Analysis and Design of an Accounting Information System

This paper discusses an Accounting Information System (AIS) that is developed in-house by the German Jordanian University (GJU). The AIS is a web-based distributed application that is comprised of three separate tiers: the client, web (application), and business (data) tiers. The three tiers are designed and developed such that the system is easy to use, effective, fast, accurate, reliable, and scalable. The AIS mainly enables accountants to manage (i.e., record, view, edit, and delete) the daily financial transactions such as payments, refunds, and adjustments. Furthermore, it allows managing fees (e.g., services and tuition fees) and student data (e.g., academic information, schedules, transcripts, holds, registration invoices, and statement of account). Moreover, it allows specifying sponsors and supports the definition of complex scholarship tuition fees coverage combinations related to the GJU as well as most of the Jordanian universities. Besides that, it enables the quick generation of financial statements and accounting reports (e.g., daily summary, daily journal, and student balances) at the click of a button. The generated reports can be used by the staff and management of the financial department for auditing, financial accounting, and decision making purposes. The system was successfully deployed in the first 2015/2016 academic semester and since then it accurately recorded and processed thousands of accounting transactions

Advancing Tobacco Dependence Treatment Services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region : International collaboration for training and capacity-building

Tobacco use negatively affects health and is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Today, tobacco use ranks third among risk factors in North Africa and the Middle East in terms of disease burden. Despite the established need for these services, tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) services are still inadequate in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR). Among the main challenges hindering their expansion is the current lack of training opportunities. The provision of training and capacity-building—a key enabler of TDT—offers an excellent catalyst to launch TDT services in the region. This review discusses the need for TDT training in the EMR and describes a model for providing regional evidence-based training in line with international standards. The King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman, Jordan, is the regional host for Global Bridges, a worldwide TDT initiative. Using this model, they have trained 1,500 professionals and advocates from the EMR over the past three years

A rare case of community acquired serratia lung abscess in a patient with cardiac bronchus

  The incidence of lung abscess caused by Serratia marcescens is extremely low and is only reported in the immunocompromised population. We present a previously healthy woman with Serratia lung abscess in close proximity with an accessory cardiac bronchus. The patient was treated with appropriate antibiotics which led to complete resolution of the lesion. Our case highlights that individuals without medical co-morbidities may develop atypical lung infections like Serratia when associated with anatomic anomalies.

Occurrence and molecular characterization of metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) among Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from cancer patients: Acinetobacter baumannii cancer patients

Background: During the last decade, the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant infection associated with multidrug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumanniiin patients has been continuously increasing.  This prospective study aimed to determine the occurrence and molecular characterization of metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) and carbapenem hydrolyzing oxacillinases among A. baumannii isolates from cancer patients over a period of 6-month. Methods:Antimicrobial susceptibility profile of 70 randomly collected A. baumannii isolates was first determined using disc diffusion test, and second, the MICs of 45 representative multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates were tested to useful drugs in treatment of their infections using E-test.  PCR assays were used to detect the common four types of class D carbapenem hydrolyzing oxacillinases, two types of class A carbapenemases, four types of class B metallo-β –lactamases, and prevalence of Class 1 Integron among MDR isolates. Results: All 70 isolates were MDR, including 100% resistance to meropenom, aztreonem, piperacillin/tazobactum and 99% to carbapenem.  All isolates carried blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-51, but none carried a blaOXA-24 like or blaOXA-58. The isolates also were positive for NDM-1, NDM, VIM, GES, KPC and SPM at the rates of 29%, 20%, 29%,19%,7% and 2%, respectively.  Class 1 Integron was positive in 82% of A. baumanniiisolates. The clonal relationship of 42 MDR A. baumanniiisolates using ERIC-PCR and constructed dendrogram showed 3 major genotype clusters of genetically related isolates. These include 4 genotype groups, each composed of 2 isolates with 100 % similarity of DNA bands.  Conclusion:This study demonstrates that A. baumannii colonize frequently cancer patients in association with antibiotic treatment. The organism is mostly carrying wide spectrum of antibiotic resistance genetic factors, especially many types of ESBLs and MBLs and Class 1 Integron. This fact should be considered when therapy is selected for treatment of patients infected with MDR A. baumannii. Key words. Acinetobacter baumannii, ESBLs, MBLs, Class 1 Integron, Jordanian cancer patients. &nbsp

Rzadki przypadek ropnia płuca pochodzenia środowiskowego wywołanego przez Serratia marcescens u pacjentki z dodatkowym oskrzelem sercowym

