فاعلية برنامج إثرائي في تعزيز الوعي الأمني لدى طلبة الصف العاشر الأساسي في سلطنة عمان

هدفت الدراسة إلى الكشف عن فاعلية برنامج إثرائي مقترح في ضوء أبعاد الأمن المجتمعي في تعزيز الوعي الأمني لدى طلبة الصف العاشر الأساسي في سلطنة عمان واتجاهاتهم نحوه، وقد استخدم الباحثون المنهج شبه التجريبي، وصمموا البرنامجَ الإثرائي، إضافة إلى مقياس للوعي الأمني، ومقياسًا لاتجاهات الطلبة، وبعد التأكد من صدق أدوات الدراسة وثباتها، طُبقت الأدوات على عينة الدراسة في المجموعتين الضابطة والتجريبية، وبعد ذلك أُجريت المعالجات الإحصائية لاستجابات الطلبة على المقياسَين، وأظهرت النتائج وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية في التطبيق البعدي لمقياس الوعي الأمني، لصالح المجموعة التجريبية، وكذلك وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية بين التطبيقين القبلي والبعدي للمجموعة التجريبية لصالح التطبيق البعدي، مما يعني فاعلية البرنامج الإثرائي في تعزيز الوعي الأمني لدى طلبة المجموعة التجريبية، كما أظهرت النتائج ارتفاع اتجاهات طلبة المجموعة التجريبية نحو البرنامج الإثرائي؛ إذ بلغ المتوسط الحسابي لاستجاباتهم على المقياس (4.48)، وفي ضوء ذلك أوصت الدراسة بالاستفادة مما تضمنه البرنامج الإثرائي في تطوير مناهج التربية الإسلامية، وتعزيزها بأبعاد الأمن المجتمعي، والاستفادة من البرنامج المقترح في تعزيز الوعي الأمني لدى طلبة الصف العاشر

Estimating the Net Survival of Patients with Gastric Cancer in Iran in a Relative Survival Framework

Background: Iran is an Eastern Mediterranean region country with the highest rate of gastric cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the 5-year net survival of patients with gastric cancer in Iran using a relative survival framework. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, using life-table estimation of relative survival, we reported 1- to 5-year relative survival regarding age, sex, disease stage, pathology, and adjuvant therapies via modeling excess mortality. All the analyses were done applying Stata 11.2 with a confidence level of 95%. Results: Data on 330 patients (aged 32–96 y), who were comprised of 228 (69.1%) men and 102 (30.1%) women with gastric cancer and were followed up for 10 years, were analyzed. Adenocarcinoma was the most common malignancy (281 [85.2%] patients), and 248 (75.1%) patients were at stage 3 or stage 4. The 1- and 5-year net survival rates after surgery were 67.96 (95% CI: 62.35–72.98) and 23.35 (95% CI: 17.94–29.28), respectively. Higher stages (P=0.001), older ages (P=0.007), and less use of adjuvant therapies (P<0.001) were independently associated with excess mortality. Conclusion: It is recommended to use the relative survival framework to analyze the survival of cancer patients as an alternative approach not only to eliminate biases due to competing risks and their dependencies but also to estimate the cure at the population level concerning the most important individual characteristics. Our findings showed that the survival rate of gastric cancer in Iran is lower than that in most developed countries in terms of net survival

The Effectiveness of a Training Program of Improving Arabic Language Teaching Practices on Developing Reading Comprehension Skills of Grade-Ten Students in Oman This article is extracted from an unpublished PhD dissertation by the first author

The purpose of the study was to explore the effectiveness of a training program of enhancing Arabic language teaching practices on developing grade-ten students’ reading comprehension skills in Oman. The study sample consisted of 40 teachers and 400 male and female students. A training program, an observation form and a reading comprehension test were developed. The results showed there are statistically significant differences between the average scores of the experimental and the control groups after applying the teaching practices for developing reading comprehension skills (the literal, the inferential, the critical, the aesthetic and the creative). This also applied to the total score, with the experimental group outperforming the control group. There is no statistically significant effect of the interaction between the study group type and gender in developing these skills among Arabic language teachers. The study results indicated that there are differences in developing reading comprehension skills between male and female grade-ten students in both study groups, in favor of females. The researcher recommends organizing training courses for Arabic language teachers to improve reading comprehension skills when analyzing a passage and to benefit from the designed observation form. Keywords: training, teaching practices, reading comprehension * This article is extracted from an unpublished PhD dissertation by the first author, Maryam Hasan Al Balushi, titled The effectiveness of a training program based on the constructivism theory in developing the practices of Arabic teachers in develping the reading comprehension skills of grade ten student in the Sultanate of Oman and teachers attitudes towards constructive teaching. Sultan Qaboos university, Sultanate of Oman

Achievement Responsibility and Its Relation to Self-determination Motivation of Foundation Program Students

The current study investigated the relation between achievement responsibility and selfdetermination motivation among foundation program students. It also aimed at identifying the differences in achievement responsibility and the self-determination motivation according to gender and the foundation level. The data was collected from 432 students. The results of the study showed that the students attributed their achievement to internal and unstable factors. Secondly, the students showed a quiet high level of selfdetermination motivation. Thirdly, the results showed no differences due to gender in both achievement responsibility and self-determination motivation. In regards to achievement responsibility, there were statistically significant differences in external and unstable factors according to the level variable for the second and third level. Regarding self-determination motivation, the results revealed statistically significant differences in external regulation and a motivation according to the level in favor of level two and three. The findings also suggested that the external factors seem to be the better predictor factor of self-determination motivation followed by the stable and finally the internal factors

