Phonotactic probability and phonotactic constraints :processing and lexical segmentation by Arabic learners of English as a foreign language

PhD ThesisA fundamental skill in listening comprehension is the ability to recognize words. The ability to accurately locate word boundaries(i . e. to lexically segment) is an important contributor to this skill. Research has shown that English native speakers use various cues in the signal in lexical segmentation. One such cue is phonotactic constraints; more specifically, the presence of illegal English consonant sequences such as AV and MY signals word boundaries. It has also been shown that phonotactic probability (i. e. the frequency of segments and sequences of segments in words) affects native speakers' processing of English. However, the role that phonotactic probability and phonotactic constraints play in the EFL classroom has hardly been studied, while much attention has been devoted to teaching listening comprehension in EFL. This thesis reports on an intervention study which investigated the effect of teaching English phonotactics upon Arabic speakers' lexical segmentation of running speech in English. The study involved a native English group (N= 12), a non-native speaking control group (N= 20); and a non-native speaking experimental group (N=20). Each of the groups took three tests, namely Non-word Rating, Lexical Decision and Word Spotting. These tests probed how sensitive the subjects were to English phonotactic probability and to the presence of illegal sequences of phonemes in English and investigated whether they used these sequences in the lexical segmentation of English. The non-native groups were post-tested with the -same tasks after only the experimental group had been given a treatment which consisted of explicit teaching of relevant English phonotactic constraints and related activities for 8 weeks. The gains made by the experimental group are discussed, with implications for teaching both pronunciation and listening comprehension in an EFL setting.Qassim University, Saudi Arabia

Impact of Leadership Intelligence on Competitive Benchmarking in Sample of Jordanian Pharmaceutical Companies

In knowledge and network based economy and unprecedented competition coming from unconventional environments, leadership Intelligence has increasingly, become a new source of value creation and an indicator of inimitable ability of effective leaders. This paper aims to explore the impact of leadership intelligence and its five dimensions (strategic vision of leadership, ability to work in deferent contexts, ability to influence stakeholders, ability to solve problems, and Ethical intelligence of leadership) on competitive benchmarking and its three selected criteria (corporate market share, profitability, and corporate product development) in Jordanian pharmaceutical industry. A research sample of 167 workers from three companies were taken randomly. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the sample. The main results of the study showed that emotional intelligence has a positive impact on competitive benchmarking. Keywords: intelligence, leadership intelligence, competitive benchmarking

THE ANTIBIOTICS RESISTANCE AND THE PRESCRIPTIONS’ PATTERN FOR URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AT KING FAHAD SPECIALIST HOSPITAL

Objectives: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the diseases with a highest prevalence in the world. This study evaluated the antibiotics resistant and the prescription pattern for UTI with the aim to participate as an effective monitoring study that enhances rational antibiotics’ prescription. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study at King Fahad Specialist Hospital from May 2018 to January 2019. We included a total of 306 patients with UTI. 204 patients diagnosed clinically and empirically treated (Group A), 102 patients underwent urine for culture and sensitivity tests (Group B). Results: UTI showed higher occurrence in female in both Groups A (61%) and B (65%). The mean age was higher in Group B (55.8 years) than Group A (39.44 years). The most commonly prescribed antibiotics for UTI were Trimethoprim + Sulfamethoxazole (TMP+SMX) (56%) and ciprofloxacin (15%). Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated organism (36.3%) followed by Klebsiella pneumonia (30%). Although 41.17% of organisms were sensitive to TMP+SMX, 38.2% were resistant to it. The organisms were sensitive to amikacin in 80.4% and to gentamicin in 61.8% whereas, 61.8% were resistant to ampicillin. Luckily, no resistance was reported neither for nitrofurantoin nor for vancomycin. Conclusion: The study showed significant resistance to the commonly prescribed TMP+SMX and ciprofloxacin compared to absolute sensitivity to the less prescribed nitrofurantoin. This necessitates special consideration for local susceptibility in empirical therapy

Complicated septic shock caused by Achromobacter xylosoxidans bacteremia in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Infections caused by Achromobacter xylosoxidans cause significant morbidity and mortality in debilitated individuals. Eradication of these infections requires prolonged therapy with antimicrobial agents and removal of any infected central venous catheter. The outcome is usually poor in patients with high risk malignancy, septic complications, and/or multi-organ dysfunction

Brucella bacteremia in patients with acute leukemia: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Brucellosis may cause serious infections in healthy individuals living in countries that are endemic for the infection. However, reports of brucella infections in immunocompromised hosts are relatively rare.</p> <p>Case Presentations</p> <p>Reported here are two patients with acute leukemia who developed <it>Brucella melitensis </it>bacteremia during their follow up at the Armed Forces Hospital in Riyadh. The first patient developed <it>B. melitensis </it>bacteremia during the transformation of his myelodysplasia into acute myeloid leukemia. The second patient developed <it>B. melitensis </it>bacteremia while his acute lymphoblastic leukemia was under control. Interestingly, he presented with acute cholecystitis during the brucella sepsis. Both brucella infections were associated with a marked reduction in the hematological parameters in addition to other complications. The bacteremic episodes were successfully treated with netilmicin, doxycycline and ciprofloxacin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Brucellosis can cause systemic infections, complicated bacteremia and serious morbidity in patients with acute leukemia living in endemic areas. These infections may occur at the presentation of the leukemia or even when the leukemia is in remission. Nevertheless, the early diagnosis of brucellosis and the administration of appropriate antimicrobial therapy for sufficient duration usually improves the outcome in these immunocompromised patients.</p

Global Emergence of Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole Resistance in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Mediated by Acquisition of sul Genes

The first sul2 genes have been found in S. maltophilia from several different countries

Epidemiological trends in nosocomial candidemia in intensive care

BACKGROUND: Infection represents a frequent complication among patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and mortality is high. In particular, the incidence of fungal infections, especially due to Candida spp., has been increasing during the last years. METHODS: In a retrospective study we studied the etiology of candidemia in critically ill patients over a five-year period (1999–2003) in the ICU of the San Martino University Hospital in Genoa, Italy. RESULTS: In total, 182 episodes of candidaemia were identified, with an average incidence of 2.22 episodes/10 000 patient-days/year (range 1.25–3.06 episodes). Incidence of candidemia increased during the study period from 1.25 in 1999 to 3.06/10 000 patient-days/year in 2003. Overall, 40% of the fungemia episodes (74/182) were due to C.albicans, followed by C. parapsilosis(23%), C.glabrata (15%), C.tropicalis (9%) and other species (13%). Candidemia due to non-albicans species increased and this was apparently correlated with an increasing use of azoles for prophylaxis or empirical treatment. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates a shift in the species of Candida causing fungemia in a medical and surgical ICU population during a 5 year period. The knowledge of the local epidemiological trends in Candida species isolated in blood cultures is important to guide therapeutic choices