The Impact of Spatial Design on the Learning Process and Students' Socialisation: A study of secondary schools within the UK

The last century has witnessed an evolution in our understanding of learning from being a spoon-feeding process towards a process based on the ability of the human mind to receive information, construct knowledge and gain understand according to the learner’s perceptions (Brown, 2004). However, the spatial relation between the learning process and the physical environment is less well understood. This research attempts to focus on learning in schools, while aiming to understand the spatial impact of the building design on the students’ learning process. The academic life of students inside the school premises is deeply entangled with social patterns. Consequently, the research considers the spatial dimension of both learning and socialisation of the students. Nine secondary schools in the UK are presented as a comparative case study based on quantitative analysis of the school buildings. Space syntax analysis is the key criterion of evaluation, supported by studying the organisation of various spatial components (circulation, courtyards, social and learning spaces). The research highlights the important role of the spatial design and configuration. The paper explains the spatial potential within the school building design that is argued to stimulate the students’ socialisation patterns. Moreover, it unveils the potential within the spaces that contributes to students’ learning, while focusing on how the design of the learning spaces and their layouts could accommodate the learning process inside the school. The results of studying the nine school buildings show that there is a moderately strong correlation between the syntactic measure utilised in the analysis (Visual Mean Depth) and the performance of the students within each school. The study proposes that the configurational analysis should become part of the original school design process to help understand the possibilities of the students’ social activities and mixing patterns. Additionally, it is concluded that learning spaces should be designed to afford various learning formats, not to be limited to the typical classroom layout

Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: the search for universal health coverage

The crisis in Syria has forced more than 4 million people to find refuge outside Syria. In Lebanon, in 2015, the refugee population represented 30 % of the total population. International health assistance has been provided to refugee populations in Lebanon. However, the current humanitarian system has also contributed to increase fragmentation of the Lebanese health system. Ensuring universal health coverage to vulnerable Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian refugees will require in Lebanon to redistribute the key functions and responsibilities of the Ministry of Health and its partners to generate more coherence and efficiency

Blood cholinesterase activities and oxidative stress status among farmworkers using pesticides in Duhok, KRG, Iraq

Background: The use of pesticides by farmworkers poses considerable health risks. This study was undertaken to examine plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activities, plasma oxidative biomarkers malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant status (TAS) among farmworkers using different pesticide products in Duhok, northern of Iraq. Methods: This is a case-control study conducted between November 2021 to July 2022 on 92 male farmworkers who were exposed to pesticides in comparison with 44 non-exposed male subjects (control). The availability and uses of pesticides were obtained from 19 agrochemical shops and the farmworkers exposed to pesticides. Demographic data of pesticide-exposed farmworkers and their practice of pesticide applications were recorded. Plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activities and plasma MDA and TAS levels were determined in both groups. Results: The farmworkers had a significant 10.0% increase in plasma MDA level, with no significant changes in blood cholinesterase activities or the TAS level. Odds and risk ratios of reduced plasma cholinesterase activity (20.0%) suggested an association of health risks in pesticide-exposed farmworkers. Most of the pesticide products (278) in use were insecticides (47.0%), which comprised mainly 26.0% pyrethroids and 3.0-7.0% anticholinesterase insecticides, among others. The majority of the farmworkers (51%) were merely aware of the general target use of the pesticide, and 75% had an exposure history of > 5 years. Pesticide application was mostly (50.0%) manual, and 54.0% used insufficient personal protection equipment; 32.0% ate and drank at work, 48.0% practiced disposal of empty pesticide containers by burning and/or burying them, whereas 25.0% dumped the containers indiscriminately, and 25% disposed them at garbage sites openly. Conclusion: The farmworkers, with only a marginal increase in oxidative stress biomarker MDA, did not suffer from significant reductions in blood cholinesterase activities, although odds and risk ratios of reduced plasma cholinesterase activity suggested a health risk. Implementation of a national program is needed to measure pre-exposure blood cholinesterase activities in farmworkers