Ropień płuca spowodowany przez Serratia marcescens występuje niezwykle rzadko i tylko u osób mających obniżoną odporność. Przedstawiono przypadek uprzednio zdrowej kobiety z ropniem płuca wywołanym przez Serratia, położonym blisko dodatkowego oskrzela sercowego (cardiac bronchus). Pacjentka była leczona odpowiednimi antybiotykami, co doprowadziło do całkowitego wyleczenia zmiany. Opisany przypadek pokazuje, że u osób chorych na schorzenia współistniejące mogą występować nietypowe zakażenia płuc wywołane przez Serratia, związane z odchyleniami anatomicznymi.Ropień płuca spowodowany przez Serratia marcescens występuje niezwykle rzadko i tylko u osób mających obniżoną odporność. Przedstawiono przypadek uprzednio zdrowej kobiety z ropniem płuca wywołanym przez Serratia, położonym blisko dodatkowego oskrzela sercowego (cardiac bronchus). Pacjentka była leczona odpowiednimi antybiotykami, co doprowadziło do całkowitego wyleczenia zmiany. Opisany przypadek pokazuje, że u osób chorych na schorzenia współistniejące mogą występować nietypowe zakażenia płuc wywołane przez Serratia, związane z odchyleniami anatomicznymi

Perceptions of young Jordanian adults to proposed anti-tobacco pictorial warning labels

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In commitment to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), four new pictorial warnings are now being proposed for display on cigarette packages sold in Jordan. The aim of this study was to gauge the immediate perceptions of young Jordanian adults towards these new pictorials and compare these perceptions to those of the pictorial currently being used in the country.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a convenience sample of youth aged 17-26. The interviewer-administered survey gauged participants' perceptions of salience, fear elicitation, and gained information as well as participants' motivation to remain non-smokers or quit smoking after viewing each of the four proposed new pictorials as well as the current pictorial used in Jordan. Perceptions regarding each new pictorial were compared to the current pictorial.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 450 surveys were included in the analysis. The sample (mean age 20.9) was 51.6% female and 31.3% cigarette (regular or occasional) smokers. In smokers, only one proposed pictorial had significantly more smokers perceiving it as salient or adding to information when compared to the current pictorial. More smokers reported fear when observing the proposed pictorials compared with current pictorial, but overall proportions reporting fear were generally less than 50%. Furthermore, all new pictorials motivated significantly more smokers to consider quitting compared with the current pictorial; however, the overall proportion of smokers reporting motivation was < 25%. Among nonsmokers, significantly more respondents perceived the new pictorials as salient and fear-eliciting compared to the old pictorial, but there were no major differences in information added. Motivation to remain non-smokers was comparable between the old and new pictorials.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Given the variability of response across both smokers and nonsmokers, and across the three elements of perception (salience, added information, fear) for each pictorial, further testing of the pictorials in a more diverse sample of Jordanian young adults prior to launch is recommended.</p

The Emerging Global Tobacco Treatment Workforce: Characteristics of Tobacco Treatment Specialists Trained in Council-Accredited Training Programs from 2017 to 2019

Tobacco use is projected to kill 1 billion people in the 21st century. Tobacco Use Disorder (TUD) is one of the most common substance use disorders in the world. Evidence-based treatment of TUD is effective, but treatment accessibility remains very low. A dearth of specially trained clinicians is a significant barrier to treatment accessibility, even within systems of care that implement brief intervention models. The treatment of TUD is becoming more complex and tailoring treatment to address new and traditional tobacco products is needed. The Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs (Council) is the accrediting body for Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) training programs. Between 2016 and 2019, n = 7761 trainees completed Council-accredited TTS training programs. Trainees were primarily from North America (92.6%) and the Eastern Mediterranean (6.1%) and were trained via in-person group workshops in medical and academic settings. From 2016 to 2019, the number of Council-accredited training programs increased from 14 to 22 and annual number of trainees increased by 28.5%. Trainees have diverse professional backgrounds and work in diverse settings but were primarily White (69.1%) and female (78.7%) located in North America. Nearly two-thirds intended to implement tobacco treatment services in their setting; two-thirds had been providing tobacco treatment for 1 year or less; and 20% were sent to training by their employers. These findings suggest that the training programs are contributing to the development of a new workforce of TTSs as well as the development of new programmatic tobacco treatment services in diverse settings. Developing strategies to support attendance from demographically and geographically diverse professionals might increase the proportion of trainees from marginalized groups and regions of the world with significant tobacco-related inequities