Educational Leaders’ Attempts at Holding the Fort: A Transformative Endeavor in Lebanon

Despite its small size, Lebanon has had its fair share of nationwide turbulences that further instigated conflict and instability among the Lebanese population. The crises have weighed heavily on the educational system in Lebanon and has impeded its operations on many fronts. However, educational leaders have attempted to adopt transformative practices in addressing the anticipated and unanticipated challenges. Educational leaders in Lebanon have learned to perceive that ‘the only constant is change,’ and have come to realize and acknowledge that their goals of enhancing educational experiences remain the same but the paths to achieve these goals are nonlinear

Transformational Leaders’ Idealized Influence: A Communicative Approach to Leadership in Lebanon’s IB World Schools

Purpose: This study sought to examine whether teachers' communication strategies reveal leadership qualities put forth by Burns (1978) and whether students could embody these strategies as a means of revealing comparable leadership traits under the guise of learning leadership through social constructs, primarily communication. Methods: The study follows a mixed-method approach, incorporating data collection tools that are quantitative (surveys) and qualitative (observations and interviews). Survey items included leadership traits as well as verbal and nonverbal communication moves. Observations recorded speech acts and nonverbal cues and yielded an interpreted leadership trait. They also included the physical aspects of the classroom proposed by Galloway (1969). Interview questions were thematically constructed addressed Burns’ (1978) transformational leadership characteristics. Findings: The study reveals that effective teacher-student interactions have a positive effect on the development of leadership qualities. Practical Implications: The data analyzed do not allow for an irrefutable connection between the manifested teacher leader language and its impact on student acquisition of leadership traits. Nonetheless, it is promising in certain aspects. Originality/Value: Through observations, interviews, and questionnaires, the investigated data do not support a conclusive link between teacher leader language and the development of leadershi

Parafoveal OCT Angiography Features in Diabetic Patients without Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

Purpose. To evaluate the capacity of OCT angiography (OCTA) for detecting infraclinical lesions in parafoveal capillaries in diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods. This prospective observational cross-sectional case-control study analyzed the superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP and DCP) on macular OCTA scans (3 × 3 mm) centered on the fovea. We compared 22 diabetic patients (34 eyes included) without DR diagnosis on color fundus photographs, with 22 age- and gender-matched nondiabetic controls (40 eyes included). Qualitative analysis concerned morphological ischemic capillary alterations. Quantitative analysis measured foveal avascular zone (FAZ) size, parafoveal capillary density, and enlargement coefficient of FAZ between SCP and DCP. Results. Neither the qualitative nor quantitative parameters were significantly different between both groups. No microaneurysms or venous tortuosity was observed in any of the analyzed images. On the SCP, the mean FAZ area was 0.322 ± 0.125 mm2 in diabetic patients and 0.285 ± 0.150 mm2 in controls, P=0.31. On the DCP, the mean FAZ area was 0.444 ± 0.153 mm2 in cases and 0.398 ± 0.138 mm2 in controls, P=0.20. Conclusion. OCTA did not detect infraclinical qualitative or quantitative differences in parafoveal capillaries of diabetic patients without DR in comparison with nondiabetic controls

The Effect of Bevel on Fracture Resistance of GIC Restorations in Primary Molars: In Vitro Study Rôle du Biseau dans la Résistance à la Fracture des Restaurations aux Ciments Verres-Ionomères des Molaires Temporaires : Étude In Vitro

