Research Title: Antimicrobial PMMA Bone Cement Containing Long Releasing Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Author: Raida W. Khalil, Published Year: 2022

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) ensued from total joint replacement (TJR) pose a severe threat to patients that involve poor health outcomes, severe pain, death (in severe cases), and negative influence patients’ quality of life. Antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) is frequently used for the prevention and treatment of PJI. This work aims to study gentamicin release from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) incorporated in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement to prolong release over several weeks to provide prophylaxis from PJIs after surgery. Different CNT concentrations were tested with the presence of gentamicin as a powder or preloaded onto carboxyl functionalized CNTs. The different types of bone cement were tested for drug release, mechanical properties, water uptake, antimicrobial properties, and cytocompatibility with human osteoblast cells (MTT, LDH, alizarin red, and morphology). Results showed prolonged release of gentamicin from CNT-loaded bone cements over several weeks compared to gentamicin-containing bone cement. Additionally, the presence of CNT enhanced the percentage of gentamicin released without adversely affecting the nanocomposite mechanical and antimicrobial properties needed for performance. Cytotoxicity testing showed non-inferior performance of the CNT-containing bone cement to the equivalent powder containing cement. Therefore, the developed nanocomposites may serve as a novel PMMA bone cement to prevent PJIs.

Keywords: PMMA; bone cement; carbon nanotubes; gentamicin; antimicrobial; cytotoxicity; compression trength

Research Title: Flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beam using CFRP hybrid system

Author: Ala Taleb Obaidat, Published Year: 2021

European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering,

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: This paper presents experimental and numerical study to investigate the flexural behaviour of strengthened RC beams using three CFRP techniques. Considered main variables were CFRP technique, amount of CFRP NSM and rope and cost/increase in strength effectiveness. Results indicate that using CFRP rope and sheet increased significantly maximum load and maximum strain of RC beams. Average increase in strength and maximum strain were 76.3% to 143.5% and 206% to 246% as the control RC beam. Moreover, RC beams strengthened with CFRP rope exhibited strength approximately similar to ones strengthened with CFRP strip. The cost/increase in strength ratio of specimens strengthened by CFRP rope is 61% higher than the ratio of specimens strengthened by CFRP NSM strip. Hence, the specimens strengthened by one layer of CFRP rope is the most economic techniques based in cost/increase in strength ratio even though it exhibited maximum load less than the specimens strengthened with two layers of CFRP rope or strip. CFRP rope was 40% lower than CFRP strip when same strengthening effect was achieved. Finally, complementary to experimental work a finite element model FEM was developed to investigate the flexural behaviour of beam. The FEA model showed somehow good agreement with the experimental results.

Keywords: Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRP); strengthening; reinforced concrete beam; flexure; debonding

Research Title: Flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beam using CFRP hybrid system

Author: Ala Taleb Obaidat, Published Year: 2021

European Journal of Environmental and Civil Engineering,

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: This paper presents experimental and numerical study to investigate the flexural behaviour of strengthened RC beams using three CFRP techniques. Considered main variables were CFRP technique, amount of CFRP NSM and rope and cost/increase in strength effectiveness. Results indicate that using CFRP rope and sheet increased significantly maximum load and maximum strain of RC beams. Average increase in strength and maximum strain were 76.3% to 143.5% and 206% to 246% as the control RC beam. Moreover, RC beams strengthened with CFRP rope exhibited strength approximately similar to ones strengthened with CFRP strip. The cost/increase in strength ratio of specimens strengthened by CFRP rope is 61% higher than the ratio of specimens strengthened by CFRP NSM strip. Hence, the specimens strengthened by one layer of CFRP rope is the most economic techniques based in cost/increase in strength ratio even though it exhibited maximum load less than the specimens strengthened with two layers of CFRP rope or strip. CFRP rope was 40% lower than CFRP strip when same strengthening effect was achieved. Finally, complementary to experimental work a finite element model FEM was developed to investigate the flexural behaviour of beam. The FEA model showed somehow good agreement with the experimental results.

