Hawal Lateef Fateh, Negin Kamari, Ayad M. Ali, Jalal Moludi and Shahab Rezayaeian
The nutritional and anthropometric status can be essential in determining their immune response to vaccines. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the association between…
Abstract
Purpose
The nutritional and anthropometric status can be essential in determining their immune response to vaccines. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the association between diet quality and anthropometric indices with the side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G titer among Kurdish adults.
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted between December 2021 and February 2022. This paper included data on 115 adults, 20–89 years old, from the Kurdistan region. Dietary information was collected using a short food frequency questionnaire, and diet quality was assessed using a plant-based healthy diet score. A blood test was performed to measure the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobin G (IgG) titer after the vaccination's first and second doses.
Findings
Overweight and obese subjects reported more local pain, myalgia, headache, local bruising and local reactions after receiving the first dose of the vaccine (p = 0.04). People on a less healthy diet reported more local pain, myalgia and headache (p = 0.04) and more local bruising and reactions (p = 0.01) after receiving the second dose of the vaccine. On the other hand, the authors observed that those with healthy dietary habits had more IgG titer after the first and second doses of vaccination than those with less healthy dietary habits (p = 0.001).
Originality/value
The results showed that participants with a healthy diet and normal weight status had fewer side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine than obese people and those with a less healthy diet.
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Gives a bibliographical review of the finite element methods (FEMs) applied for the linear and nonlinear, static and dynamic analyses of basic structural elements from the…
Abstract
Gives a bibliographical review of the finite element methods (FEMs) applied for the linear and nonlinear, static and dynamic analyses of basic structural elements from the theoretical as well as practical points of view. The range of applications of FEMs in this area is wide and cannot be presented in a single paper; therefore aims to give the reader an encyclopaedic view on the subject. The bibliography at the end of the paper contains 2,025 references to papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations dealing with the analysis of beams, columns, rods, bars, cables, discs, blades, shafts, membranes, plates and shells that were published in 1992‐1995.
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Ali Teta, Abdellah Kouzou and Mohamed Mounir Rezaoui
This paper aims to propose a new configuration of a shunt active power filter (SAPF) connected with a photovoltaic (PV) system through a Z-source inverter (ZSI) topology. This…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose a new configuration of a shunt active power filter (SAPF) connected with a photovoltaic (PV) system through a Z-source inverter (ZSI) topology. This topology ensures a single-stage operation and overcomes the limitations of the conventional two-stage operation topologies based on the DC–DC boost converter. The proposed system is designed for the purpose of reducing the total harmonic distortion of the source current by eliminating the current harmonics and exploiting the solar irradiation.
Design/methodology/approach
First, all the main parts of the proposed shunt active power filter are fully described in this paper, and then a PV system based on a Z-source inverter with a maximum power point tracking controller is used to exploit the solar irradiance and solve the problem of discharging of the direct current (DC) capacitor during the filtering process.
Findings
From the extensive simulation tests carried out using MATLAB/Simulink, the obtained results prove that the proposed shunt active power filter performs well despite several operation scenarios, including different load types and under abrupt irradiance.
Originality/value
A new shunt active power filter configuration has been proposed. This configuration benefits from the solar irradiation and overcomes the drawbacks of the conventional configurations by using the Z-source inverter instead of the voltage source inverter and DC–DC boost converter.
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Ghada H. Ashour, Mohamed Noureldin Sayed and Nesrin A. Abbas
This research aims to examine the macro determinants that significantly affect financial development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which could be used…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to examine the macro determinants that significantly affect financial development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which could be used furtherly to play a major role in economic sustainability since one of the major driving forces for economic development is the financial development.
Design/methodology/approach
The significant determinants of financial development should be efficiently used by the MENA region countries for creating huge financial sector development and innovation, stimulating economic development in turn and leading to the completion of the cycle of development and sustainability. To achieve this study's objective, the researcher employed a quantitative method to develop an econometric model.
Findings
This model consisted of two Panel EGLS Cross-Section Random Effects Models (REMs) in which Domestic credit to the private sector as a percentage of GDP (?PCGDP?_it) and stock market capitalization ratio (?SMC?_it) were taken as the dependent variables. In addition, the independent variables included the corruption perception index, financial freedom (FF), political stability (PS) and trade openness (TO). The researcher extracted the data for the analysis from different databases including the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Monetary Fund. Throughout the first – Panel EGLS Cross-Section Random Effects Model, it turned out that, while FF, TO and corruption index had a positive relationship with ?PCGDP?_it, PS had an adverse effect on ?PCGDP?_it. The second – Panel EGLS Cross-Section Random Effects Model showed that, while PS and TO had a positive effect on stock market performance, the corruption index and FF had an adverse effect on stock market performance.
Originality/value
Throughout the first – Panel EGLS Cross-Section Random Effects Model, it turned out that, while FF, TO and corruption index had a positive relationship with ?PCGDP?_it, PS had an adverse effect on ?PCGDP?_it. The second – Panel EGLS Cross-Section Random Effects Model showed that, while PS and TO had a positive effect on stock market performance, the corruption index and FF had an adverse effect on stock market performance.
