Jordanian Adolescent Cannabis Use: Patterns, Risks, And Protective Factors

ABSTRACT JORDANIAN ADOLESCENT CANNABIS USE: PATTERNS, RISKS, AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS by SUKAINA ALZYOUD Month, 2010 Advisor: Dr. Stephanie Schim Major: Nursing Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Background: Cannabis is considered to be the most commonly used substances worldwide. Its use is not only common among adolescents but is increasing in developing countries such as Jordan. Cannabis use among adolescents has been linked to unintentional injuries, physical fights, academic problems, and illegal behavior such as driving under the influence. Studies of cannabis use patterns, risks, and protective factors are limited in developing countries. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the patterns, risks, and protective factors for cannabis use among Jordanian adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive/correlational survey design was used to assess the patterns among Jordanian adolescents 13-18 years of age drawn from Zarka Governorate in Jordan. Zarka Governorate is located at the central region of Jordan and is home to 15% of the total Jordanian population. Sample size was estimated using a 95% confidence interval for p that is expected to be about 50% (0.50). The final sample was 384 Jordanian students who attend public schools and participated in the study. These participants were recruited using simple random sampling from three grades (8th, 10th, &12th). Following permission from the Jordanian Ministry of Education and Wayne State University IRB, participant assent, and parental consent for those less than 18 years of age, students were asked to complete an Arabic version of the POSIT, CAST, AKABSU questionnaires. Reliability & validity was confirmed for the Arabic version of study measures used with adolescents participants. Results: An 11.7% of Jordanian adolescents reported using cannabis. Male Jordanian adolescents were more likely to use cannabis than females. Living in a single-parent household, and association with cannabis using friends were among the significant associated risk factors of adolescents cannabis use. Gender, father cannabis user, and educational status were among the strong predictors of adolescents cannabis use. Adolescent\u27s positive attitudes and beliefs were predictors of adolescents cannabis use. Implications: This study is the next critical step towards establishing a base line data of Jordanian adolescent\u27s health risk behaviors. Developing prevention programs directed to adolescents, families, and at-risk populations

Work engagement amongst academics in Jordan

This study examined the direct relationship between workload, work pressure, autonomy, social support, performance feedback and work engagement. The study also investigated the mediating effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between workload, work pressure, autonomy, social support, performance feedback and work engagement. Finally, the study examined the moderating effect of trust on the relationship between job satisfaction and work engagement. A total of 700 questionnaires were personally distributed to respondents from four universities in Jordan (Mu’tah University, The University of Jordan, The Hashemite University and Yarmouk University) after permission was granted by the university management. Out of the 700 questionnaires distributed, 567 questionnaires were returned, representing a response rate of 81%. However, only 532 questionnaires were usable for further analysis. The hypotheses for direct and mediating effect were tested using multiple regression analyses, and the hypotheses for interacting effect were tested using hierarchical multiple regression. The results for direct relationship showed that workload and work pressure were negatively related to work engagement and job satisfaction, while, autonomy, social support and performance feedback were positively related to work engagement and job satisfaction. The results also showed that job satisfaction was positively related to work engagement. Meanwhile, the findings for mediating effect showed that job satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between workload, work pressure, autonomy, social support, performance feedback and work engagement. Furthermore,the results from hierarchical multiple regressions showed that trust quasi moderated the relationship between job satisfaction and work engagement. The research results reported in this study suggest the need for autonomy, social support and performance feedback to enhance academics’ work engagement and satisfaction, whereas, too much workload and work pressure will decrease academic’s work engagement and satisfaction. Apart from that, the university management also need to consider the role of job satisfaction and trust when planning for enhancing academics’ work engagement

Response Detection of Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer to Clinically Utilised and Novel Treatments by Monitoring Phospholipid Metabolism

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from Grampian NHS Endowment. The use of Professor Zanda’s and Jaspar’s NMR equipment and Russell Gray’s assistance are also gratefully acknowledged.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The Effect Of Using XCAST Based Routing Protocol in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks.

Wireless ad hoc networks are a type of wireless network that can be easily created without the need of network infrastructure or central administration

Optimizing The MPLS Support For Real Time IPv6-Flows Using MPLS-PHS Approach.

The huge coverage space of IPv6 addresses and providing guaranteed support for the ever increasing customer demand, results in the dealing with bigger packet header-size compared to the payload-size especially in some real time video and audio applications, consequently more bandwidth is wasting

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: APPLICATION CASE FROM THE MIDDLE EAST

Universities represent a vital body part of any societies. Universities nowadays are faced with new environment and challenges that necessitate the need to be independent from governmental and state support. The changing environment in which universities function and the challenges that higher education has been facing were identified as: mass expansion of higher education; decrease of state expenditure and support for universities; diversification of financial resources; internationalization; commercialization; changes brought by IC&T development, the adaptation of curricula to accommodate and capitalize on labour market requirements. These changes and challenges will have their impact on the quality of education, university autonomy, academic freedom, its changing focus and responsibilities towards society. This highlight that universities are moving toward corporatization which calls for them to be a good corporate citizen and the best approach for universities to achieve that is by adapting the concept of Social Responsibility. This paper aims to discuss how universities could achieve development, sustainability, and competitiveness through applying University social Responsibility USR concepts. Also this paper will present the case of The Hashemite University as a socially responsible university. In conclusion applying social responsibility to universities will help them facing the rapidly changing environment and challenges. University social responsibility can be used effectively by universities as presented in the case of Hashemite University to ensure development and sustainability for the university and society

