Perceived social support, family relationships, and health-related quality of life among women with breast cancer in Jordan.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Jordanian women. Perceived social support (PSS) and family relationships are strongly associated with positive psychosocial outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This area was widely explored in Western countries, but little attention was devoted to investigate this area in Middle East region. Purpose: to investigate the interrelationships among PSS, family relationships, and HRQoL of women with breast cancer in Jordan using an exploratory cross-sectional design. Method: The contextual model of HRQoL designed by Ashing-Giwa (2005) provided the foundation for this study. A total of 140 women were recruited from one large governmental hospital in Jordan using convenience sampling. Survey data were collected in the breast cancer clinic using the Medical Outcomes Study--Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), Family Relationship Index (FRI), and the Quality of Life-Breast Cancer Version (QOL-BC). Statistical analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics; data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: A majority of the participants were 41 to 60 years (70%), married (63.6%), had stage II of breast cancer (41%), and were housewives (80.7%). Women with breast cancer had moderate levels of overall HRQoL, and moderate to high levels of perceived social support. In addition, women scored the highest in spiritual well-being and the lowest in the psychological well-being. Despite the presence of COVID-19, women scored the highest in the affectionate and positive social interaction social support. Women with breast cancer who were supported by their social network members had higher levels of HRQoL and psychological well-being. In addition, women who reported that the pandemic of COVID-19 affected the level of social support they received had lower levels of total HRQoL, physical well-being, psychological well-being, and social well-being. Conclusion: There is an urgent need for psychological counseling services to improve psychological well-being for cancer patients in Jordan. Psychosocial care for cancer patients is still underdeveloped, fragmented, and neglected area. More efforts are needed to focus on other elements of the cancer experience (e.g., social and psychological), besides the physical aspect. The results of this study are beneficial for nursing science and address the gaps in psychosocial cancer care and areas for improvement

The effect of Allium sativum (Garlic), Allium cepa (Onion) and Aloe barbadensis miller (Aloe vera) against Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) on rice caused by xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae / Nurul Hedaya Jamaluddin

Rice is known as a staple food that consumed by more than 3 billion people around the world because it provides 21% of energy and 15% of protein requirements. Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), an important constraint to rice production in Asia. The extent of yield loss could be 30% to 50% depends on the growth stage of the crop, cultivar, season climatic condition and level of nitrogen application. The present study was conducted to isolate and identify the Xoo and also to determine the effectiveness of garlic, onion and aloe vera towards bacterial leaf blight on rice in vitro assay. The infected leaf samples were plated on nutrient agar and gave light yellow, sticky, round and smooth bacterial colonies, it showed that it was gram negative bacteria. Chemical control of the disease may contribute to environmental pollution. Use of botanicals in control of plant disease is more safe and eco-friendly. Three plant extracts at different concentration (0%, 25%, 50% and 100%) were tested for their antibacterial activity. Antimicrobial activity of aqueous plant extract was determined by agar well diffusion method on nutrient agar medium. Among these extracts, garlic was most effective against Xoo which at 100% concentration it caused inhibition of the bacterium (25.84%) at moderate rate

The Bridging Language between Diglossia of Classical and Colloquial Arabic/ اللغة التجسيرية بين ازدواجية الفصحى والعامية

استهدف البحث الحالي تحديد أسباب الازدواجية، مثل: الأمية، وحصر القراءة والكتابة على النخبة، وتشكيل نمط لغوي يمثل الاستقلال والسيادة، وكذلك حصر أهم مشكلات الازدواجية، مثل: ضياع الهوية، وانقراض الفصحى، والتفكك الاجتماعي؛ مما كان سببا في ضرورة إيجاد لغة تجسيرية تقرب الفجوة بين: العامية، والفصحى، مع تحديد ملامح هذه اللغة التجسيرية، وآليات بناء المناهج وإعداد المواد التعليمية واللغوية في ضوء نموذج رباعي للغة التجسيرية اقترحه البحث الحالي؛ بما يساعد على بناء مناهج للغة العربية تقرب بين: العامية، والفصحى، ومن أهم نتائج الدراسة الحالية: أن اللغة التجسيرية تساعد على سهولة تعلم اللغة العربية وعدم شعور المتعلم بالغربة والانفصام اللغوي، كما توصلت الدراسة إلى إمكانية وضع تصور مقترح لبناء مناهج اللغة العربية في ضوء معطيات لغة تجسيرية شائعة ومألوفة على الآذان تسد الفجوة ما بين العامية والفصحى. The current research aims at identifying the causes of diglossia, such as: illiteracy, limited reading culture and writing for the elite, and forming a language pattern that represents independence and sovereignty. In addition, this research identifies the primary issues of this bridging language, and to find linguistic and social mechanisms for diglossia, such as: loss of identity, classical language extinction, and social disintegration; which leads to generate a bridging language, which closes the gap between: colloquial and classical Arabic, to highlight specific features of building and preparing educational curricula and linguistic materials In the paradigm of a quadruple model flow of the bridging language proposed by this research; to help approximate between classical and colloquial Arabic. Among the most important results of this study: that the bridging language helps to learn, reinforce linguistic and communication retainment and prevent the Arabic language deterioration, The Bridging language evades learner and user sense of alienation, and linguistic schizophrenia. The study also finds the possibility of developing a proposed concept for building Arabic language curricula in light of common and familiar bridging language data which is common and familiar that bridges the gap between colloquial and classical Arabic

Development of novel formulations to enhance in vivo transdermal permeation of tocopherol

