The Reliability and Validity of a MLCT-Scale for the Assessment of Kindergarten Children

This study was derived from the review of literature on motivation to learn, and creative thinking, in kindergarten children. While both these themes are explored reasonably in depth, there is very little research on motivation to learn creative thinking, which is a pillar of educational development. The researcher found the reason was that there was no Scale to measure this aspect, and so he constructed a new Motivation to Learn Creative Thinking Scale (MLCT-Scale) among kindergarten children. He also investigated the psychometric characteristics of the Scale. This Scale construction and investigation findings are reported here. The methodology used in this study was Descriptive survey. In all, 21 items formed the MLCT- scale within 5 dimensions. It uses a 5-points Likert Scale. Before conducting the Study, the two validities of the scale, concept and concurrent validities, were assessed. The study sample size was a random selection of 360 Kindergarten children, restricted to Amman city in Jordan. As this was a new Scale, the researcher took utmost care, through a series of statistical tests, to ensure Reliability, Concept validity and Construct validity of the Scale. He also ensured that the factor loading of each of the 21 items onto 5 factors was very strong. The study findings showed high coefficient correlations for Reliability, Concept and Concurrent Validity. There was a strong loading of the 5 scale dimensions as shown by Exploratory Factor Analysis. It is strongly recommended by the researcher that motivation to learn creative learning in kindergarten can be assessed by implementing the Motivating Children to Learn Creative Thinking Scale

ANO4 Expression Is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Non-Metastasized Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background: Over the past decade, transcriptome profiling has elucidated many pivotal pathways involved in oncogenesis. However, a detailed comprehensive map of tumorigenesis remains an enigma to solve. Propelled research has been devoted to investigating the molecular drivers of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). To add another piece to the puzzle, we evaluated the role of anoctamin 4 (ANO4) expression as a potential prognostic biomarker in non-metastasized ccRCC. Methods: A total of 422 ccRCC patients with the corresponding ANO4 expression and clinicopathological data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA). Differential expression across several clinicopathological variables was performed. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to assess the impact of ANO4 expression on the overall survival (OS), progression-free interval (PFI), disease-free interval (DFI), and disease-specific survival (DSS). Univariate and multivariate Cox logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify independent factors modulating the aforementioned outcomes. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to discern a set of molecular mechanisms involved in the prognostic signature. Tumor immune microenvironment was estimated using xCell. Results: ANO4 expression was upregulated in tumor samples compared to normal kidney tissue. Albeit the latter finding, low ANO4 expression is associated with advanced clinicopathological variables such as tumor grade, stage, and pT. In addition, low ANO4 expression is linked to shorter OS, PFI, and DSS. Multivariate Cox logistic regression analysis identified ANO4 expression as an independent prognostic variable in OS (HR: 1.686, 95% CI: 1.120–2.540, p = 0.012), PFI (HR: 1.727, 95% CI: 1.103–2.704, p = 0.017), and DSS (HR: 2.688, 95% CI: 1.465–4.934, p = 0.001). GSEA identified the following pathways to be enriched within the low ANO4 expression group: epithelial–mesenchymal transition, G2-M checkpoint, E2F targets, estrogen response, apical junction, glycolysis, hypoxia, coagulation, KRAS, complement, p53, myogenesis, and TNF-α signaling via NF-κB pathways. ANO4 expression correlates significantly with monocyte (ρ = −0.1429, p = 0.0033) and mast cell (ρ = 0.1598, p = 0.001) infiltration. Conclusions: In the presented work, low ANO4 expression is portrayed as a potential poor prognostic factor in non-metastasized ccRCC. Further experimental studies should be directed to shed new light on the exact molecular mechanisms involved.The article processing charges were funded jointly by Qatar National Library and Qatar University

One Hundred Priority Questions for the Development of Sustainable Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is facing an expected doubling of human population and tripling of food demand over the next quarter century, posing a range of severe environmental, political, and socio-economic challenges. In some cases, key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are in direct conflict, raising difficult policy and funding decisions, particularly in relation to trade-offs between food production, social inequality, and ecosystem health. In this study, we used a horizon-scanning approach to identify 100 practical or research-focused questions that, if answered, would have the greatest positive impact on addressing these trade-offs and ensuring future productivity and resilience of food-production systems across sub-Saharan Africa. Through direct canvassing of opinions, we obtained 1339 questions from 331 experts based in 55 countries. We then used online voting and participatory workshops to produce a final list of 100 questions divided into 12 thematic sections spanning topics from gender inequality to technological adoption and climate change. Using data on the background of respondents, we show that perspectives and priorities can vary, but they are largely consistent across different professional and geographical contexts. We hope these questions provide a template for establishing new research directions and prioritising funding decisions in sub-Saharan Africa

