Effectiveness of Synchronous Discussions and Video Lectures Modes on Improving Metacognitive Thinking and Life Skills in Online E-Course

The present study aimed to identify the effectiveness of two modes (synchronous discussions and video lectures) on improving metacognitive thinking and life skills in online e-course. The study sample consisted of 80 students, who were divided into two experimental groups were selected purposively, where the first one 45 student studied in simultaneous discussions mode, and the second 35 students studied in video lectures mode. The study tools consisted of the metacognitive thinking test and the life skills scale, which were administered using a pre-and-post design. The study results showed that there were statistically significant differences between the average scores of the two study groups in the post test on the metacognitive thinking test in favor of the first experimental group, while there were no significant differences between the average scores of the two experimental study groups in the post test on the scale of the life skills. Considering this, the study recommended paying attention to the usage of different modes of technologies, which contribute to improving students\u27 skills to keep pace with the requirements of the times. In addition to offering workshops, courses, and seminars for lecturers and students about dealing with synchronous and asynchronous educational technologies

The use of the water extract of Rosa spp petals as a bacterial growth medium

In a pioneer study, simple water extract for the red petals of Rosa spp. was prepared under sterile conditions, then used for the first time as experimental bacterial culture medium for the growth of the bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae; the medium was used as alternative culture medium for the routine culture media (Nutrient agar, MacConkey agar and blood agar) that used for the growth of these genera in the laboratories. All the genera showed active growth after 24 hours when it used directly as a liquid culture medium. The extract was used also to enrich the agar-agar and cultivated with the same bacteria; it showed a noticeable growth. The results suggest that this extract is a suitable culture medium; it could be used instead of the routine culture media that used in the cultivation of these bacteria in the laboratories. It also represents important, rich nutritional medium as those that is used in the routine laboratory work

Design and optimization of microstrip filtering antenna with modified shaped slots and SIR filter to improve the impedance bandwidth

This paper presents a new compact microstrip filtering antenna with modified shaped slots to improve the impedance bandwidth. The proposed microstrip filtering antenna consists of three parts; the monopole radiating patch antenna, the SIR filter, and the feeding microstrip line. The design structure is achieved on one sided glass epoxy FR-4 substrate with dielectric constant ε_r = 4.4 and thickness of h = 1.6 mm. The design procedures of the proposed filtering antenna starts from the second order Chebyshev low pass filter prototype. The simulation results throughout this article are done by a computer simulation technology (CST) software. The simulated results have been achieved show good performance of S11-parameter and broad side antenna gain on +z-direction. This design has two transmission zeros at 5.4 GHz and 7.7 GHz, and bandwidth (B.W) of about 1.66 GHz so; it is suitable for high speed data communication. This design has good skirt selectivity

Prevalence and genetic characterization of clinically relevant extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries

IntroductionAmong Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), Enterobacterales (Enterobacterales), such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), are the most clinically relevant pathogens in healthcare settings. Infections secondary to these pathogens are widely common but multidrug resistance (MDR) in Enterobacterales has become a significant challenge with increased morbidity, mortality, and cost of management. The escalating global prevalence of MDR in Enterobacterales has led to limited treatment options, raising an urgent need for novel antimicrobial therapy(s) and detailed studies exploring underlying resistance mechanisms. In Enterobacterales, the prime antimicrobial resistance mechanism against β-lactam antibiotics is mainly the production of β-lactamases, particularly extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). Although the Gulf region is witnessing major challenges from infections secondary to MDR GNB, the extent of the problem has not been fully evaluated. Therefore, this review aims to address the prevalence and genetic characterization of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.MethodsPubMed® (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA) search was conducted, which looked for academic articles discussing the epidemiology of MDR Enterobacterales in the GCC countries, published in the last 5 years.Results and conclusionsIn GCC countries there is a high prevalence rate of MDR Enterobacterales, particularly ESBLs. Prevalence rates of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales among the Enterobacterales in general clinical samples in the GCC region is 21.6%–29.3%, with a slightly higher prevalence rate in intensive care unit patients (17.3–31.3%) and in patients with urinary tract infections (25.2%–31.7%). ESBL carriers have also been noted in the general community. ESBL-producing Enterobacterales from the GCC region show high levels of resistance to ampicillin, aztreonam, third-/fourth-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Intermediate resistance rates are observed against nitrofurantoin, piperacillin/tazobactam, and gentamicin, with increasing resistance observed against tigecycline. The isolates demonstrate low-level resistance to carbapenems, fosfomycin, colistin, and amikacin. Enterobacterales isolates that are concomitant ESBL producers and are carbapenem resistant have been increasingly reported and demonstrate alarmingly increased antibiotic resistance patterns compared with ESBL Enterobacterales. The most prevalent genes for ESBL resistance in the Enterobacterales isolates in the GCC region are: blaCTX-M (subtype group 1) followed by/co-dominated by blaTEM and blaSHV, whereas the most common carbapenem-resistant genes are blaOXA-48 and blaNDM-1