Tocopherol represents a big challenge for transdermal permeation owing to its extreme hydrophobicity and large molecular mass. The aim of the present study was to develop alpha-tocopherol (T) topical formulations and evaluate the ex vivo and in vivo permeation. Franz diffusion cells were used for the ex vivo permeation, and neonatal rats were used for in vivo permeation. Seven gel formulations and 21 liquid formulations were investigated for physical stability, viscosity and permeation of T. Analysis of T was performed by a validated HPLC method using a UV detector.The ex vivo permeation from gel and emulsion formulations was very poor (0.001–0.015 %). The highest permeation was observed from monophasic liquid formulations containing dimethyl sulfuxide (DMSO), tocopheryl polyethylene glycols (TPGs), propylene glycol, ethanol, and 9.5 % T. The in vivo results demonstrated higher retention in the epidermis compared to subcutaneous tissues; 1377 and 1.13 µg g–1, respectively. Increasing T concentration from 4.8 to 9.5 % did not increase the amount permeated or % of T retained. It was concluded that simple solutions of T in presence of DMSO and TPGs are more promising systems for effective transdermal permeation; compared to gel, emulsion or oleaginous systems

Is it the time for Hepatitis E virus (HEV) Testing for Blood Donors in Qatar?

HEV is the etiologic agent of acute hepatitis E. Although HEV usually causes a self-limiting infection, the disease may develop into a chronic or fulminant form of Hepatitis. Sporadic HEV infections spread in several developed countries; however, outbreaks usually occur in regions where sanitation is low, in particular, in developing countries where water flooding frequently occurs. In addition, religious background, life style, hygienic practices, and the economic status have been linked to HEV infection. Fecal-oral is the established route of transmission, however, infections through blood transfusion were recently documented in many developed and developing countries. This recent finding raises the question: is there is a need for HEV screening prior transfusion or transplantation? Studies related to this issue, in the Middle East are scarce. Although the CDC HEV epidemiological map, classifies the Arabian Gulf countries including Qatar as endemic or highly endemic, to the best of our knowledge, no HEV population –based epidemiological study were conducted in Qatar. HEV infection is usually detected using IgM and IgG serological tests and confirmed by molecular tests for detection of viral RNA. Yet, commercially available HEV serological kits are not validated, and needs further investigation

Study of the Urinary Ratio of 6 β-Hydroxycortisol/Cortisol as a Biomarker of CYP3A4 Activity in Egyptian Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases

The urinary ratio of 6 β-hydroxycortisol/cortisol (6 β-OHC/C) as a biomarker of CYP3A4 metabolizing activity has been studied in Egyptian patients with chronic liver cirrhosis associated with previous hepatic Schistosomiasis infection to determine any possible alteration in enzyme activity. The ratio of 6-β OHC/C was determined in morning urine samples collected from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in healthy adults (n = 36) and patients with liver cirrhosis (n = 57). The median age for control was 27 years (range: 18–50 years) and 50 years (range: 27–75 years) for patients. 6 β-OHC was detected in urine by ELIZA kits (Stabiligen, France). Patients with liver cirrhosis were categorized according to Child Pugh Classification into Child B (n = 28) and Child C (n = 29) classes. Cholestasis was observed in 9/28 of Child B class and 8/29 of Child C class of patients. The control subjects showed gender-related difference in the urinary ratio of 6 β-OHC/C. A significant reduction (P < 0.001) in 6 β-OHC/C ratio was observed only in Child C patients in comparison with control subjects. Regression analysis showed a significant correlation (P < 0.05) between 6 β-OHC/C ratio and serum albumin. The influence of cholestasis on the urinary ratio of 6-β OHC/C was observed on cirrhotic patients of Child B class. In conclusion, patients with chronic liver cirrhosis might have a reduction of metabolizing activity of CYP3A4 enzymes which could be identified by measuring the urinary ratio of 6 β-OHC/C. This reduction is more apparent in severe liver injury (Child C class). Therefore, it is important to understand the metabolic fate of drugs metabolized by 3A4 enzymes in patients with liver cirrhosis to avoid drug accumulation that might lead to development of drug toxicity

Parametric study of honeycomb composite structure using open source finite element software

This paper deals with the parametric optimisation of a simply supported sandwich panel made of honeycomb composite structure using sequential quadratic programming SQP. The panel consists of aluminum honeycomb sandwiched between two orthotropic fiberglass faces. The parameters studied are fibreglass thickness, tf, honeycomb height, h, and honeycomb wall thickness, tc. The objective was to minimise weight to bending stiffness ratio by using the nonlinear MATLAB function fmincon, considering the maximum central displacement and intercellular buckling as the constraints. Following this, a static structural analysis was conducted on the optimised structure using the open source finite element solver CalculiX and Salome Platform software for preprocessing. The utmost displacement of the honeycomb panel was desirably less than the serviceability limit. Preliminary results show that composite honeycomb structures can be optimised yielding low weight to bending stiffness ratio using SQP method and CalculiX for design evaluation

Acoustic emission wave propagation in honeycomb sandwich panel structures

This paper studies acoustic emission (AE) wave propagation in a glass fibre aluminium honeycomb sandwich panel (HSP). Of particular novelty is the quantification of the through-thickness propagation of AE from one surface of the HSP to the other, which is a real-world monitoring consideration for applications where AE instrumentation is only be permissible on one surface, i.e. aerofoils. Complexity was introduced to the specimens in stages to enable a thorough understanding; first investigating propagation in a large glass fibre laminated plate (GFLP) alone; then in bespoke sandwich specimens with a limited number of honeycomb cells; and, finally, in a large HSP. The results of this paper demonstrate that, whilst some energy is transmitted through the honeycomb core, AE propagating in an HSP becomes bound in the outer plates. Despite this, propagation in these outer plates differs to that in an equivalent plate of the same material in isolation due to the complex interactions with the structural elements of the HSP. Further, propagation of AE transmitted from one surface to the other was quantified for the first time, giving insight into expected attenuation rates and characteristics for practical applications