The frequency of vitamin D deficiency among asthmatic Egyptian children

Background: Vitamin D plays a role in the pathogenesis of asthma as it has a potent immunomodulatory effect acting on the cells of the innate immunity. It also reduces the risk of respiratory viral infections which are important initiators of asthma exacerbations. Besides, it potentiates the antiinflammatory action of corticosteroids which are considered the mosteffective controllers of asthma. Objective: To detect the frequency of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among Egyptian asthmatic children and to correlate vitamin D levels to the severity of asthma. Methods: This case control study was conducted on 60 asthmatic children and 40 healthy controls. All were subjected to clinical history taking including history of sun exposure and asthma medications and full clinical examination. Laboratory investigations included measurement of serum calcium, serum alkaline phosphatase and serum 25-OH-D levels and lung functions (spirometery). Results: There was a significant correlation between vitamin D deficiency and severity of asthma, yet there was no significant relation between sun exposure and 25-OH-D level. Moreover, there was a significant relation between decreased serum 25-OH-D levels and the intensity of corticosteroid use. Vitamin D was also significantly lower in asthmatic patients with coexistent allergic rhinitis. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in Egyptian children with asthma .Lower levels of serum vitamin D are associated with high asthma severity, reduced asthma control and increased corticosteroid use.Keywords: Vitamin D, Bronchial asthma, Egyptian, Childre

Job Satisfaction of the Teachers of the First Three Grades in the Schools Under the Supervision of First Zarqa Directorate of Education from Their Perspective

The present study aimed to explore the job satisfaction level of the teachers of the first three grades in the schools under the supervision of First Zarqa Directorate of Education from their perspective. The sample consists from 177 teachers. This study was conducted during the academic year (2017/2018). Those teachers were selected through using the simple random sampling method. They were selected from the schools under the supervision of First Zarqa Directorate of Education in Jordan. A questionnaire was used for data collection. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were measured. It was found that the job satisfaction level of the teachers of the first three grades in the schools under the supervision of First Zarqa Directorate of Education is moderate. It was found that there isn’t any statistically significant difference - at the statistical significance level of (α ≥0.05)- between the respondents’ job satisfaction levels which can be attributed to (gender, academic achievement and experience). It was found that there is a statistically significant correlation between job satisfaction from one hand and (work environment, teachers’ relationships with the administration, moral and financial incentives & teachers’ relationships with colleagues and society members) from another hand. The researcher recommends improving the physical work environment of the teachers of the first three grades. That shall raise the job satisfaction level of those teachers. Keywords: Job satisfaction, the first three grades, First Zarqa Directorate of Education DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-24-04 Publication date:August 31st 202

The effect of a strategy-based instruction programme on developing EFL listening comprehension skills

The main purpose of this study was to probe empirically the effects of three different approaches: strategy training, metacognitive instruction and pure exposure, on listening performance, attitudes, self-efficacy and on strategy knowledge, use and perceived value among student teachers of English in Egypt. Moreover, the interaction between these three treatments and students’ proficiency levels (high/low) was an item of interest. The results of the study consistently demonstrated that strategy training is better in promoting all the variables addressed in this study and compares favourably with metacognitive instruction and pure exposure. More importantly, these results showed that the strategy training approach holds great potential for developing students’ independence and that it moved them that much close towards autonomy. These positive results stand in a stark contrast to the inconclusive results of the earlier studies. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the metacognitive instruction group performed significantly better than the control group only in listening and attitudes. Finally, contrary to the widely held belief that prolonged exposure to aural input enhances listening, the results of the quantitative analysis indicated that students in the control group did not make improvement in any of the dependent variables. Perhaps more importantly, the qualitative analysis indicated that pure exposure to the aural input alone without instruction had a demoralising effect when students found that their understanding did not increase with practice. The findings suggest some potential benefits in the informed teaching of listening strategies as a means of helping learners improve their listening comprehension skills and promoting a sense of learner autonomy. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the time devoted to strategy training is well invested and consequently refute the argument that the risk of devoting time to strategy training is not worth taking. Implications of these findings for pedagogy, research and research methodology conclude the study

Minimizing the expected time to detect a randomly located lost target using 3-dimensional search technique

This paper considers a new model in search theory to find a randomly located target in the 3-dimensional space. An approximation algorithm that facilitates searching procedures for searchers or robots is presented. The expected time to detect the target is also proved. The statistical analysis by calculating the optimal search strategy which minimizes the time to detect the target, assuming trivariate standard normal distribution is provided, and the technique by flowcharts is designed as well. The effectiveness of this strategy is illustrated by introducing an application from real world