Severe loss-of-function mutations in the adrenocorticotropin receptor (ACTHR, MC2R) can be found in patients diagnosed with salt-losing adrenal hypoplasia

Objective: Familial glucocorticoid deficiency type I (FGD1) is a rare form of primary adrenal insufficiency resulting from recessive mutations in the ACTH receptor (MC2R, MC2R). Individuals with this condition typically present in infancy or childhood with signs and symptoms of cortisol insufficiency, but disturbances in the renin-angiotensin system, aldosterone synthesis or sodium homeostasis are not a well-documented association of FGD1. As ACTH stimulation has been shown to stimulate aldosterone release in normal controls, and other causes of hyponatraemia can occur in children with cortisol deficiency, we investigated whether MC2R changes might be identified in children with primary adrenal failure who were being treated for mineralocorticoid insufficiency. Design: Mutational analysis of MC2R by direct sequencing. Patients: Children (n = 22) who had been diagnosed with salt-losing forms of adrenal hypoplasia (19 isolated cases, 3 familial), and who were negative for mutations in DAX1 (NR0B1) and SF1 (NR5A1). Results: MC2R mutations were found in three individuals or kindred (I: homozygous S74I; II: novel compound heterozygous R146H/560delT; III: novel homozygous 579-581delTGT). These changes represent severely disruptive loss-of-function mutations in this G-protein coupled receptor, including the first reported homozygous frameshift mutation. The apparent disturbances in sodium homeostasis were mild, manifest at times of stress (e.g. infection, salt-restriction, heat), and likely resolved with time. Conclusions: MC2R mutations should be considered in children who have primary adrenal failure with apparent mild disturbances in renin-sodium homeostasis. These children may have been misdiagnosed as having salt-losing adrenal hypoplasia. Making this diagnosis has important implications for treatment, counselling and long-term prognosi

Psychological safety and employee innovation in four- and five-star hotels in the UK

In the current turbulent and highly competitive environment, hotels’ management are under pressure to be innovative and improve their products and services continuously to meet and exceed guests’ expectations. Past studies have pointed to the importance of employee innovation in enhancing hotels’ service quality, customers’ satisfaction, hotels’ operations and financial performance. However, innovation activities such as proposing new ideas or trying different work procedures may involve uncertainty and risk; thus, it is crucial to understand what makes employees feel safe, also referred to in the literature as psychological safety, and encouraged to engage in the innovation. In order to achieve this aim, a mixed-methods approach is adopted that integrates both qualitative and quantitative methods. Five semi-structured interviews were undertaken with heads of department from four- and five-star hotels in Manchester to explore what encourages employee psychological safety and employee innovation in the hotel industry, from the management’s perspective. Based on the results from the interviews and in light of the literature, a conceptual model was developed and tested using quantitative methods in the second phase of the study. A survey questionnaire was constructed and distributed to employees in the UK four- and five-star hotels in which 105 samples were used to test the model. Structural equation modelling analysis was used to test the research’s model and hypotheses. The study found that psychological safety is associated positively with employee innovation. Furthermore, leader inclusiveness, respectful relationships amongst staff in the hotel and autonomy were found to be related to psychological safety. Leader inclusiveness and role clarity were found to be correlated with autonomy, whereas respectful relationships and autonomy are also associated with proactive personality. Furthermore, proactive personality was found to be related to employee innovation directly. Building on knowledge and understanding of these factors can help hotels’ management to cultivate and encourage innovative behaviour by their employees, which, in turn, can enhance service quality and hotels’ performance. This thesis provides an original model that explains the mechanism of how employee innovation can be motivated through the mediation of psychological safety, which is a neglected construct in the hospitality industry

The Functions And Linguistic Analysis Of Metaphor In The Holy Qur’an

The paper aims to tackle the function of metaphor in the Qur’an within the theoretical framework put forward by Lakoff & Turner (1989). This theory is known as the Cognitive Theory of Metaphor. It shows how the Qur’an is structured around the idea of the variety of meaning of lexical items, and how every correspondence between the two domains of “literal” and “non-literal” can fit into it. However, such an application of cognitive semantic approach can provide valuable insights. These insights enhance the overall aim of this paper which is to prove the linguistic creativity of the Qur'an through applying the cognitive theory of metaphor. This paper outlines the basis from which the Qur'an should be considered not only as a book of religious teachings, but also as a linguistic miracle for Arabs (Elsharif, 2011). The structure of this paper is presented as follows. First, we introduce the theoretical background and arguments of this study. Afterwards, we underline the significance of this study and its contribution to the field. In the following section, we present the definition and function of metaphor. Next, we embark on the linguistic analysis of metaphor in the holy Qur’an, metaphorical language and its use in discourse, and metaphor and Islamic religious discourse. Finally, we end the essay with a concluding paragraph