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Pankaj Kumar, Parveen Kumar, Ramesh Kumar Garg and Rakesh Garg
This study examines the effect of housing environment on residents’ satisfaction and happiness using the data collected from selected residents of Gurugram, an urban locality in…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines the effect of housing environment on residents’ satisfaction and happiness using the data collected from selected residents of Gurugram, an urban locality in India.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the convenience-cum-judgmental sampling technique, data was collected from 321 residents of 17 gated private housing estates and tested by performing factor analysis and partial least squares – structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results revealed that maintenance service at housing estates significantly influences residents’ satisfaction followed by social infrastructure, dwelling attributes and residential amenities, whereas the accessibility aspect has no significant impact on residents’ satisfaction and happiness. Results also show a significant impact of social infrastructure on residents’ happiness, and most notably, residents’ satisfaction has a significant influence on their happiness.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this study are likely to provide valuable insight into housing stakeholders (government officials; real estate developers; property and construction professionals, i.e. planners, architects and maintenance managers) to improve the attributes in urban housing setting and neighborhood facilities to upsurge the residents’ satisfaction and happiness level toward the housing estates and townships, which leads to quality and happiness in residents’ life.
Originality/value
According to the authors’ knowledge, the present study is the first to provide an inclusive way toward showcasing the key antecedents of residents’ satisfaction and happiness in the Indian urban housing context. Authors anticipate that future researchers will find present research as a valuable contribution to the residents’ satisfaction and happiness in urban housing planning and revitalization of urban locations.
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Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the feasibility of developing general predictive models for using the learning management system (LMS) data to predict student performances in various courses. The authors focused on examining three practical but important questions: are there a common set of student activity variables that predict student performance in different courses? Which machine-learning classifiers tend to perform consistently well across different courses? Can the authors develop a general model for use in multiple courses to predict student performance based on LMS data?
Design/methodology/approach
Three mandatory undergraduate courses with large class sizes were selected from three different faculties at a large Western Canadian University, namely, faculties of science, engineering and education. Course-specific models for these three courses were built and compared using data from two semesters, one for model building and the other for generalizability testing.
Findings
The investigation has led the authors to conclude that it is not desirable to develop a general model in predicting course failure across variable courses. However, for the science course, the predictive model, which was built on data from one semester, was able to identify about 70% of students who failed the course and 70% of students who passed the course in another semester with only LMS data extracted from the first four weeks.
Originality/value
The results of this study are promising as they show the usability of LMS for early prediction of student course failure, which has the potential to provide students with timely feedback and support in higher education institutions.
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Ayad Alameeri, Gholamreza Abdollahzadeh and Seyedkomeil Hashemiheidari
This study aims to determine the effect of replacing a portion of the cement in the concrete mixture with silica fume (SF) on the corrosion resistance of reinforcing bars, the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the effect of replacing a portion of the cement in the concrete mixture with silica fume (SF) on the corrosion resistance of reinforcing bars, the compressive strength of concrete and the tensile strength of hook bars in both corroded and non-corroded external joints of structures. The external beam-column connection was studied because of its critical role in maintaining structural continuity in all three directions and providing resistance to rotation.
Design/methodology/approach
In external concrete joints, the bars at the end of the beams are often bent at 90° to form hooks that embed in columns. Owing to the importance of embedding distance and the need to understand its susceptibility to corrosion damage from chloride attack, a series of experiments were conducted on 12 specimens that accurately simulate real-site conditions in terms of dimensions, reinforcement and hook bars. SF was replaced with 10% and 15% of the weight of cement in the concrete mixture. To simulate corrosion, the specimens were subjected to accelerated corrosion in the laboratory by applying a low continuous current of 0.35 mA for 58 days.
Findings
The results revealed the effect of SF in improving the compressive strength of concrete, the pullout resistance of the hook bars and the corrosion resistance. In addition, it showed an apparent effect of the corrosion of reinforcing bars in reducing the bonding strength of hook bars with concrete and the effect of SF in improving this strength.
Originality/value
It was noted that the improvement of the results, achieved by replacing 10% of the weight of cement with SF, was significantly close to the results obtained by replacing 15% of the SF. It is recommended that an SF ratio of 10% be adopted to achieve the greatest economic savings.
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Paul Adjei Kwakwa and Solomon Aboagye
The study examines the effect of natural resources (NRs) and the control of corruption, voice and accountability and regulatory quality on carbon emissions in Africa. Aside from…
Abstract
Purpose
The study examines the effect of natural resources (NRs) and the control of corruption, voice and accountability and regulatory quality on carbon emissions in Africa. Aside from their individual effects, the moderation effect of institutional quality is assessed.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from 32 African countries from 2002 to 2021 and the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) regression methods were used for the investigation.
Findings
In the long term, the NRs effect is sensitive to the estimation technique employed. However, quality regulatory framework, robust corruption control and voice and accountability abate any positive effect of NRs on carbon emissions. Institutional quality can be argued to moderate the CO2-emitting potentials of resource extraction in the selected African countries.
Practical implications
Enhancing regulation quality, enforcing corruption control and empowering citizens towards greater participation in governance and demanding accountability are essential catalyst to effectively mitigate CO2 emissions resulting from NRs.
Originality/value
The moderation effect of control of corruption, voice and accountability and regulatory quality on the NR–carbon emission nexus is examined.