Keywords: Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRP); strengthening; reinforced concrete beam; flexure; debonding

Research Title: Compressive Stress-strain Behaviour of Unreinforced Masonry Boundary Element Prisms Constructed with C-Shaped Blocks

Author: Ala Taleb Obaidat, Published Year: 2021

14th Canadian Masonry Symposiums At: Montreal, Canada, Canada

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: Reinforced masonry shear walls (RMSW) with masonry boundary elements (MBE) are rectangular walls with integrated MBEs at the wall extremities. The compressive stress-strain behaviour of the MBE prisms built using C-shaped blocks (C-MBEPs) varies from that of regular stretcher prisms due to the continuity of the grout core and the higher grout-to-shell area ratio. Few studies have investigated the stress-strain behaviour of MBEs built using C-shaped blocks. This study evaluates the compressive stress-strain behaviour of half-scale fully grouted C-MBEP and its constituents (i.e., masonry shell and grout core). In total, 8 fully grouted masonry prisms, 6 un-grouted masonry shells, and 18 grout cores were tested under concentric displacement-controlled compression loading. The test matrix is composed of two aspect ratios: two and five, and normal and high grout strengths. In addition, the effect of grout core treatment, i.e., air and wet treatment, was examined. Similar to masonry prisms made from stretcher blocks, the superposition of the load-displacement relationship of the grout core and the masonry shell was found not comparable to that of the grouted C-MBEP Prisms built with similar grout and masonry blocks.

Keywords: C-shaped blocks, grout, height-to-thickness ratio, masonry boundary element,stress-strain behaviour, superposition

Research Title: DEVELOPMENT OF A CONSTITUTIVE MODEL FOR EVALUATION OF BEARING CAPACITY FROM CPT AND THEORETICAL ANALYSIS USING ANN TECHNIQUES

Author: Ala Taleb Obaidat, Published Year: 2020

International Journal of GEOMATE, 19

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: Bearing capacity is significant value in pile design. Various approaches have been introduced to estimate the axial pile capacity. These approaches have restrictions and accordingly did not implement uniform and precise estimation of axial pile capacity. To add a value of the effort to achieve a proper and accurate relationship of a cone penetration test, including axial pile capacity, the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) method is employed in this paper, which can be applied in cases where the relationship between the input parameters is unknown. In this paper, ANN was used to predict the bearing capacity of bored and driven piles. The present study uses the neural network approach to develop a model that can be adopted to predict bearing capacity values using ANN Techniques and can comfortably accommodate new data as this becomes available. ANN was used to predict the bearing capacity of bored and driven piles. The data, which is used as inputs accompanied by CPT. Furthermore, three artificial neural network models were generated. All models show that ANN provides a more accurate result by comparing it with the available CPT method

Keywords: Bearing Capacity, ANN, CPT

Research Title: Mucilage of Coccinia grandis as an Efficient Natural Polymer-Based Pharmaceutical Excipient

Author: Mohammad Bayan, Published Year: 2022

Polymers, 14

Faculty: Pharmacy

Abstract: Natural eco-friendly materials are recently employed in products to replace synthetic materials due to their superior benefits in preserving the environment. The herb Coccinia grandis is widely distributed in continents like Asia and Africa and used traditionally to treat fever, leprosy, asthma, jaundice, and bronchitis. Mucilage of Coccinia grandis was accordingly extracted, isolated by a maceration technique, and precipitated. The mucilage was evaluated for its physicochemical, binding, and disintegrant properties in tablets using paracetamol as a model drug. The crucial physicochemical properties such as flow properties, solubility, swelling index, loss on drying, viscosity, pH, microbial load, cytotoxicity was evaluated and the compatibility was analyzed using sophisticated instrumental methods (TGA, DTA, DSC, and FTIR). The binding properties of the mucilage was used at three different concentrations and compared with starch and PVP as examples of standard binders. The disintegrant properties of mucilage were used at two different concentrations and compared with standard disintegrants MCCP, SSG, and CCS. The tablets were punched and evaluated for their hardness, friability, assay, disintegration time, in vitro dissolution profiles. In vitro cytotoxicity studies of the mucilage were performed in a human embryonic kidney (HEK) cell line. The outcome of the study indicated that the mucilage had good performance compared with starch and PVP. Further, the mucilage acts as a better disintegrant than MCCP, SSG and CCS for paracetamol tablets. Use of a concentration of 3% or less demonstrated the ability of the mucilage to act as a super disintegrating agent and showed faster disintegration and dissolution, which makes it as an attractive, promising disintegrant in formulating solid dosage forms to improve the therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. Moreover, the in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation results demonstrated that the mucilage is non-cytotoxic to human cells and is safe.

