Modélisation de l'ordre des mots en arabe standard

Journées déroulées du 19 au 23 avril à Fès (Maroc)International audienceThis paper proposes a description of the word order for the verb and its complements in Standard Arabic by postuling the systematic presence of the verb in initial positionCette article propose une description de l'ordre des mots pour le verbe et ses compléments en arabe standard en postulant la présence systématique du verbe en position initial

The political determinants of the Egyptian competition law

During the 1990s, the competition law arena witnessed a huge competition laws adaptation from developing countries creating a fertile soil for scholars and practitioners of competition law to study such a phenomena. The literature mainly corresponds to the inevitable lack of enforcement of such competition legislation within developing countries. In the scholars’ attempt to address the routes of the problem, several arguments have been formed. The most important mainstream arguments focus on two different scale arguments. The first argument focuses on the pre-enactment phase that can be called “the best model”. While the second argument focuses on the post-enactment phase which concentrates its argument on analyzing the “enforcement mechanisms”. The “best model” argument provides two different points of view. The advocates of the first point of view argue that developing countries should transplant the competition law universal norms; in other words, they should transplant Western competition legislation. On the other hand, advocates of the context theory argue that developing countries should seek the contextualization approach that harness such universal/western competition law norms to the developing countries own context. Despite the fact that both “best model” and “enforcement mechanisms” seems to be theoretically different, they are related to each other in one important aspect that seems not to be recognized by the two schools’ advocates. This important fact is the role of “political determinants” of the relevant developing country. This paper focuses on the Egyptian competition law as one of the developing countries. The paper takes a different approach than mainstream literature by emphasizing the “political determinants” within the context of a developing country due to its central and important role in determining both the “best model” to be adopted in the pre-enactment phase and on the enforcement phase as well. In support of this approach, the paper magnifies the role played by “political determinants” as the third dimension that moves everything within the competition law arena, including competition policy, legislation model, and thus enforcement mechanism. The Egyptian case reflects the fact that “political determinants” should be examined more closely as it is one of the main reasons for the enforcement problems faced by developing countries

Active substance from some blue green algal species used as antimicrobial agents

The concept of biological control for health maintenance has received widespread attention during the last few years. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to look for active substances that couldbe used as antimicrobial agents in an efficient and safe manner. To achieve this target, five different extracts (ethyl acetate, chloroform, diethyl ether, methanol and water) from three blue green algalspecies (Anabaena flos aquae (Linnaeus) Bory; Anabaena variabilis (Kützing) and Oscillatoria angustissima West and West) were examined. This different algal extracts were tested in vitro for their antimicrobial effects against eight Gram +ve and Gram -ve bacteria in addition to two groups of fungi (filamentous fungi and yeast) using agar well diffusion method. The results showed that the ethyl acetate extract of A. flos aquae notably inhibited nearly the whole tested bacteria and filamentous fungiwith minimal activity against tested yeasts. Furthermore, a significant reduction in sporulation as well as dry weight of the two filamentous fungi was found with ethyl acetate extracts. The toxicity of ethyl acetate extract to Artemia salina showed that the effective concentration that would inhibit their growth by 50% (LC50) after 24 h of incubation was 17, 41 and 45 mg.ml-1 for A. flos aquae, A. variabilis and O. angustissima, respectively. The antagonistic materials from ethyl acetate extract of differentcyanobacterial species were identified using gas liquid chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The main components of ethyl acetate extract of A. flos aquae consisted of heptadecane and 7-methylheptadecane representing 26.11 and 18.65%, respectively

Exploration of the Risk Factors of Generalized and Central Obesity among Adolescents in North Lebanon

Adolescents’ obesity is an emerging public health problem globally and in the Arab countries. Alarming rates of overweight/obesity have been rising progressively in Lebanon. However, the risk factors for the development of adolescents’ obesity have not yet been thoroughly explored in North Lebanon. To determine the dietary and lifestyle risk factors associated with generalized and central obesity among adolescents living in Tripoli, a cross-sectional survey was conducted including a representative sample of 311 students aged 11–16 years from both sexes chosen from public and private schools in Tripoli. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire to determine sociodemographic characteristics, dietary patterns, and physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Body mass index (BMI) was evaluated using the Center for Disease Control BMI for age percentiles. Central obesity was assessed using both waist-to-height ratio and gender-specific waist circumference for age indices. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that skipping breakfast and physical inactivity were the most significant independent risk factors associated with both generalized and central obesity. In addition, higher screen time and male gender were associated with increased risk for generalized and central obesity, respectively. Intervention strategies to prevent the development of obesity should be implemented among adolescent students to encourage regular breakfast intake and adopting healthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors

