The Relationship between Learned Helplessness and Social skills among Students with Learning Disabilities in the Primary Stage

  This study aimed to investigate the relationship between learned helplessness and social skills among students with learning disabilities at primary stage in Taif. A random sample of 149 male and 49 female grades four and five students with learning disabilities in reading and mathematics was selected. The researcher used two scales the learned helplessness scale by (Sorrenti, Filippello, Costa and Buzzai, 2014) and the social skills scale by (Danielson and  Phelps, 2003). The results showed that females of learned helplessness (20.40%) were higher than males (12.08%). The results revealed that there is a statistically significant negative correlation between learned helplessness and social skills. There are statistically significant differences between males and females in the degrees of learned helplessness in favor of females. Also, the results show that there are statistically significant differences between males and females in the scores of social skills in favor of females. However, there are no statistically significant differences between those with reading disabilities and those with mathematics learning disabilities in the degrees of learning helplessness. Moreover, there are no differences between those with reading disabilities and those with mathematics learning disabilities in the second dimension of the social skills scale (acceptance and admiration of others) and the third dimension (social naivety). However, there are differences between those with reading disabilities and those with mathematics learning disabilities in the first dimensions and the total score of the social skills scale in favor of those with mathematics learning disabilities

Assessment of Glomerular Filtration Rates by Cockcroft-Gault and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Equations in a Cohort of Omani Patients

Objectives: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best index of renal function and is frequently assessed by corrected creatinine clearance (CCLcr). The limitations of CCLcr have inspired researchers to derive easy formulas to estimate GFR, with Cockcroft-Gault (C-G) and the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) being the most widely used. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of these equations by finding the relation between CCLcr and estimated GFR (eGFR) by C-G, modified C-G and MDRD equations. Methods: From 2007 to 2011, 158 subjects were analysed for serum creatinine and CCLcr at Bowsher Polyclinic, Muscat, Oman. The C-G equation was used to obtain eGFRC-G which was adjusted to body surface area (BSA) to obtain eGFRmC-G, and the MDRD equation was used to obtain eGFRMDRD. The eGFRMDRD, eGFRmC-G and eGFRC-G were then compared to CCLcr. Results: The eGFRMDRD, eGFRmC-G and eGFRC-G significantly correlated with CCLcr, with a slightly stronger correlation with eGFRMDRD (r = 0.701, 0.658 and 0.605, respectively). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the diagnostic accuracy of eGFRMDRD for diagnosing chronic kidney disease (CKD) was higher than that of eGFRmC-G, which in turn was higher than that of eGFRC-G (area under the curve was 0.846, 0.831, and 0.791; cut-off limits were 61.9, 58.3 and 59.5, respectively). Conclusion: C-G and MDRD equations can be an alternative to the CCLcr test for assessing GFR, thus avoiding the need for the cumbersome and expensive GFR test. The MDRD formula had greater validity than the C-G equation and the C-G equation validity was improved by an adjustment to BSA

Turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.) as a phytogenic growth promoter alternative for antibiotic and comparable to mannan oligosaccharides for broiler chicks