A genetic variant in CDKN2A/2B locus was associated with poor prognosis in patients with 1 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is among the leading causes of cancer related death. Despite extensive efforts in identifying valid cancer prognostic biomarkers, only a very small number of markers have been identified. Several genetic variants in the 9p21 region have been identified that are associated with the risk of multiple cancers. Here, we explored the association of two genetic variants in the 9p21 region, CDKN2A/B, rs10811661 and rs1333049 for the first time in 273 subjects with, or without ESCC. We observed that patients with ESCC had a higher frequency of a TT genotype for rs10811661 than individuals in the control group, and this polymorphism was also associated with tumor size. Moreover, a CC genotype for the rs1333049 polymorphism was associated with a reduced OS of patients with ESCC. In particular, patients with a CC (rs1333049) genotype had a significantly shorter OS (CC genotype: 34.5±8.9 months vs. CG+GG: 47.7±5.9 months; p value= 0.03). We have also shown the association of a novel genetic variant in CDKN2B gene with clinical outcome of ESCC patients. Further investigations are warranted in a larger population to explore the value of emerging markers as a risk stratification marker in ESCC. Key word: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, risk marker, CDKN2A/B, polymorphis

A genetic polymorphism in the CYP1B1 gene in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: an Iranian Mashhad cohort study recruited over 10 years

Background: Esophageal-cancer is the seventh most common-cause of cancer-related-deaths in men. Cytochrome-P450-family-1-subfamily-B-polypeptide-1 (CYP1B1) plays a role in the metabolism of xenobiotics, and is associated with several cancers. Here we investigated the association between a genetic-variant, CYP1B1-rs1056836, with the clinical-characteristics of patients with esophagus-squamous-cell-carcinoma (ESCC). Method: 117-patients with ESCC and 208 healthy-subjects were recruited. DNA was extracted and genotyped. Kaplan-Meier curves were utilized to assess overall and progression-free survival. The relationship between clinicopathological-data, disease-prognosis, and survival, were evaluated with the genotypes. Results: the genotypic frequency for GG, GC, and CC were 58.6%, 29.8%, 11.5% respectively in the healthy subjects and 51.8%, 36.14% and 12% in the ESCC group. An association between the GG genotype and stage of ESCC was found. Conclusion: Our findings suggest a relationship between the CYP1B1-rs1056836 genetic polymorphism and clinical features of ESCC, supporting further studies in larger-populations in different-ethnic groups, taking into account potentially important environmental-factors

Indoor environment assessment of special wards of educational hospitals for the detection of fungal contamination sources: A multi-center study (2019-2021)

Background and Purpose: The hospital environment was reported as a real habitat for different microorganisms, especially mold fungi. On the other hand, these opportunistic fungi were considered hospital-acquired mold infections in patients with weak immune status. Therefore, this multi-center study aimed to evaluate 23 hospitals in 18 provinces of Iran for fungal contamination sources.Materials and Methods: In total, 43 opened Petri plates and 213 surface samples were collected throughout different wards of 23 hospitals. All collected samples were inoculated into Sabouraud Dextrose Agar containing Chloramphenicol (SC), and the plates were then incubated at 27-30ºC for 7-14 days.Results: A total of 210 fungal colonies from equipment (162, 77.1%) and air (48,22.9%) were identified. The most predominant isolated genus was Aspergillus (47.5%),followed by Rhizopus (14.2%), Mucor (11.7%), and Cladosporium (9.2%). Aspergillus(39.5%), Cladosporium (16.6%), as well as Penicillium and Sterile hyphae (10.4% each), were the most isolates from the air samples. Moreover, intensive care units (38.5%) and operating rooms (21.9%) had the highest number of isolated fungal colonies. Out of 256 collected samples from equipment and air, 163 (63.7%) were positive for fungal growth.The rate of fungal contamination in instrument and air samples was 128/213 (60.1%) and 35/43 (81.2%), respectively. Among the isolated species of Aspergillus, A. flavus complex (38/96, 39.6%), A. niger complex (31/96, 32.3%), and A. fumigatus complex (15/96, 15.6%) were the commonest species.Conclusion: According to our findings, in addition to air, equipment and instrument should be considered among the significant sources of fungal contamination in the indoor environment of hospitals. Airborne fungi, Hospital, Indoor air, Equipment, Sources of fungal contamination in the indoor environment of hospitals

The Love of Money and Pay Level Satisfaction: Measurement and Functional Equivalence in 29 Geopolitical Entities around the World

Demonstrating the equivalence of constructs is a key requirement for cross-cultural empirical research. The major purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how to assess measurement and functional equivalence or invariance using the 9-item, 3-factor Love of Money Scale (LOMS, a second-order factor model) and the 4-item, 1-factor Pay Level Satisfaction Scale (PLSS, a first-order factor model) across 29 samples in six continents (N = 5973). In step 1, we tested the configural, metric and scalar invariance of the LOMS and 17 samples achieved measurement invariance. In step 2, we applied the same procedures to the PLSS and nine samples achieved measurement invariance. Five samples (Brazil, China, South Africa, Spain and the USA) passed the measurement invariance criteria for both measures. In step 3, we found that for these two measures, common method variance was non-significant. In step 4, we tested the functional equivalence between the Love of Money Scale and Pay Level Satisfaction Scale. We achieved functional equivalence for these two scales in all five samples. The results of this study suggest the critical importance of evaluating and establishing measurement equivalence in cross-cultural studies. Suggestions for remedying measurement non-equivalence are offered