Keywords: binding agent; disintegrating agent; natural polymer; mucilage; Coccinia grandis

Research Title: Development and In Vitro Evaluation of a Large-Intestinal Drug Delivery System

Author: Mohammad Bayan, Published Year: 2022

Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, 15

Faculty: Pharmacy

Abstract: The development of large intestinal drug delivery systems has gained increased attention for the effective treatment of some associated disorders, such as ulcerative colitis, where the therapeutic agent acts locally on the affected parts. The main aim of this study was to develop polymerized carriers capable to deliver drugs effectively to the lower part of the gastrointestinal tract (large intestine). Polymeric pellets, based on hydroxyethyl methacrylate with different crosslinker concentrations, were synthesized using a bulk polymerization method. Mesalazine, which is frequently used to treat inflammatory disorders associated with the large intestine, was selected as a model drug. Swelling and in vitro release studies were performed to assess the developed systems and study the effect of the crosslinker concentration. The swelling and release profiles have decreased significantly with increasing the crosslinker concentration. The produced pellets exhibited a delayed-controlled drug release up to 24 hours, which indicated their potential applicability as successful large-intestinal drug delivery systems.

Keywords: Ulcerative colitis, Specific delivery system, Inflammatory bowel disease, Drug targeting, Mesalazine.

Research Title: Strategic Reading of Undergraduate Students at Philadelphia University

Author: Abdu Al-Kadi, Published Year: 2022

Faculty: Arts

Abstract: The enticing change in learning language modes and mediums dictates an update of the learning strategies profile. Using descriptive analysis, this study set out to explore reading strategies (RSs) at the undergraduate level in Jordan. Data were gleaned from a conveniently-sampled cohort of learners (n=54) enrolled in a BA program at the Faculty of Arts, Philadelphia University. The initial sample responded to a questionnaire, and a sub-sample of this cohort were observed reading academic texts to strengthen the investigation. Findings showed that irrespective of gender, learners of English read strategically. They tend to employ most of the strategies on the RSs inventory. However, they attribute relatively high value to problem-solving strategies than global and support strategies (μ=4.1682, 3.8622, 3.7547, respectively). Besides, they tend to use strategies during and less frequently before and after reading, which signals some implications for pedagogues and course description designers

Keywords: Meta-cognitive strategies, Reading strategies (RSs), Reading inventory, PU

Research Title: Digital Technology Changes How Language Learners Read and Comprehend Texts

Author: Abdu Al-Kadi, Published Year: 2021

A workshop on Reading Through Technological Mediums/Spaces: Affordances, Constraints, and Suggestions, Faculty of Arts - Philadelphia University

Faculty: Arts

Abstract: The proliferation of digital technology has brought about increasing reading habits through digital devices, e.g., iPad, tablets, mobile phones and many other hand-held gadgets. E-book readers are on the rise. Reading online has become commonplace, and learners seem to read from screens more than from printed papers/books. This presentation discusses how language learners use online materials for reading and how electronic mediums afford opportunities to maximize reading comprehension and critical reading by adding multimodal elements to plain texts. It allows learners to self-express and reflect on their digital content reading practices and determine their participation on websites. The workshop is foundational for some research work on digital reading - examining the extent to which students at Philadelphia University handle digital texts, underscores their reading habits and strategies and thus bring to the foreground some important implications for curriculum designers, teachers, and learners altogether to employ proper reading strategies that fit in with reading in digital spaces.

Keywords: digital technology, e-books, reading comprehension

Research Title: Proficiency Testing from the Pluricentric Approach

Author: Abdu Al-Kadi, Published Year: 2022

Faculty: Arts

Abstract: This chapter provides a rationale for proficiency testing that subscribes to the view that accepting English as the global target language requires a proficiency testing framework beyond the monolithic EFL and ESL-based tests. It departs from irreversible facts including the outgrowing number of non-native speakers (NNSs) and World Englishes (WE). Such changes in the linguistic map of English in the worldwide context have weakened power-base viewpoints that drive the monolithic English proficiency tests, such as TOEFL and IELTS. These tests, albeit defenders, hardly represent the realities of English at present. They reflect an outdated taxonomy of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) that undergo the sway of linguistic imperialism. They are mainly fashioned on the NS model and norms of Standard English (SE) and thus undermine the evolving WE. The chapter foregrounds an argument that the monopoly of the NS model is losing ground, and it is high time the new changes found their way to English proficiency testing. A testing shift from monocentrism to the pluricentric approach would reasonably reflect the reality of language uses and users worldwide.

Keywords: linguistic imperialism, monocentrism, NNSs, plurality, proficiency testing