Utjecaj statina na ponašanje pilića u farmakološkom testu sa ksilazin-ketaminom i karbarilom

Statins are known to affect brain function in a manner not related to their dyslipidemic effects. The purpose of the present study was to assess the behavioral response of a chick model (7-14 days old) after single treatments with the statins atorvastatin, fluvastatin or simvastatin at 100 mg/kg, orally, to a pharmacological challenge with an anesthetic regimen of xylazine (5 mg/kg)-ketamine (20 mg/kg), intramuscularly, and a toxicological challenge with the reversible cholinesterase inhibiting insecticide carbaryl (250 mg/kg, orally). Only simvastatin significantly reduced the duration of xylazine-ketamine anesthesia by 47%. Carbaryl at 250 mg/kg, orally induced signs of cholinergic poisoning (57.1 - 100%) in chicks within 3.14 min, and 57.1% death occurred within 85 min. Toxicological challenge of statin-treated chicks with carbaryl also induced signs of cholinergic poisoning, but with varying percentages of reductions compared to the control (carbaryl) group. The reductions in 4 h carbaryl-induced lethality in chicks pre-treated with atorvastatin, fluvastatin and simvastatin were 43, 57 and 29%, respectively, below that of the control value. Correspondingly, their toxicity scores decreased by 18, 18 and 11%, respectively. These data suggest that statins might modulate the functional status of the brain in a manner that affects the impact of centrally acting drugs or toxicants, and hence the behavioral outcomes in chicks. Further studies are warranted on the behavioral effects of statins after prolonged therapy.Poznato je da statini utječu na moždanu funkciju na način koji nije povezan s dislipidemijskim učincima. Svrha ovog istraživanja bila je procijeniti bihevioralni odgovor pilića (starih 7 - 14 dana) nakon liječenja statinima atorvastatinom, fluvastatinom i simvastatinom u dozi od 100 mg/kg, peroralno. Za procjenu su korištena 2 testa: farmakološki test primijenjen s kombinacijom anestetika ksilazina (5 mg/kg) i ketamina (20 mg/kg), apliciranih intramuskularno, i toksikološki test s reverzibilnim inhibitorom kolinesteraze, insekticidom karbarilom (250 mg/kg, peroralno). Samo je simvastatin znakovito skratio trajanje anestezije inducirane ksilazin-ketaminom za 47 %. Karbaril u dozi od 250 mg/kg, primijenjen peroralno, izazvao je znakove kolinergičkog otrovanja (57,1 – 100%) u pilića unutar 3,14 minuta i smrt u 57,1% pilića unutar 85 minuta. Toksikološki test s karbarilom u pilića liječenih statinima također je izazvao znakove kolinergičkog otrovanja, ali s različitim postocima smanjenja u usporedbi s kontrolnom (karbaril) skupinom. Smanjenje smrtnosti uzrokovane karbarilom unutar četiri sata u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu iznosilo je 43% u pilića liječenih atorvastatinom, 57% u pilića liječenih fluvastatinom i 29% u pilića liječenih simvastatinom. Sukladno tome, toksičnost je smanjena za 18%, 18% i 11%. Ovi podaci upućuju na to da statini mogu modulirati funkcionalno stanje mozga utječući na učinak lijekova koji djeluju centralno ili toksikanata, te time i na ponašanje pilića. Potrebna su daljnja istraživanja učinaka statina na bihevioralni odgovor pilića nakon produljene terapije