An Improve the Onboarding Process in Trade Finance Applications Using Blockchain Technology

Today, challenges in Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) processes include inefficiencies, data silos, and the risk of fraudulent activities. Integrating blockchain technology offers a transformative solution to these issues. Blockchain's decentralized and tamper-resistant nature ensures a single, verifiable source of truth for customer information, reducing data discrepancies across institutions. Smart contracts can automate AML compliance checks, ensuring real-time monitoring and rapid response to suspicious activities. The immutability of blockchain records enhances auditability, facilitating regulatory compliance. Furthermore, the secure and transparent nature of blockchain instills trust among stakeholders, fostering collaboration in combating financial crimes. By leveraging blockchain in KYC and AML processes, the financial industry can achieve enhanced efficiency, reduced fraud, and strengthened regulatory adherence

Effect of Lifestyle Intervention Program on Controlling Hypertension among Older Adults

Hypertension is one of the most common health problems in older adults and affects approximately one billion individuals worldwide. Interventions for hypertensive patient should be designed to increase adherence to lifestyle modification and antihypertensive medications. Aim: to determine the effect of lifestyle intervention on controlling hypertension among older adults. Method: quasi-experimental research design was used. The study carried out on 84 hypertensive elderly patients attending outpatient clinics of the specialized medical hospital, Mansoura university hospital, and New Mansoura general hospital. The subjects were alternatively divided into two equal groups; the first was study group, comprised of 42 patients and they were received the lifestyle intervention regarding control blood pressure. The second was control group, comprised of 42 patients and exposed to routine outpatient care only. Data was collected using 3 tools, socio-demographic and clinical data structured interview sheet, hypertension knowledge, and health promoting lifestyle profile II. Conclusion: the lifestyle intervention program was effective in the control of blood pressure via adoption of healthy behaviors. Keywords: lifestyle intervention, hypertension, older adult

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LEADERS AND NONLEADERS IN THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

The objective of this study was to determine if there were any significant differences between hospital leaders and non-leaders in their perceptions of the organizational commitment to quality in the governmental accredited hospitals in Jordan. A survey instrument, designed to measure the level of organizational commitment to quality, questionnaire, was administered to the healthcare professionals in the five governmental accredited hospitals in Jordan. Study sample included 1290 employees. The response rate was 83.6 % of the total questionnaires distributed. Of the1079 respondents, 141 were leaders and 938 were non-leaders. Two sample T test was used to compare the responses between these groups. There were significant differences found between leaders and non-leaders in their perceptions of organization’s commitment to qualit

Isolation, biochemical and molecular characterization of 2-chlorophenol-degrading Bacillus isolates

Pure cultures of 2-chlorophenol degrading bacteria were isolated from a natural enrichment that may be adapted to chlorophenols in the industrial zone at Umm-Saied city (Qatar). The bacteria were identifiedby 16S rDNA analysis, using PCR with universal primers. Comparative analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence (~ 550 bp) in the GenBank database revealed that these bacteria are related to the genusBacillus. Molecular heterogeneity among 2-chlorophenol-degrading bacteria was investigated using REP-PCR chromosomal fingerprinting and correlated with antibiotic profile analysis. REP-PCR resultsstrongly confirmed that the bacterial isolates from different Qatari soils produced different fingerprinting patterns. The distribution of phenol hydroxylase catabolic gene among examined isolates revealed thatthree isolates out of six yielded positive PCR products. Degradation of 2-chlorophenol was studied using theses cultures in liquid medium under aerobic conditions, at initial concentrations of 0.25 – 2.5mM 2-chlorophenol. Undegraded 2-chlorophenol was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Degradation rates by isolates could be determined at concentrations up to 1.5 mM. However, higher concentrations of 2-chlorophenol (2.5 mM) were inhibitory to cell growth

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LEADERS AND NONLEADERS IN THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

The objective of this study was to determine if there were any significant differences between hospital leaders and non-leaders in their perceptions of the organizational commitment to quality in the governmental accredited hospitals in Jordan. A survey instrument, designed to measure the level of organizational commitment to quality, questionnaire, was administered to the healthcare professionals in the five governmental accredited hospitals in Jordan. Study sample included 1290 employees. The response rate was 83.6 % of the total questionnaires distributed. Of the1079 respondents, 141 were leaders and 938 were non-leaders. Two sample T test was used to compare the responses between these groups. There were significant differences found between leaders and non-leaders in their perceptions of organization’s commitment to qualit