Determinants of the Size of Board of Directors: Evidence from Jordanian Corporation

This study aims to examine association between one of the most important corporate governance mechanisms; the size of boards of directors and firm characteristic factors, namely; firm's size, firm's age, firm's leverage and firm's profitability. To achieve this objective of the study, the data were collected from a sample of 21 industrial Jordanian companies listed in Amman stock exchange for the period 2005 – 2012. To test the hypotheses of the study, multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS 16.0 was utilized. The regression analysis confirmed a significant relation between the size of boards and firm characteristic factors. In particular, the results confirm a significantly positive relation between the board size and firm's size proxy. While firm's age, firm's leverage ratio and firm's profitability are significantly negative in  relation to the boards  size. These results  suggests that further research should be done regarding other corporate governance mechanisms such as; board composition, chief executive status. And also regarding other factors that may help in determining the  size of board of directors. This study will contribute by its results which have important implications for investors, decision makers and regulator on corporate governance in Jordan were they going on reform of corporate boards. Keywords: corporate governance, board of directors size, Jordan

Analysis of Errors in the Management of Cutaneous Disorders

In this study, we prospectively and retrospectively evaluated the occurrence of errors in the management of cutaneous disorders from patient visits and medical records in a single dermatology practice in southeast Virginia over a 3-year period (June 2020-July 2023). Providers should be able to improve diagnostic accuracy by utilizing established rapid bedside diagnostic techniques

Access and utilisation of primary health care services comparing urban and rural areas of Riyadh Providence, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has seen an increase in chronic diseases. International evidence suggests that early intervention is the best approach to reduce the burden of chronic disease. However, the limited research available suggests that health care access remains unequal, with rural populations having the poorest access to and utilisation of primary health care centres and, consequently, the poorest health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the factors influencing the access to and utilisation of primary health care centres in urban and rural areas of Riyadh province of the KSA

Studies on the role of interleukin-1 on prostaglandin production by human fetal membranes and decidua.

Recent studies have indicated the possible importance of cytokines in the onset of term and preterm labour. To understand this further, the effect of interleukin-1 ($\alpha$ and $\beta)$ and interleukin 6 on prostaglandin output by dispersed cells from human amnion, chorion laeve, and decidua obtained at term (38-42 weeks gestation) was examined. During the first or second 24 hours of culture, no significant effect of these interleukins on prostaglandin output was observed. The apparent refractoriness of these cells to interleukin-1 was further investigated by studying the distribution of IL-1 receptors in frozen sections of undisrupted fetal membranes and decidua at term. Whole-tissue and emulsion autoradiography indicated that receptors were present in the chorion and decidua but not in the amnion. Fresh cells labeled for IL-1 receptors confirmed the intact tissue findings. No labeling was found in the amnion; labeling was found in certain populations of the chorion cells. These studies indicate that under normal circumstances in human pregnancy at term, IL-1 does not stimulate prostaglandin production by dispersed cells. In the case of amnion, this may be due to the absence of receptors, and therefore it would appear that the IL-1 receptor must first be induced in this tissue before it can respond to this cytokine. Furthermore, although chorion laeve expresses the IL-1 receptor, dispersed cells from this tissue did not respond to the cytokine by increasing prostaglandin output. (Abstract shortened by UMI.