Metoclopramide-induced central nervous system depression in the chicken

BACKGROUND: Metoclopramide is a dopamine D2-receptor antagonist used as an antiemetic and gastroprokinetic agent in man and animals. The drug causes sedation as a side effect in man. Such a sedative action of metoclopramide has not been documented in the chicken as the drug is not used clinically in this species. The present study examines the central nervous system depressant effects of metoclopramide in 7–14 days old broiler chicks. RESULTS: Injection of metoclopramide at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, subcutaneously (s.c.) induced sedation in the chicks in a dose dependent manner. The chicks manifested, within 3.6–19 minutes of metoclopramide injection, signs of sedation characterized by drooping of the head and wings, closed eyelids, reduced motility and decreased distress calls. The duration of sedation ranged between 37.2 to 163.4 minutes. Metoclopramide at 100 and 200 mg/kg induced, within 12.2 and 6.2 minutes, sleep (loss of righting reflex) for 43.8 and 158.6 minutes, respectively. The median effective doses of metoclopramide for induction of sedation and sleep in the chicks were 11 and 53 mg/kg, s.c., respectively. Lower doses of metoclopramide (5 and 10 mg/kg, s.c.) significantly decreased the open-field activity of the chicks and increased the durations of their tonic immobility. All treated-chicks recovered from the central nervous system depressant effect of metoclopramide without any observable adverse effects. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that metoclopramide induces central nervous system depression in chicks, and the drug could have potential clinical applications as a sedative-hypnotic agent in avian species not intended for human consumptions

Qualité physico-chimique et contamination métallique des eaux de l’Oued Hassar : impacts des eaux usées de la localité de Mediouna (Périurbain de Casablanca, Maroc)

Une des préoccupations majeures du début du XXIe siècle est la pérennité d’une ressource en eau suffisante pour satisfaire les besoins d’une  population en forte croissance dans un contexte mondial marqué par lechangement climatique et ses conséquences hydrologiques. Cette  problématique ne se limite pas à la quantité des ressources en eau, mais porte également sur leur qualité qu’il faut aujourd’hui plus que jamais bien gérer. Les activités industrielles, agricoles ou urbaines peuvent modifier la qualité des eaux et les rendre impropres à l’utilisation. C’est le cas de la zone périurbaine du Nord Est du grand Casablanca (Province de Mediouna), où le cours d’eau d’Oued Hassar reçoit, à ciel ouvert, les rejets d’eaux usées de Mediouna dont les impacts écologiques et sanitaires sont multiples. Les résultats des analyses physico-chimiques montrent que les eaux de ce cours d’eau sont caractérisées par une minéralisation  importante comme l’indiquent les valeurs élevées de la conductivité  électrique et des chlorures. De même, ces eaux présentent une pollution importante confirmée par les valeurs élevées de la DCO, le phosphore total et l’azote ammoniacal. En ce qui concerne les métaux lourds (Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Fe et Zn), l’analyse des résultats montre que les concentrations en éléments traces dans les eaux usées de Mediouna et de celles d’oued Hassar ne constituent pas un facteur limitant pour la réutilisation de ces eaux dans l’irrigation.Mots-clés : Casablanca, Oued Hassar, eaux usées, pollution, physicochimie, métaux lourds

Study of urinary leukotriene E4 in atopic dermatitis: relation to disease severity

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease prevalent in patients with a personal or family history of atopy. Cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTs) are inflammatory mediators which play a role in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases. Urinary leukotriene E4 (LTE4) has been used as an index of the whole body cysteinyl LTs production. Objective: This study was meant to evaluate the importance of LTs in atopic dermatitis (AD) and to study the correlation of urinary LTE4 with disease severity and some commonly altered parameters in AD. Methods: The study included 30 children and adolescents diagnosed to have atopic dermatitis. Ten age and sex matched healthy children and adolescents were enrolled for comparison. They were subjected to clinical evaluation and measurement of urinary LTE4, absolute eosinophilic count, serum IgE and IL-4 and IL-5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture (PBMC) supernatant. The patients were categorized into mild (n=5), moderate (n=16) and severe (n=9) AD subgroups. Results: The study revealed a significant increase in absolute eosinophilic count, urinary LTE4, serum IgE and IL-4 and IL-5 in PBMC culture supernatant in the patients as compared to controls. Moreover, urinary LTE4 levels were significantly increased in moderate and severe cases of AD as compared to the control group, whereas mild cases had levels that were comparable to the controls. Urinary LTE4 levels were higher in severe (p < 0.01) and moderate cases (p < 0.05) when compared to mild cases. Significant positive correlations could be elicited between urinary LTE4 and PBMC IL-4, disease severity scale, absolute eosinophilic count and serum total IgE. However, urinary LTE4 could not be correlated statistically with PBMC IL-5. Conclusion: Elevation in urinary LTE4 excretion in AD patients was demonstrated reflecting increased production of cysteinyl LTs. Urinary LTE4 was correlated to clinical and laboratory markers of severity suggesting that it could be an easy, non invasive and objective prognostic test in AD. Trials of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors and LT receptor antagonists as additional lines of therapy in AD could thus be suggested.Keywords: atopic dermatitis, urinary LTE4, IgE, IL-4, IL-5, eosinophilic countEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2003; 1(2): 134-