CONCEPT MAPPING VERSUS TRADITIONAL TEACHING METHOD ON HEALTH SCIENCES’ STUDENTS’ SCORE

In the recent years, health care systems have been dynamically changing which demanded modifications in health care education. Current educational models are becoming more and more obsolete in enhancing the professional level of both teachers and students. Concepts maps are effective tools in processing large amounts of information, comprehending new concepts, as well as in generating information and amplifying creativity levels. The aim of this study is to compare the concept mapping versus traditional teaching method on Health Sciences’ students’ score. A Quasi-experimental design was implemented in the study. The study revealed that there was a significant difference between learning by traditional method and by concept mapping that can be a predictor of better academic achievement. Concept maps prove to be an efficient teaching-learning method in health sciences education

Tailored treatment strategies for cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemic

The global pandemic of respiratory disease caused by the novel human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has caused indefinite global distress, uncertainty, and disturbance. This pandemic has had direct and indirect impacts for the healthcare systems across the world, but certain subgroups of patients have been particularly affected. Among these groups are patients with cancer, who as a result of their immunosuppressed status either from the disease itself or as a consequence of treatment, are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection and complications. The pandemic has also led to limited resources as medical services have been primarily directed to emergency care. In this context, physicians and healthcare providers have had to balance the importance of continuing treatment of cancer patients with the risk of virus infection.     In this review, we outline the treatment strategies for cancer patients during this pandemic, focusing on tailored treatment in this challenging situation of varying risks and benefits

Health-Related Quality of Life in patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving Sofosbuvir-Based Treatment, with and without Interferon: a prospective observational study in Egypt

Background: The Egyptian government introduced the first directly acting antivirals (DAAs) into Egypt through the government funded National Treatment Program. As yet, there has been no investigation into the effects of these new DAAs therapies on patient reported outcomes (PROs). This study aimed to (1) assess the PROs (health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mental health and perceived social support) of HCV patients receiving DAAs therapy prior, during and at the end of therapy; (2) evaluate PROs of Interferon-free (dual) users versus Interferon-containing (triple) users cross the three different time periods; and (3) identify the predictors of HRQoL of DAAs therapy users cross the three different time periods.  Methods: A prospective observational design was used. Patients with chronic HCV undergoing treatment following the Egyptian National Guidelines at one of the national treatment centers were approached. Data collection occurred in the period from February to October 2015. Data was collected at three time points: (1) baseline (time 0: T0), before initiating therapy); (2) 5/6 weeks after initiation of therapy (time 1 of therapy: T1) and at the end of the therapy (Time 2: T2). Four PROs questionnaires were utilized for data collection: (1) Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), (2) The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), (3) the Liver Disease Symptom Index-2.0 (LDSI-2.0) for testing disease specific HRQoL and (4) the Center for Adherence Support Evaluation (CASE) Index, alongside the background data sheet.  Results: Sixty-two patients participated. There was a change in HRQoL, symptom experience and mental health across the three different time periods. HRQoL was impaired more after starting the course of therapy (T1) than at baseline (T0) and end of therapy (T2), z ≥ -2.04, p ≤ .04. Also, symptom experience deteriorated more during the treatment period than at the baseline, Z ≥ -1.97, p ≤ .04. Anxiety and stress were significantly higher during the treatment period than at the end of treatment. Perceived social support was significantly higher during the treatment period than at baseline and end of therapy, Z ≥ -2.27, p ≤.023. During the course of therapy, triple users were more likely to report poorer HRQoL and anxiety than dual users (p ≤ .04). By the end of therapy, the two arms of therapy had no significant differences in any of the PROs.  At baseline, the predictor model significantly (p=.000) explained 37.5% of the variation in the HRQoL prior to therapy. Depression was the main variable that contributed to (41.3%) predicting change in HRQoL prior to therapy. During therapy, the model significantly (p=.000) explained 76% of the variation in the HRQoL-T1. Stress-T1, body mass index (BMI)-T1 and HRQoL-T0 significantly and respectively predicted 44.4%, 46.5% and 31.1% of the variation in HRQoL-T1. At the end of therapy, the model significantly (p=.000) predicted 80.5% of the variation in the HRQoL-T2. HRQoL-T1 and anxiety-T2 significantly predicted 72.3% and 61.6% of the variation in HRQoL-T2.  Conclusions: Baseline HRQoL, depression and BMI should be systematically assessed before starting the antiviral therapy for early detection and the improvement of the impairment before the initiation of therapy. Anxiety should be frequently assessed and followed up through the course of antiviral therapy. The triple group required more nursing and practitioner attention due to increased anxiety levels and impaired HRQoL during the treatment therapy