Psychosocial and emotional well-being of Syrian refugee children and adolescents in Jordan : In-camp versus out-of-camp comparative analysis

There is a notable gap in understanding how different living arrangements influence the psychosocial and emotional well-being of Syrian refugee children and adolescents. Moreover, limited literature exists on the comparison between in-camp and out-of-camp living situations. The aim of this study was to compare the psychosocial and emotional status between camp and non-camp Syrian refugee children and adolescents living in Jordan. A nationwide school survey was conducted in Jordan from December 2022 to April 2023 and targeted children (8–11 years) and adolescents (12–18 years), encompassing Jordanians, Syrians, and Palestinians, both in camps (camp refugees) and urban areas (urban refugees). In this paper, the analysis was limited to Syrian refugees. A total of 1,420 children and 1,249 adolescents were included. Children in camps had higher rates of hyperactivity (12.7% vs 8.3%) and total difficulties (19.3% vs 13.9%) compared to urban dwellers. However, they had lower rates of bedtime problems (12.8% vs 17.0%) and problematic internet use (19.9% vs 34.8%). Camp adolescents had higher rates of separation anxiety disorder (44.0% vs 37.8%) and conduct problems (22.2% vs 15.0%), but lower rates of poor physical functioning (43.3% vs 52.3%) compared to urban adolescents. Adjusted analysis showed lower odds of generalized anxiety disorder (OR=0.59), problematic internet use (OR=0.39), and bedtime problems (OR=0.67) for camp children. However, they had higher odds of emotional symptoms (OR=1.47), hyperactivity (OR=2.08), and overall difficulties (OR=1.50). Camp adolescents had higher odds of overall difficulties (OR=1.49) but lower odds of poor physical functioning (OR=0.67) compared to urban adolescents. In conclusion, children in refugee camps had lower rates of problematic internet use and bedtime issues but higher rates of hyperactivity and overall difficulties than urban children. Similarly, camp adolescents faced more total difficulties but reported better physical functioning than their urban peers. The complex interplay between living conditions and well-being underscores the need for tailored mental health interventions for displaced populations.Peer reviewe

Spectral analysis and bioactive profiling of hot methanolic extracts from Phoenix dactylifera seeds: Antibacterial efficacy and in vitro cytotoxicity insights

Phoenix dactylifera, commonly called date palm, has great importance as a fruiting plant. The hot methanolic extract of date seeds (HMEDSE), was further fractionated into three fractions (F1, F2, and F3) through column chromatography. The three fractions were composed of various bioactive constituents which was analysed through GC-MS and FT-IR analysis. The results revealed remarkable antibacterial properties of crude HMEDSE against various pathogenic microorganisms affecting humans. The spectrum of activity of HMEDSE against various human pathogenic bacteria showed the following sequence based on its efficacy, Escherichia coli (17.6 ± 2.5 mm), Klebsiella pneumoniae (16.3 ± 2.5 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (16.3 ± 1.5 mm), Streptococcus pyogenes (15 ± 2.6 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15 ± 2 mm), and lastly, Bacillus subtilis (14.3 ± 2 mm). Furthermore, HMEDSE exhibited cytotoxicity, with an IC50 of 73.5 ± 0.5 µg/mL against MCF-7 ATCC breast cancer cells, leading to gradual apoptosis

Patient satisfaction with quality of primary health care in Benghazi, Libya

Introduction: The Libyan National Health System (LNHS) is debated for the paradox of its performance versus impact. It has poor performance, but the national health statistics are good and competitive. There are concerted efforts to manage health care services and to regain the lost trust. A primary health care (PHC) system that focuses on preventive and promotive care is the core focus of LNHS efforts. Objectives: To assess patient satisfaction with quality of PHC assessed in terms of (a) customer profile, (b) patient satisfaction, and (c) health care-seeking behavior. Methodology: A sample of nine health centers and seven polyclinics from various locations in Benghazi, Libya were selected for gathering information by structured face-to-face interviews. A total of 310 beneficiaries were interviewed by using an Arabic translation of the Charleston Psychiatric Outpatient Satisfaction Scale. Results: The beneficiaries appear to be quite satisfied with the quality of services. Geographical zone, marital status of beneficiary, and type of facility are satisfaction-related factors. There are preferences for facilities located within the City Centre over those located elsewhere. There is also an interaction effect of the geographical zone and the type of facility in creating differences in satisfaction. Conclusions: A customer-friendly facility concept that emphasizes reception, physician interaction, and cordiality shall add value. Polyclinics require more attention as does the Al Slawy area. A few utility services might also be considered