This work aimed at investigating the potential as a growth enhancer of different dietary concentrations of turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.) as an alternative to oxytetracyline and antibiotics and as comparable to mannan oligosaccharide for broiler chicks. A total of 252 Hubbard broiler chicks at one day of age were distributed randomly in a straight run experimental design among six treatments, each replicated seven times, with six unsexed chicks per replicate. The basal diet was administered without supplements (control group) or supplemented with turmeric at 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg diet, or with mannan oligosacride (MOS) at 1 g/kg feed or with oxytetracycline (OTC) at 50 mg/kg feed. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality traits, blood biochemical constituents, antioxidant status and red blood cell (RBCs) were investigated. Turmeric supplementation at 1 g/kg feed significantly improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and European production index compared to the control group and MOS groups. The results indicated that turmeric can be used at 1 kg/t feed as a phytogenic feed additive as an alternative to OTC or MOS without negative effects on the productive and economic traits of broilers. There were no differences from using OTC and MOS, while there was an increase in the European production efficiency index and the broilers’ health status.This work aimed at investigating the potential as a growth enhancer of different dietary concentrations of turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.) as an alternative to oxytetracyline and antibiotics and as comparable to mannan oligosaccharide for broiler chicks. A total of 252 Hubbard broiler chicks at one day of age were distributed randomly in a straight run experimental design among six treatments, each replicated seven times, with six unsexed chicks per replicate. The basal diet was administered without supplements (control group) or supplemented with turmeric at 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg diet, or with mannan oligosacride (MOS) at 1 g/kg feed or with oxytetracycline (OTC) at 50 mg/kg feed. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality traits, blood biochemical constituents, antioxidant status and red blood cell (RBCs) were investigated. Turmeric supplementation at 1 g/kg feed significantly improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and European production index compared to the control group and MOS groups. The results indicated that turmeric can be used at 1 kg/t feed as a phytogenic feed additive as an alternative to OTC or MOS without negative effects on the productive and economic traits of broilers. There were no differences from using OTC and MOS, while there was an increase in the European production efficiency index and the broilers’ health status

Changes in Self-Efficacy and Social Support after an Intervention to Increase Physical Activity Among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in Oman:A 12-month follow-up of the MOVEdiabetes trial

Objectives: This study aimed to describe changes in self-efficacy (SE) and social support (SS) 12 months after the MOVEdiabetes trial, an intervention designed to increase physical activity (PA) among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Oman. Methods: The original MOVEdiabetes trial was conducted between April 2016 and June 2017 in Muscat, Oman. The intervention group (IG) received personalised PA consultations, pedometers and monthly messages using a web-based application, while the comparison group received usual care. Self-reported SE and SS from family and friends were assessed using validated psychosocial scales. Results: Of the 232 original participants in the trial, a total of 174 completed the 12 months follow-up study period (response rate: 75%). However, based on intention-to-treat analysis with several imputation procedures for missing data at 3 and/or 12 months, there was a significant increase in SE scores in the IG (+10.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.1–13.5; P <0.001); however, the correlation with PA levels was weak (+4.2, 95% CI: 2.7–5.7; P <0.001). Higher SE scores were noted in those without comorbidities (+12.2, 95% CI: 6.8–17.6; P <0.001) and with high income levels (+9.7, 95% CI: 5.2–14.2; P <0.001). Additionally, SS scores increased significantly among those in the IG who received support from friends (+2.3, 95% CI: 1.1–3.7; P <0.001), but not family (+1.2, 95% CI: −0.4–2.8; P = 0.110). The reliability of the scales was acceptable for SE and SS from family, but poor for SS from friends (Cronbach’s alpha coefficients = 0.82, 0.82 and 0.40, respectively). Conclusion: The PA intervention was associated with positive changes in SE and SS from friends. However, further tools for assessing psychosocial influences on PA are needed in Arab countries.   KEYWORDS Physical Activity; Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; Self-Management; Health Behaviors; Social Support, Self-Efficacy; Primary Healthcare; Oman

Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polyethylene/Doped-TiO 2

Ethylene polymerization was carried out using highly active metallocene catalysts (Cp2ZrCl2 and Cp2TiCl2) in combination with methylaluminoxane. Titanium (IV) oxide containing 1% Mn as dopant was used as nanofillers. The effects of filler concentration, reaction temperature, and pressure on the thermal and mechanical properties of polymer were analyzed. The improvement of nanoparticles dispersion in the polyethylene matrix was checked by WAXD. The thermal properties were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The filler impact on the melting temperature of polyethylene synthesized using Cp2ZrCl2 was very minimal which is due to the degree of short-chain branching. The ash content was also analyzed for each nanocomposite and found to be in line with the activity of the catalyst. There was a significant increase in the mechanical properties of the polyethylene by addition of filler