One hundred priority questions for the development of sustainable food systems in sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is facing an expected doubling of human population and tripling of food demand over the next quarter century, posing a range of severe environmental, political, and socio-economic challenges. In some cases, key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are in direct conflict, raising difficult policy and funding decisions, particularly in relation to trade-offs between food production, social inequality, and ecosystem health. In this study, we used a horizon-scanning approach to identify 100 practical or research-focused questions that, if answered, would have the greatest positive impact on addressing these trade-offs and ensuring future productivity and resilience of food-production systems across sub-Saharan Africa. Through direct canvassing of opinions, we obtained 1339 questions from 331 experts based in 55 countries. We then used online voting and participatory workshops to produce a final list of 100 questions divided into 12 thematic sections spanning topics from gender inequality to technological adoption and climate change. Using data on the background of respondents, we show that perspectives and priorities can vary, but they are largely consistent across different professional and geographical contexts. We hope these questions provide a template for establishing new research directions and prioritising funding decisions in sub-Saharan Africa

قواعد نفي الحرج وأثرها زمن وباء كورونا: دراسة تأصيلية مقاصدية فقهية

الأهداف: يهدف هذا البحث لبيان أثر قواعد التيسير، ورفع الحرج في الأحكام الفقهية زمن فيروس كورونا. المنهجية: اتبع الباحث في ذلك المنهج الاستقرائي باستقراء أقوال المذاهب والفقهاء في كل مسألة، والمنهج المقارن، بمقارنة أقوالهم وأدلتهم والترجيح بينها. النتائج: خلص هذا البحث إلى أن لقواعد الشريعة الفقهية الكلية المتضمنة للتيسير ورفع الحرج، أثرا عظيما في إصدار الأحكام الفقهية زمن المستجدات والنوازل المعاصرة، ومنها فيروس كورونا، حيث كان لها مدخل عظيم في تسهيل كثير من الأحكام الفقهية على الناس، ورفع المشقة عنهم، وهي مع ذلك لم تخرج تلك الأحكام بذلك عن نطاق الحق وموافقة الشرع، إذ الشرع أصلا جاء لجلب مصالح العباد، ودفع المفاسد عنهم، وظهر ذلك جليا في التخفيف في طهارة مريض كورونا وصلاته، وتيسير أمور عبادات الناس ومعاملاتهم. التوصيات: يوصي البحث بالتعريف بمنهج الشريعة الإسلامية في التيسير، ودفع الحرج من خلال المحاضرات والمؤتمرات الدولية، والتعريف بالأحكام الفقهية أثناء النوازل، مستصحبين روح الشريعة الإسلامية في التخفيف والتيسير ، مما يؤكد كونها شريعة ربانية صالحة لكل زمان ومكان وظرف

The Prognostic Utility of Lymphocyte-Based Measures and Ratios in Chemotherapy-Induced Febrile Neutropenia Patients following Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Therapy

Background and Objectives: Chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia is the most widespread oncologic emergency with high morbidity and mortality rates. Herein we present a retrospective risk factor identification study to evaluate the prognostic role of lymphocyte-based measures and ratios in a cohort of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia patients following granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy. Materials and Methods: The electronic medical records at our center were utilized to identify patients with a first attack of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia and were treated accordingly with G-CSF between January 2010 to December 2020. Patients’ demographics and disease characteristics along with laboratory tests data were extracted. Prognosis-related indicators were the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) at admission and the following 6 days besides the length of stay and mortality rate. Results: A total of 80 patients were enrolled, which were divided according to the absolute lymphocyte count at admission into two groups, the first includes lymphopenia patients (n = 55) and the other is the non-lymphopenia group (n = 25) with a cutoff point of 700 lymphocytes/μL. Demographics and baseline characteristics were generally insignificant among the two groups but the white blood cell count was higher in the non-lymphopenia group. ANC, neutrophils percentage and ANC difference in reference to admission among the two study groups were totally insignificant. The same insignificant pattern was observed in the length of stay and the mortality rate. Univariate analysis utilizing the ANC difference compared to the admission day as the dependent variable, revealed no predictability role in the first three days of follow up for any of the variables included. However, during the fourth day of follow up, both WBC (OR = 0.261; 95% CI: 0.075, 0.908; p = 0.035) and lymphocyte percentage (OR = 1.074; 95% CI: 1.012, 1.141; p = 0.019) were marginally significant, in which increasing WBC was associated with a reduction in the likelihood of ANC count increase, compared to the lymphocyte percentage which exhibited an increase in the likelihood. In comparison, sequential ANC difference models demonstrated lymphocyte percentage (OR = 0.961; 95% CI: 0.932, 0.991; p = 0.011) and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (OR = 7.436; 95% CI: 1.024, 54.020; p = 0.047) reduction and increment in the enhancement of ANC levels, respectively. The fifth day had WBC (OR = 0.790; 95% CI: 0.675, 0.925; p = 0.003) to be significantly decreasing the likelihood of ANC increment. Conclusions: we were unable to determine any concrete prognostic role of lymphocyte-related measures and ratios. It is plausible that several limitations could have influenced the results obtained, but as far as our analysis is concerned ALC role as a predictive factor for ANC changes remains questionable