The Effect of Real Exchange Rate on Current Account

This research studies the impact of real Gross Domestic Production (GDP) and real exchange rate on the Current Account position in Jordan, during the quarterly periods from 2008 to 2022. The study reviews the literature on the theoretical framework around the impact of real GDP and fluctuations of the real exchange rate on the current account status. This study describes the performance of the current account during the study period and applies the appropriate econometric tests to an economic model. The main results show a significant, positive effect of real GDP growth in improving the status and sustainability of the current account; output growth indicates an increase in production leading to higher levels of exports and lower levels of imports. The results did not show a significant effect of the real exchange rate on the current account position, which is largely attributed to the stabilization policy of exchange rate pursued by the Central Bank of Jordan since October 1995

Ibuprofen-loaded chitosan–lipid nanoconjugate hydrogel with gum arabic: Green synthesis, characterisation, in vitro kinetics mechanistic release study and PGE2 production test

Ibuprofen is a well-known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medicine that is often used to treat inflammation in general. When given orally, it produces gastrointestinal issues which lead to lower patient compliance. Ibuprofen transdermal administration improves both patient compliance and the efficacy of the drug. Nanoconjugation hydrogels were proposed as a controlled transdermal delivery tool for ibuprofen. Six formulations were prepared using different compositions including chitosan, lipids, gum arabic, and polyvinyl alcohol, through ionic interaction, maturation, and freeze–thaw methods. The formulations were characterised by size, drug conjugation efficiency, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Further analysis of optimised hydrogels was performed, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), rheology, gel fraction and swelling ability, in vitro drug release, and in vitro macrophage prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) production testing. The effects of ibuprofen’s electrostatic interaction with a lipid or polymer on the physicochemical and dissolution characterisation of ibuprofen hydrogels were evaluated. The results showed that the S3 (with lipid conjugation) hydrogel provided higher conjugation efficiency and prolonged drug release compared with the S6 hydrogel

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Sustainable solutions for exposed concrete surfaces to climatic influences - Within various regions: An industrial-geographic letter to civil-constructors

Environmental factors significantly influence concrete surfaces. Infrastructures are affected by variety climatic conditions including: extreme temperatures, droughts, moist and humid conditions or even inundation, and they are more likely to experience negative influences on their concrete surfaces. Thus, this research aims to identify sustainable solutions to decrease the vulnerability of concrete exposed to climatic and environmental influences by assessing the response of concrete surfaces to high solar radiation, high temperatures, and wet weather conditions. Our results within warm and tropical regions show that temperature fluctuations lead to expansion and shrinkage of concrete, particularly in buildings with poor thermal insulation. Including iron components are prone to these shrink-swell processes, causing crack development and expansion over time. Then, this study is suggested some responding solutions including; plant covering over concrete surfaces of the structures as well as use of some light-coloured silicates to reduce solar radiation absorption. Another focus of this study is to analyse the roles of some environmental factors including salinity, humidity, rain, and snow that may influence the concrete surfaces, particularly within wet and coastal regions. Previous studies show that the permeability of concrete surfaces increase the Infiltration of water which can lead to corrosion of iron components, and salt accumulation within cavities, particularly affecting coastal-zone infrastructures. Thus, a suggestion of high-density, low-porous concrete to be used to prevent the diffusion of water into concrete surfaces. The concrete surface problems that are occurring due to various environmental factors can cause severe damage. The corrosions including peeling process is an example of such damage that often is not-repairable. Notably, if peeling occurs within the primary reinforcing structure, the metal bodies are likely exposed to corrosion, which then requires a greater response to be fixed. Thus, the information provided in this study yield base suggestions which can support informed decision-making during planning and construction stages to sustain longer-lasting concrete surfaces under different environmental conditions. Additionally, the concrete material industry can benefit from this research, as the findings provide guidance to the use of more suitable materials for improved structural integrity under various climatic conditions

Porous Polyethylene Coated with Functionalized Hydroxyapatite Particles as a Bone Reconstruction Material