Teaching Satisfaction as A Mediator in The Relationship between Principal’s Support and Teachers' Intent to Leave in Basic Education Schools in Oman

هدفت الدراسة إلى الكشف عن تأثير دعم مدير المدرسة في سلطنة عمان على كل من رضا المعلمين عن مهنة التدريس، ونيتهم ترك العمل، بالإضافة إلى تحديد ما إذا كان رضا المعلم يسهم بدور وسيط في العلاقة بين دعم المدير ونية المعلمين ترك العمل. تكونت عينة الدراسة من (398) معلمًا في المدارس الحكومية، وتم استخدام أسلوب النمذجة بالمعادلة البنائية لاختبار مدى مطابقة البيانات للنموذج النظري المفترض؛ وكشفت الدراسة عن نتائج عديدة، منها: أن تصورات المعلمين لدعم المدير مرتفعة، بينما جاء كل من رضاهم عن مهنة التدريس ونيتهم ترك العمل بدرجة متوسطة، كما أظهرت النتائج أن دعم المدير له أثر سالب دال إحصائيًا في نية المعلمين ترك العمل، وأثر موجب في رضاهم عن المهنة، كما تبيّن أن هناك تأثيرًا سالباً قويًا لرضا المعلمين في نيتهم ترك العمل، ومن جانب آخر أظهرت الدراسة أن رضا المعلمين عن المهنة استحوذ على دور الوساطة الكلية في العلاقة بين دعم المدير ونية المعلمين ترك العمل. وقدمت الدراسة مجموعة من التوصيات المقترحة لتعزيز دور مدير المدرسة في تعزيز رضا المعلمين عن مهنة التدريس، وتقليل نيتهم تركها.The study aimed to explore the impact of the principal's support on teachers ’satisfaction and their intention to leave work in Oman, in addition to whether teachers ’satisfaction plays a mediating role in the relationship between the principal's support and the teacher’s intention to leave. Data were collected from a sample of 398 basic education teachers. The study used structural equation modeling to test a hypothetical model. The results revealed that teachers ’perceptions of principal support were high level but their satisfaction and their intention to leave were in the moderated level. Furthermore, our results showed that the principal support has a negative and significant effect on teachers ’intention to leave, and a positive effect on their satisfaction, in addition teacher satisfaction has a strong negative impact on teacher intention to leave. Similarly, teacher satisfaction is represented as a full mediation role in the relationship between the principal’s support and teachers’ intention to leave. Finally, the study proposed some recommendations to enhance the role of the school principal in supporting teachers, enhancing their job satisfaction, and reducing their intention to leave Oma

Opportunistic Scheduling with Quantized Feedback in Wireless Networks

Wireless scheduling algorithm can extract multiuser diversity (MUDiv) via prioritizing the users with best current channel condition. One drawback of MUDiv is the required feedback carrying the instantiations channel rate from all active users to the access point base station. This paper shows that this feedback load is, for the most part, unjustified. To alleviate this problem, we propose an optimal discrete rate switch-based multi-user diversity system (DSMUDiv) that allows reducing the feedback load while preserving the essential of the scheme performance. We examine DSMUDiv scheme using an absolute signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-based scheduling mechanism, assuming all users are independent identical distributed (i.i.d.). We provide a theoretical analysis of the feedback load and the spectral efficiency for the DSMUDiv scheme and compare it with the optimal (full feedback load) selective diversity scheme. Slow Rayleigh fading is assumed. Our results show a reduction in the feedback load

Composition profiles of InAs–GaAs quantum dots determined by medium-energy ion scattering

The composition profile along the [001] growth direction of low-growth-rate InAs–GaAs quantum dots (QDs) has been determined using medium-energy ion scattering (MEIS). A linear profile of In concentration from 100% In at the top of the QDs to 20% at their base provides the best fit to MEIS energy spectra