Public knowledge, attitude and practice towards antibiotics use and antimicrobial resistance in Saudi Arabia: A web-based cross-sectional survey

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a global issue that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this study aims to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the general Saudi populations toward antibiotics use. Design and methods: A cross-sectional, anonymous online survey was conducted from January 1 to May 11, 2020, across five major regions of Saudi Arabia. Participants (aged ≥18 years) were invited through social media to complete an online self-structured questionnaire. All data were analyzed by Statistical Package (SPSS v.25). Descriptive statistics, Pearson's Chi-squared, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation analyses were conducted. Results: Out of 443 participants, the majority (n=309, 69.8%) were females, 294 (64.4%) were married, 176 (39.7%) were 25-34 years of age, 338 (76.3%) were living in the Eastern Province, 313 (70.7%) had college or higher education, 139 (31.4%) were not working, and 163 (36.8%) had a monthly income of USD 800-1330. Overall, most participants demonstrated good knowledge and practice (88% and 85.6%, respectively).  However, 76.8%had inadequate attitude score levels towards antibiotics use. Of all the respondents, 74.9% knew that not completing a full course of antibiotics may cause antibiotics resistance, 91.33% did not agree that antibiotics should be accessed without a prescription, and 94.04% will not hand over leftover antibiotics to family members. Factors associated with adequate knowledge were female, medical jobs, and higher income (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings revealed that while most participants were aware of antibiotics use and demonstrated good knowledge, good practices, they had negative attitudes towards antibiotics use

Short-term behavioural responses to thermal stress by hawksbill turtles in the Arabian region

We present a previously unrecorded short-term behavioural response by hawksbill sea turtles to elevated sea surface temperatures in the Persian/Arabian Gulf. Surface waters typically exceed 30°C for sustained periods during the summer, and can be likened to a natural living laboratory for understanding thermoregulatory behaviour by marine species in the face of climate change and elevated global temperatures. We satellite-tracked 90 post-nesting hawksbill turtles between 2010 and 2013 as part of a larger programme to elucidate turtle foraging habitats and post-nesting behaviour. We used 66 of these datasets, where turtles clearly departed and returned to foraging grounds, for these analyses. Sea surface temperatures during the summer averaged 33.5°C and peaked at 34.9°C. During these elongated periods of elevated temperatures (June–August) the turtles temporarily migrated an average of 70km to deeper and cooler waters at northern latitudes, returning after 2–3months (September–October) back to original feeding grounds. Temperature differential T∆ between foraging and summer loop habitats was significantly different and approximated −2°C. Turtles undertaking summer migration loops generally moved in a north-easterly direction toward deeper water, returning in a south-westerly direction to the shallower foraging grounds. Swim speeds were significantly higher and orientation was less omnidirectional during the migrations than when foraging. The outbound migrations were significantly inversely correlated with temperature, but were not linked to chlorophyll-a, geostrophic currents or sea surface height. The turtles' preference for returning to the same foraging grounds suggests a lack of other substantial influences which might have precipitated the temporary summer migration loops. Our results indicate that Gulf hawksbills employ thermoregulatory responses which take them out of high temperature and potentially physiology-threatening conditions. These findings improve our overall understanding of hawksbill habitat use and behaviour in a climate-challenged environment, and support sea turtle conservation-related policy decision-making at national and regional levels.Emirates Wildlife Society—World Wild Fund for Nature Office. 7Days, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, Bridgestone, CASP, College of the North Atlantic, Qatar, Deutsche Bank, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, Dubai Festival City, Emirates Palace, Environment & Protected Areas Authority, Sharjah, Environment Agency—Abu Dhabi, Fairmont, Géant, Gulftainer, HSBC, Intercontinental, Dubai Festival City, Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, Jumeirah Etihad Towers, Linklaters, Momentum Logistics, Mubadala, Murjan Marinas, Nokia, Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, The Club, TimeOut Dubai, and the Young Presidents Organisation

Wars2 is a determinant of angiogenesis.

Coronary flow (CF) measured ex vivo is largely determined by capillary density that reflects angiogenic vessel formation in the heart in vivo. Here we exploit this relationship and show that CF in the rat is influenced by a locus on rat chromosome 2 that is also associated with cardiac capillary density. Mitochondrial tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (Wars2), encoding an L53F protein variant within the ATP-binding motif, is prioritized as the candidate at the locus by integrating genomic data sets. WARS2(L53F) has low enzyme activity and inhibition of WARS2 in endothelial cells reduces angiogenesis. In the zebrafish, inhibition of wars2 results in trunk vessel deficiencies, disordered endocardial-myocardial contact and impaired heart function. Inhibition of Wars2 in the rat causes cardiac angiogenesis defects and diminished cardiac capillary density. Our data demonstrate a pro-angiogenic function for Wars2 both within and outside the heart that may have translational relevance given the association of WARS2 with common human diseases