In this study, porous polyethylene scaffolds were examined as bone substitutes in vitro and in vivo in critical-sized calvarial bone defects in transgenic Sprague-Dawley rats. A microscopic examination revealed that the pores appeared to be interconnected across the material, making them suitable for cell growth. The creep recovery behavior of porous polyethylene at different loads indicated that the creep strain had two main portions. In both portions, strain increased with increased applied load and temperature. In terms of the thermographic behavior of the material, remarkable changes in melting temperature and heat fusion were revealed with increased the heating rates. The tensile strength results showed that the material was sensitive to the strain rate and that there was adequate mechanical strength to support cell growth. The in vitro cell culture results showed that human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells attached to the porous polyethylene scaffold. Calcium sulfate–hydroxyapatite (CS–HA) coating of the scaffold not only improved attachment but also increased the proliferation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. In vivo, histological analysis showed that the study groups had active bone remodeling at the border of the defect. Bone regeneration at the border was also evident, which confirmed that the polyethylene acted as an osteoconductive bone graft. Furthermore, bone formation inside the pores of the coated polyethylene was also noted, which would enhance the process of osteointegration

Knowledge and practices regarding anaphylaxis management in children and adolescents among teachers in KSA

Introduction: Anaphylaxis is a common emergency and a serious allergic reaction that can be life threatening.  School going children are prone to many allergic reactions and  the knowledge and practices of teachers regarding these reactions and their management is poor. The literature is scarce regarding the school teachers’ awareness of anaphylaxis in KSA, therefore this study was undertaken to assess the awareness of anaphylaxis among teachers in Saudi Arabia and to assess their knowledge and practices  in anaphylaxis management among school going children.Material and Methods: This six month cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected Saudi teachers working in different regions of the Kingdom. The knowledge and attitude about their role in anaphylaxis management among students was assessed. Data was collected through self-administered electronic questionnaires and analyzed by using SPSS software version 22.0.Results: Out of 384 Saudi teachers the majority was middle aged and was women. Nearly 26.8% of the respondents had witnessed a student suffering from anaphylaxis. Majority (60.9%) of teachers hadn’t any awareness about anaphylaxis. In terms of the first administered drug in case of anaphylaxis, 25.3% teachers reported that they would use an antihistamine, whereas 16.4% reported that they would use epinephrine injection. Majority of the teachers (77.3%) did not know the proper route of epinephrine administration, which is intramuscular injection. Only 15.4% teachers had knowledge of epinephrine as a medication and 37.2% were aware of the administration method of self‑injection using an Epinephrine. Furthermore, 17.4% informed that there was an action plan in their  school in cases of anaphylaxis, and 11.7% reported that their school had an first aid medicine in case of an anaphylactic reaction.Conclusion: The knowledge and practices of Saudi teachers regarding anaphylactic reactions need to be strengthened. Teachers need further education regarding the management of allergic reactions encountered among student

Integrating Pharmacological and Computational Approaches for the Phytochemical Analysis of <em>Syzygium cumini</em> and Its Anti-Diabetic Potential

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease caused by improper insulin secretion leading to hyperglycemia. Syzygium cumini has excellent therapeutic properties due to its high levels of phytochemicals. The current research aimed to evaluate the anti-diabetic potential of S. cumini plant’s seeds and the top two phytochemicals (kaempferol and gallic acid) were selected for further analysis. These phytochemicals were selected via computational tools and evaluated for α-Glucosidase inhibitory activity via enzymatic assay. Gallic acid (IC50 0.37 µM) and kaempferol (IC50 0.87 µM) have shown a stronger α-glucosidase inhibitory capacity than acarbose (5.26 µM). In addition, these phytochemicals demonstrated the highest binding energy, hydrogen bonding, protein–ligand interaction and the best MD simulation results at 100 ns compared to acarbose. Furthermore, the ADMET properties of gallic acid and kaempferol also fulfilled the safety criteria. Thus, it was concluded that S. cumini could potentially be used to treat DM. The potential bioactive molecules identified in this study (kaempferol and gallic acid) may be used as lead drugs against diabetes