Coordination of growth and patterning in the Drosophila wing

The cells composing a multicellular organism are typically genetically identical (having the same DNA), yet they can be very different (eye cell vs muscle cell vs bone cell, etc.). The differentiation of each cell into a distinct cell type is a critical process during development. Moreover, pattern formation – the patterning of tissues – depends on the spatial organization of the distinct cell types into stereotyped anatomical patterns. In other words, each cell type must be appropriate for the cell’s position; we do not want eye cells to form on the feet, etc. Thus, pattern formation depends on the ability of cells to acquire positional information.This positional information is commonly conveyed through the concentration gradients of intercellular signaling factors, called morphogens. A cell can use the local concentration of a morphogen in order to determine its distance from a morphogen-producing cell: since the concentration of the morphogen decreases as it spreads away from its source, lower concentrations correspond to increasing distances from the moprhogen source.The Decapentaplegic (Dpp; an orthologue of the vertebrate BMP2/4) morphogen gradient which patterns the wing of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is one of the best understood patterning systems. However, our study of the Dpp gradient suggests a departure from the common view that patterns are regulated strictly "downstream" of morphogen gradients. Dpp is known to induce the expression of the transcription factor Spalt (Sal), and the boundaries of the Sal-expression domain are known to determine the positioning of wing veins. We show that Sal inhibits the transcription of Dpp's cell-surface receptor Thickveins (Tkv), and that this causes the region beyond the Sal pattern boundary to act as a sink for Dpp (in which Dpp is consumed at a high rate). Using both mathematical modeling and genetic experiments, we further show that this leads to the formation of a "source-sink" gradient, in which the shape of the Dpp morphogen gradient is largely determined by the location of the Sal pattern boundary.These findings lie in stark contrast to the typical assumption that it is the shapes of morphogen gradients which determine the locations and sizes of patterns, and they thus have important implications for our understanding of how tissues are patterned during organismal development and how patterning is coordinated with tissue growth. Indeed, we show preliminary findings which suggest that, during growth of the wing, this feedback loop is important for the scaling of the shape of the Dpp morphogen gradient with tissue size and for regulating the patterns of cell proliferation, and we speculate on a novel mechanism for pattern formation which depends on the tight coupling between the size of the Sal domain and the shape of the Dpp gradient

PATIENTS’ KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS HEALTH EDUCATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN SAUDI ARABIA

Objectives: To assess health educational activities in primary health care centers in Riyadh City. Methods: The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire directed at adult patients who attended primary health care centers from February - April 2006, in Riyadh City. Out of the 750 patients who were selected randomly, 569 (75.9%) successfully completed the questionnaire. The data collected were on a set of variables including socio-demographic characteristics, health-related variables, source of health knowledge and patients′ attitudes towards a number of health-related aspects. Data were presented and analyzed in a descriptive fashion. Results: Only 20% of PHC patients had received health education in the past twelve months. The majority of respondents identified TV and friends/relatives as the main sources of their health education. A considerable percentage of the patients with chronic conditions lacked knowledge about their illnesses. The results indicate that the deficiency in knowledge was the result of some of the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to review and evaluate health education programs conducted in PHC centers. Special emphasis should be placed on health education activities for those living with chronic health conditions

The Relationship between Liquidity, Profitability and Solvency in Islamic Banks

This study aims to test and analyze the relationship between liquidity, profitability and solvency in Islamic banks. For this purpose (48) observations of (6) Asian Islamic banks over the period 2009-2016 were comprised. The empirical results of regression analysis revealed that there is a statistically significant negative relationship between bank profitability and both of liquidity and solvency. The results also showed that the liquidity has a positive significant relationship with solvency. The study recommends the need to establish Islamic capital market and Islamic investment instrument to help Islamic banks in solving liquidity surplus and shortage problem. It also recommends the need to specific capital adequacy ratio for Islamic banks taking into consideration the nature of Islamic bank risk

Studies on the action of interleukin-1 on term human fetal membranes and decidua

Recent studies have indicated the possible importance of cytokines in the onset of term and preterm labor. To examine this further, the effect of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on prostaglandin output by dispersed cells from human amnion, chorion laeve, and decidua obtained at term (38–40 weeks gestation) was examined. During the first or second 24 h of culture no significant effect of these interleukins on prostaglandin output was observed. The reason for this apparent refractoriness was further investigated by studying the distribution of IL-1 receptors in frozen sections of undisrupted fetal membranes and decidua at term. Whole-tissue autoradiography indicated that receptors were present in chorion–decidua but not in amnion. By using emulsion autoradiography, IL-1 receptors were found in high concentrations in chorion laeve and were absent in amnion and at low levels in the decidua. These studies indicate that under normal circumstances in human pregnancy at term IL-1 did not stimulate prostaglandin production by dispersed cells. In the case of amnion, this may be due to the absence of receptors, and therefore it would appear that the IL-1 receptor must first be induced in this tissue before it can respond to this cytokine. Furthermore, although chorion laeve expresses the IL-1 receptor, dispersed cells from this tissue did not respond to the cytokine by increasing prostaglandin output.Key words: labor, prostaglandins, interleukin-1, interleukin-1 receptor, fetal membranes, decidua. </jats:p