family Environment and Self-Concept of PalestinianYouth
Living in Jordanian Refugee Camps
Fayez Al-Smadi
Project No.: 58/2000 Publication
Support
ABSTRACT
This paper reports
the findings from a study of some Palestinian youth living in Jordanian camps
that are considered economically distressed social environments. Variables of
interest included parental relationships, family functioning, and self-concept.
Results indicate that parent adolescent relationships are within the normal,
expected functional range although difficulties that reflect a more
authoritarian parenting style are apparent. The self-concept of this population
is moderate negative. The overall quality of family life appears to be
diminished, with a distinct tendency toward more rigid and disengaged patterns
of interaction. The results are discussed in reference to socio-cultural
differences.
Wild Mushrooms, 'Fleshy Fungi' in Jordan, in a Field Manual
and the Possibility of Their Cultivation for Human and Animal Consumption
Rashad Al-Natour, Khalid M. Hameed, and
Ismail Saadoun
Project No.: 64/2000 Amount
of Fund: 7900 JD
ABSTRACT
Wild mushrooms
or 'Fleshy Fungi' is a generic name widely used for centuries to designate a
group of organisms encountered by man, in the wilderness, whenever enough
moisture, organic derbies and suitable temperature prevails. Those fungi
constituted part of human and animal food, medicinal uses and witch crafting,
and poisoning throughout man life history. Biologically, they are part of the
diversity the wild inhabitants of the environment on our planet, Earth. They
represent significant links in the food chain and natural cycles of matter in
our environment, as well. Therefore, they are one of the components of the
natural wealth and resources of all nations. Thus, nations around the globe
have been competing in putting out field manuals, describing the habitat,
seasonal appearance, and distribution of their fungi, as well as their
significance to man and other organisms. Many of those fungi have been
domesticated in agricultural farming industry of mushroom production, and many
others were utilized in aiding and facilitating proper growth productivity of
plant crops as mycorrihae fungi. The present project was put aiming to document
the natural national wealth of wild fungi in Jordan and investigate the
possibility of domesticating some of the endogenous edible mushrooms. It also
aims to utilize some of those fungi in the bioconversion of some of the
abundant organic by-products and waste material in Jordan as a source of
protein for animal feed ingredient.
Fabrication of an Improved Zinc Oxide Thin Films Doped with
Silicon for Energy-Stored Antireflection Optical Coating and Solar Cells
Adnan Shariah, and Ahmad A. Omari
Project No.: 75/2000 Amount
of Fund: 3100 JD
ABSTRACT
Varieties of
thin films deposition techniques were employed to enhance efficient optical
coatings to solar cell windows such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD). They
are of considerable interest in the applications to the optical coatings,
liquid-crystal display units, solar cell windows, heat-mirror materials and
semiconductor gas sensors. Optimization to the experimental conditions will be
made to achieve highly oriented microstructure with high optical reflectivity.
These films are expected to be promising for applications to coated solar cell
windows for improved energy saving efficiency. The objectives of this research
are:
1- Establish a general purpose thin film coating
laboratory which can be utilized not only to this project but also will serve
almost every project in this university based on thin films production.
2- Developing coating materials such as zinc
oxide which is most convenient for solar cells and antireflection
Propose the
results of this research and the thin film technology to the local industry.
Coating the Biomedical Titanium Alloys and Stainless Steel
by Extremely Thin Films of Diamond –Like Carbon (DLC) Material to Eliminate or Highly
Reduce the Failure of Bone-Based Orthopedic Implanted Organs in the Human Body
Ahmad A. Omari, Hamid Aziz, Mohammad
Mesmar, and Akram Rousan.
Project No.: 76/2000 Amount
of Fund: 6600 JD
ABSTRACT
The screws,
plates and metal-joins used in orthopedic treatment (internal fixation) for
human bone fractures are usually made of the biomedical titanium alloy and
stainless steel material. The mechanical and chemical interactions of the
implants with the blood cells, tissues and bones causes a production of wear
particles on the implants surfaces which normally fail to last in the human
body. This requires a bone refracturing process to replace the implants causing
human pain and suffering as well as high money-waste on the national scale. The
reliability of the implants will be increased several times by coating them
with an inert and very adhesive improved diamond like carbon (DLC) thin films.
We expect to reduce the orthopedic treatment coast as well as to eliminate or
highly reduce the human pain and suffering as a result of exploring a basic
research on improving DLC material. Our collaboration with the local industry
will be expected to be promoted by proposing a new, low cost and reliable
biomedical alloys or compatible metals. This brings the hope of exporting
rather than importing such implants and instrumentation in this field.
Systematic and Ecological Investigation of the freshwater
Algae of Jordan
Adil Y. Al-Handal, and Ismail Saadoun
Project No.: 80/2000 Amount
of Fund: 4000 JD
ABSTRACT
The work aims
to contribute to the knowlegde on floristic of the algae in Jordanian water
systems. The work is still in its practical part. A number of samples were collected
from several freshwaters including Azraq oasis, King Talal Reservoir, lake of
Wadi Al-Arab dam and some other regions. Ecological parameters are also
continuously measured. A number of taxa have been identified including several
groups such as cyanobacteria, chlorophyta, euglenophyta.. etc. Water quality is
also monitoredf depending on both algal and environmental data.
Changes in Plasma Level of Homocysteine in Cancer Patients
Nabil Al-Bashir, Nezar Abu Harfeel, and
Talat Tareq Khaleel
Project No.: 83/2000 Amount
of Fund: 2000 JD
ABSTRACT
The objective
of this research proposal is to determine the level of total homocysteine as a
risk factor in cancer patients by ELISA. Blood samples will be collected from
breast cancer patients, and prepared, microplates will be coated with the
proper reagent, homocysteine will be converted to S-adenosyl-L-homocystein by
enzymatic treatment and finally immunoassay will be performed.
Thermal and Structural Analysis of High Temperature
Superconductors
Akram Rousan, and Borhan Albiss
Project No.: 84/2000 Amount of Fund: 2100 JD<