Monitoring the Vegetation and Water Content of Al-Hammar Marsh Using Remote Sensing Techniques

The object of the presented study was to monitor the changes that had happened in the main features (water, vegetation, and soil) of Al-Hammar Marsh region. To fulfill this goal, different satellite images had been used in different times, MSS 1973, TM 1990, ETM+ 2000, 2002, and MODIS 2009, 2010. A new technique of the unsupervised classification called (Color Extracting Technique) was used to classify the satellite images. MATLAP programming used the technique and separated Al-Hammar Marsh from other water features (rivers, irrigated lands, etc.) when calculated the changes in the water content of the study region. ArcGIS 9.3 (arcMAP, arcToolbox) were used to achieve this work and calculate area of each class

Localization Provision in New Zealand: Arabic Speakers' Preference for Different Paralingual Webpage Layouts.

This research is designed to test Arabic speakers’ preference for different paralingual webpage layouts to assist newcomers to New Zealand such as international students,refugees and immigrants who have inadequate English language proficiency to access vital information available on governmental websites. Paralingual is coined from the prefix ‘Para’ (which means side by side or together in Greek), and ‘lingual’ meaning language such as in bilingual (grasp of two languages). Mixed and triangulation methods were used to collect data consisting of an online websurvey; an eye tracking experiment; and participants’ interviews. The results show: a) That the mainstreams of Arabic speakers prefer English text on the left and the Arabic translation on the right as a paralingual webpage layout; b) That inadequate English language proficiency discourages Arabic speaking newcomers from accessing governmental websites; c) That paralingual web design could be used as an educational tool; d) That paralingual web design is easier to read; and e) That paralingual web design increases trust in the government. There have been limitations such as the participation of refugees and immigrants in the eye tracking experiment and the participants’ interviews. There have been recommendations such as the use of paralingual web design in governmental websites for maternity and medical health

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF PROCHLORPERAZINE MALEATE SUSTAINED RELEASE FLOATING TABLET

Objective: The objective of this study was to formulate once daily sustained oral release floating tablet of prochlorperazine maleate, this floating tablet has many advantages like reduction in dosing frequency, increase bioavailability, enhance patient compliance, and improve drug solubility.Methods: The prochlorperazine maleate floating tablets were formulated by using hydrophilic swellable polymer and gas generating agent. In this study, 15 formulas were prepared with many variables in order to achieve an optimum dissolution and floating behaviour for the floating tablet. The all prepared formulas were tested for bulk density, tap density, angle of repose, Carr's Index, thickness, weight variation, hardness, friability, drug content, in vitro dissolution test, in vitro buoyancy, and swelling index.Results: Formula (F2) that contain 55% (w/w) hydroxypropyl methylcellulose k4M (HPMCK4M), 5 % (w/w) sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) have acceptable flow properties and compressibility index and good physical properties with floating lag time (16±0.57) seconds and total floating time (32±0.29) h with 100% release of prochlorperazine maleate at the end of 24 h. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study of optimum formula (F2) showed no chemical interaction between the drug and the excipients that used in the formula.Conclusion: It can be concluded that that the selected formula (F2) can be a promising formula for the preparation of gastro retentive floating drug delivery systems of prochlorperazine maleate