Background: Glass ionomer cements (GICs) are commonly used for restorations in primary molars due to their adhesive, hydrophilic, and bioactive properties. However, their low mechanical resistance may limit their use in proximal cavities. Recent advancements in GICs, such as the high viscosity GIC EQUIA Forte®, have improved their mechanical properties. The effect of a Cavo superficial bevel on the mechanical strength of GIC restorations has been previously studied. Objectives: To investigate the effect of a Cavo superficial bevel on fracture resistance and the type of fracture (adhesive, cohesive, or catastrophic) in EQUIA Forte® GIC restorations in primary molars. Methods: 56 standardized proximal cavities were created on 51 temporary molars. The cavities were randomly divided into two groups: group I without a Cavo superficial bevel (n=28) and group II with a 45° Cavo superficial bevel (n=28). The cavities were restored with EQUIA Forte®. The samples were subjected to thermocycling and artificial aging, then, an axial speed loading of 1 mm/min was applied until fracture. Fracture toughness was recorded, and the type of fracture was observed under an optical microscope. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the average fracture resistance between the groups. All tests were two-tailed and the level of significance was set at 5%. Results: The average fracture resistance for group I was (237.57 ± 139.97 N) and for group II was (294.89 ± 171.07 N). There was no statistically significant difference in fracture resistance between the two groups (p\u3e0.05). Mixed fractures were observed in all samples, with adhesive fractures only present in group I and cohesive fractures only present in group II. Conclusion: The Cavo superficial bevel does not significantly affect the fracture resistance of GIC restorations in primary molars. However, the bevel design may prevent adhesive and catastrophic fractures. Contexte : Les ciments verres-Ionomères (CVI) sont couramment utilisés pour les restaurations des molaires temporaires grâce à leurs propriétés adhésives, hydrophiles et bioactives. Cependant, leur faible résistance mécanique limite leur utilisation dans les cavités proximales. Avec les récents progrès de cette classe de matériaux, un CVI à haute viscosité a été introduit : EQUIA Forte®, visant à améliorer leurs propriétés mécaniques. Le rôle du biseau cavo-superficiel sur la résistance mécanique des restaurations au CVI a déjà été étudié. Objectifs : Tester le rôle du biseau dans l’amélioration de la résistance à la fracture et d’étudier la nature du trait de fracture adhésif, cohésif, ou catastrophique des restaurations aux CVI EQUIA Forte® des molaires temporaires. Méthodes : 56 cavités proximales standardisées ont été réalisées sur 51 molaires temporaires. Ces cavités ont été divisées aléatoirement en deux groupes : groupe I sans biseau cavo-superficiel (n=28) et groupe II avec biseau cavo-superficiel de 45° (n=28). Les cavités ont été restaurées par EQUIA Forte®. Les échantillons ont été soumis à un thermocyclage et à un vieillissement artificiel, puis une vitesse axiale de chargement de 1 mm/min a été appliquée jusqu\u27à la fracture. La résistance à la fracture a été enregistrée et le type de fracture a été observé au microscope optique. Le test de Mann-Whitney U a été utilisé pour comparer la résistance moyenne à la fracture entre les groupes. Tous les tests étaient bilatéraux et le niveau de signification a été fixé à 5 %. Résultats : La résistance moyenne à la fracture pour le groupe I était de (237,57 ± 139,97 N) et pour le groupe II était de (294,89 ± 171,07 N). Il n\u27y avait pas de différence statistiquement significative en termes de résistance à la fracture entre les deux groupes (p \u3e 0,05). Cependant, des fractures mixtes ont été observées dans tous les échantillons, les fractures adhésives étant uniquement présentes dans le groupe I et les fractures cohésives présentes uniquement dans le groupe II. Conclusion : Le biseau cavo-superficiel n\u27influence pas de manière significative la résistance à la fracture des restaurations CVI des molaires temporaires. Cependant, il s’est avéré que la conception du biseau empêche les fractures adhésives et catastrophiques d’avoir lieu. Mots clés : Biseau, CVI, Classe II, Molaires Temporaires, Restauration, Type de fractur

Proapoptotic genes BAX and CD40L are predictors of survival in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of expression of a range of genes involved in apoptosis on outcome in bladder cancer. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine expression of BCL2, BAX, P53, CD40 and CD40L in archival tissues of patients included in various treatment trials for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. Data were collected on 94 patients who first presented with either invasive or superficial bladder cancer. Median follow-up for alive patients was 83 months (m) (range 12-195 m). Median survival was 80 m (95% CI=56-128 m). Median survivals for the various markers were as follows: BAX-positive patients 110 m vs BAX-negative patients 18 m (P=0.0002); CD40L-positive patients 95 m vs CD40L-negative patients 45 m (P=0.04); BCL2-positive patients 44 m and BCL2-negative patients 74 m, (P=0.64); CD40-positive patients 110 m and CD40 negative patients 45 m (P=0.12); and P53 positive patients 80 m and P53 negative patients 45 m (P=0.58). In conclusion, it was seen that overexpressions of BAX and CD40L are prognostic of better survival in TCC of the bladder. Our results also raise the possibility of the future development of CD40- and CD40 ligand-based immunotherapy for bladder cancer. This study links proapoptotic and antiapoptotic markers to overall survival

Propagation d'ondes acoustiques dans les milieux à forte porosité: application à la caractérisation des matrices poreuses

Thèse de doctorat en Electronique, Université de Valenciennes et du Hainaut-Cambrésis, 14 décembreLe travail présenté dans cette thèse porte essentiellement sur la caractérisation des constantes élastiques de la matrice poreuse d’un milieu poreux à porosité ouverte par ondes ultrasonores. Une étude bibliographique présente une synthèse des travaux réalisés dans ce domaine, plus particulièrement les différents modèles de propagation d’ondes élastiques. Nous introduisons un nouveau formalisme de calcul des coefficients de réflexion et de transmission des ondes élastiques pour les plaques poreuses, ces coefficients étant les seules grandeurs pouvant être mesurés directement. Les modules élastiques complexes de la matrice poreuse peuvent être ensuite obtenus par inversion numérique. Nous avons mis au point une simulation par élément fini d’une expérience de flexion sur ces plaques poreuses afin d’en tirer des constantes élastiques qui sont ensuite utilisées comme valeurs initiales dans l’algorithme d’inversion numérique. Afin de valider la démarche par une approche expérimentale, nous avons réalisé des plaques poreuses d’alumine à porosité ouverte contrôlée. Les résultats obtenus montrent qu’il est possible d’accéder à des caractéristiques élastiques de plaques poreuses au travers d’une mesure ultrasonore.The essential work of this thesis is the characterization of the elastic coefficients of a porous medium using ultrasonic waves. A bibliographic study is presented at the beginning of the thesis summarizing previous works in this domain, particularly about propagation models of elastics waves. Taking into consideration all internal reflected and transmitted waves in the porous medium, we introduce a new formalism of calculus of reflection and transmission coefficients of elastics waves in porous medium being the only coefficient that can be measured directly from experiments. The elastic coefficients are then found by applying a numeric inverse problem method. We used a numerical finite element simulation applied to a porous beam in order to calculate the static values of the elastic constants that will be introduced as initial values in the algorithm in numerical inverse problem. In order to validate our numerical process, we realized different alumina porous media with a controlled porosity. All obtained results show that elastic properties of porous medium can be found using ultrasonic measurement