The Effectiveness of a Program Based on Mathematical Communication on Conceptual Understanding and Mathematics Anxiety of Eighth-Grade Students فاعلية برنامج قائم على الاتصال الرياضي في الفهم المفاهيمي وقلق الرياضيات لدى طلبة الصف الثامن الأساسي في الاردن

Abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a program based on mathematical communication in conceptual understanding and the level of mathematics anxiety among eighth grade students. The study sample consisted of (54) students of eighth grade students enrolled in two schools in the town of Ala\u27al belonging to the Directorate of Education of the brigade of Irbid during the second semester of the academic year 2017-2018, distributed equally to two groups (experimental, control). Experimental group subordinated to a program based on mathematical communication. The other was a control group studied by a traditional method. The study adopted the quasi-experimental design. To achieve the objectives of the study, a test was conducted to measure the conceptual understanding, and the measure of the concern of mathematics, were verified for their validity and reliability. The results showed significant differences between the two groups on the conceptual understanding test. These differences were in favor of the experimental group. The results showed that there were differences on the math anxiety scale in the experimental group compared to the control group. ملخص: هدفت الدراسة إلى تقصّي فاعلية برنامج قائم على الاتصال الرياضي في تنمية الفهم المفاهيمي وخفض مستوى قلق الرياضيات لدى طلبة الصف الثامن الأساسي. وتكونت عينة الدراسة من (54) طالبة من طالبات الصف الثامن الأساسي المسجلات في مدرستين في بلدة علعال التابعتين لمديرية التربية والتعليم للواء قصبة إربد خلال الفصل الثاني للعام الدراسي 2017-2018م, وزعن بالتساوي إلى مجموعتين (تجريبية وضابطة), إذ تعرضت التجريبية لبرنامج قائم على الاتصال الرياضي, أما الضابطة فقد درست بالطريقة الاعتيادية, وقد اعتمدت الدراسة المنهج شبه التجريبي. ولتحقيق أهداف الدراسة, تمّ إعداد اختبار لقياس الفهم المفاهيمي, ومقياس قلق الرياضيات, تمّ التأكد من صدقهما وثباتهما. وقد أظهرت النتائج وجود فروق جوهرية بين المجموعتين على اختبار الفهم المفاهيمي, وجاءت هذه الفروق لصالح المجموعة التجريبية. وكما أظهرت النتائج وجود فروق على مقياس قلق الرياضيات؛ لدى المجموعة التجريبية مقارنة بالمجموعة الضابطة

Cardiac Amyloidosis Presenting as Biventricular Systolic Heart Failure

A previously healthy octogenarian presented with new onset heart failure symptoms. Comprehensive multimodality imaging including complete echocardiography with longitudinal strain analysis, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), nuclear medicine pyrophosphate (99-mcTcPYP) scan along with biomarker, monoclonal protein analysis, and fat pad biopsy confirmed diagnosis of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis

Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder: A Rare Case of CNS Involvement following Renal Transplant

Background: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are rare immunosuppression complications affecting 5% of transplant patients. Isolated central nervous system (CNS)-PTLD without nodal or extra-nodal organ involvement is rarely reported and is difficult to diagnose due to the non-specific clinical manifestations and imaging features overlapping with other common CNS lesions. Case presentation: We present a case of a 72-year-old female subjected to a renal transplant 11 years ago with progressively worsening headaches and confusion. Imaging revealed vasogenic edema in the left frontal and bilateral temporal lobes. She was subjected to a craniotomy and excisional biopsy to obtain tissue for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Pathology examination showed atypical EBV-positive lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, consistent with Polymorphic type PTLD. Conclusions: Patients diagnosed with PTLD need to have close monitoring of immunosuppressive medications while in the hospital. Early diagnosis is essential for patient survival with PTLD, as their health can deteriorate fast

Randomized, controlled trial of standard, large-capacity versus jumbo biopsy forceps for polypectomy of small, sessile, colorectal polyps

Polypectomy with cold biopsy forceps is a frequently used technique for removal of small, sessile, colorectal polyps. Jumbo forceps may lead to more effective polypectomy because of the larger size of the forceps cup. To evaluate the efficiency of cold jumbo biopsy forceps compared with standard forceps for polypectomy of small, sessile, colorectal polyps. Randomized, controlled trial. Outpatient endoscopy center. This study involved 140 patients found to have at least one eligible polyp defined as a sessile polyp measuring ≤6 mm. Polypectomy with cold biopsy forceps. Complete visual polyp eradication with one forceps bite. In 140 patients, a total of 305 eligible polyps were detected (151 removed with jumbo forceps and 154 with standard forceps). Complete visual eradication of the polyp with one forceps bite was achieved in 78.8% of the jumbo forceps group and 50.7% of the standard forceps group ( P < .0001). Biopsies from the polypectomy sites of adenomatous polyps thought to be visually completely eradicated with one bite showed a trend toward a higher complete histologic eradication rate with the jumbo forceps (82.4%) compared with the standard forceps (77.4%), but the difference did not reach statistical significance ( P = .62). The withdrawal time for visual inspection of the colon and time to perform polypectomies were significantly shorter in the jumbo forceps group (mean 21.43 vs 18.23 minutes; P = .02). Lack of blinding to the type of forceps used. The jumbo biopsy forceps is superior to the standard forceps in removing small, sessile polyps. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT00855790.