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The assessment of prosthetic aortic valves through echocardiography, a pivotal noninvasive tool, encounters challenges, with discordant findings compared to invasive measurements, particularly in transvalvular gradients. To address these complexities, this comprehensive review article explores diverse methodologies and modalities for assessing prosthetic aortic valve performance. As these life-saving devices advance in complexity, the demand for precise and innovative assessment techniques intensifies. This journey through established and emerging modalities aims to inform clinical practice, foster experimental innovation, and enhance patient care in the realm of aortic valve prosthetic assessment. Ultimately, a profound understanding of the hemodynamic milieu engendered by aortic prosthetic valves serves as the cornerstone for optimizing valve design and clinical utility. The primary objective of this comprehensive review is to elucidate, with utmost precision, the multifaceted methodologies employed in the investigation and evaluation of mechanical prosthetic aortic valve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent patents on water desalination by using renewable energy technologies are critically reviewed with highlighting on environmental impacts and sustainable development. An overview of using wind, hydroelectric, wave and tidal, wind/solar, geothermal, and solar renewable energy technologies for desalinated water production are assessed. Solar energy is the mother of all other renewable energies; it does not pollute, it is free and available everywhere. Several patents have been invented systems and methods that collected and converted solar energy to electrical energy via solar energy which can be used for water desalination. Wind farm with wind-driven pressurizing devices is used to desalinate salt water by reverse osmosis. Geothermal has been used as an effective method for water desalination. It is highly recommended to provide seawater desalination powered by a renewable energy source in remote areas. On the other hand, sequentially staged of energy conversion steps operate at low efficiencies.

The lean manufacturing approach plays a vital role in reducing waste and enhancing productivity in the production environment and service setups. Lean manufacturing-based techniques might be employed in evaluating the efficiencies of different rooms in emergency departments (EDs) and hospitals. A lean thinking approach may be used in testing the usage of the existing facilities planned and constructed for patients' use. In the present study, the management principles of lean manufacturing-based methodology have been used to test the usage of the ED services. Two vital rooms of the ED viz. rapid response trauma (RR-Trauma) and rapid response medical (RR-Medical) are studied in terms of crowding and bed occupancy. Using the concept of takt time (TT), an individual department's efficiency and relative efficiency have been calculated to judge the effectiveness of the ED services. A case of a governmental, non-profit and teaching hospital in the southern region of Saudi Arabia has been studied to see the effect of staffed bed redistribution based on lean manufacturing concept. It has been revealed that ED is facing crowding and frequent critical ambulance diversion problems which require a management intervention to go for staffed bed redistribution to accommodate all of the patients' arrivals. Furthermore, the optimal allocation of resources is essentially be achieved to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of ED rooms. Based on the lean manufacturing concept, the acceptable TT and efficiency for ED rooms are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lean thinking approach plays a vital role in reducing waste and enhancing productivity in production environment and service setups. Lean thinking approach may be employed in cutting down the patients' waiting time in emergency departments and hospitals. Also, lean thinking approach may be used in testing the usage of the existing facilities planned and constructed for customers' use. In the present study, lean manufacturing approach has been used to test the usage of the emergency department's services. Four vital sections of the hospital emergency department viz. Male Treatment Room (MTR), Female Treatment Room (FTR), Male Observation Room (MOR), and Female Observation Room (FOR), are studied in terms of bed occupancy. Using the concept of takt time, an individual department efficiency and relative efficiency have been calculated to find the waiting time of customers intending to use the emergency services. A case of a governmental, non-profit and teaching hospital in the southern region of Saudi Arabia has been used to present the methodology based on lean manufacturing approach systematically. In conclusion, the present study revealed that extra equipped beds have been used in these four rooms in the emergency department that can be allocated to the other crowding witnessed rooms of the same department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a bibliometric analysis of the evolution of research activity in the discipline of English linguistics by Arab scholars is conducted. Scopus databases are browsed for a quantitative and qualitative analysis of research production on English linguistics in the Arab World. The study will be of a great interest and value for the scholars of linguistics across nations and cultures. The total number of documents provided by Scopus databases up to date (July 31, 2015) in the field of English linguistics was 2,735. Saudi Arabia published the highest number of articles (29.3%) followed by Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (17.1%). The institutions with the highest research productivity in the field during the period of the study are Sultan Qaboos University (7.7%) and King Abdulaziz University (1.0%). The top prolific journals in which English linguistics related articles were published are Babel, Dirasat Human and Social Sciences and English Language Teaching. 17% of the published papers were conducted in collaboration between Arab and foreign scholars and 5% with other Arab scholars. This study seeks to unveil and develop research trends in English linguistics in the Arab countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is a crucial element for prosperity and improving the standard of living. Fossil fuels are not an everlasting source of energy. However, the sun is the only eternally sustainable source of energy. In this the present study, feasibility and reliability analyses of a PV grid-connected system are conducted in Mediterranean climate. MATLAB is used to model the energy system and examine its technical and economic performances. Life Cycle Cost (LCC) and Payback Period (PbP) criterion are also used to determine the optimum system design. The present study shows that incorporating an optimum system of solar PV with a grid system (oriented at 26° from the horizontal) is feasible in Mediterranean region. It can reduce 6,075 kWh (83.7%) from the annual electricity bill. Moreover, LCC over a 30-year period is found to be US$ 19,524 while the PbP for the initial investment is 5.88 years. Furthermore, carbon dioxide emissions, associated with thermal power plants generated electricity, are expected to reduce by about 3.6 Tons annually. Thus, to move toward energy independence and energy security, favorable policies and incentives should be set to accelerate the use of such energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]