Psychological Impact of Life as Refugees: A Pilot Study on a Syrian Camp in Jordan

Purpose: To investigate types and prevalence of psychological distresses endured by Syrian refugees at Alzatary Camp in Jordan.Methods: This observational study was conducted over a period of 2 months (November and December, 2012) at Alzatary Camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan. A validated questionnaire was filled by a field researcher to gather information on respondents’ living conditions, psychological distresses and perspectives of the medical care services provided.Results: The questionnaire was completed for 73 respondents with a mean age of 37.7 ± 11.2. A majority of refugees (63.3 %) lived in tents, and the rest in caravans. Some of the respondents (56 %) suffered from psychological distresses; 46 % believed that psychological therapy and support is needed, out of which 14.5 % reported receiving such therapy. Refugees staying in tents reported low satisfaction with the medical care  services provided (54.2 % vs. 23.8 %) and great need for psychological support (66.7 % vs. 31.3 %) when compared to refugees staying in caravans.Conclusion: Syrian refugees at Alzatary Camp suffer from psychological distress that requires urgent attention. Current medical support is not sufficient, especially for refugees staying in tents.Keywords: Syrian refugees, Jordan camps, Alzatary Camp, Psychological disorders, Mental healt

The Influence of Learning Style and Public Speaking Ability on Students' Interest in Learning in Islamic Religious Education Subjects at SMP Negeri 12 Gorontalo

The learning style is a unique characteristic possessed by every individual, influencing how they absorb, organize, and process information. When students are able to learn in a manner that aligns with their individual learning preferences, it facilitates a greater comprehension of the subject matter and fosters a heightened enthusiasm for the learning process. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of different learning styles on students' level of interest in learning PAI subjects at SMP Negeri 12 Gorontalo. 2) Understanding the Impact of Public Speaking Skills on Students' Engagement in Learning PAI Subjects at SMP Negeri 12 Gorontalo. 3) Understanding the Impact of Learning Style and Public Speaking Ability on Students' Interest in Learning in PAI Subjects at SMP Negeri 12 Gorontalo. The research methodology employed is quantitative in nature, utilizing a survey-based approach and employing various data collection techniques such as questionnaires and observation documentation. According to the research findings, it has been observed that there is a correlation between one's learning style and their level of interest in the learning process. These findings are supported by the t test result of 0.000, indicating a significance level of less than 0.05. Additionally, the calculated t value of 5.556 exceeds the critical t value of 0.677 from the t table. Therefore, it can be inferred that H1 is accepted, indicating a correlation between learning style and interest in learning. 2) The ability to speak publicly has an impact on one's level of interest in learning. These findings are supported by the t-test result of 0.000, indicating a significance level of less than 0.05. Additionally, the calculated t-value of 7.525 exceeds the critical t-value of 0.677. Therefore, it can be inferred that H2 is accepted, indicating a correlation between public speaking ability and interest in learning. 3) The interest in learning of students can be influenced by their learning style and public speaking abilities. The evidence for this is supported by the f test results of 0.000, which is greater than the significance level of 0.05. Additionally, the calculated f value of 34.299 exceeds the critical f table value of 3.12. Therefore, it can be inferred that H3 is accepted, indicating a correlation between learning style and public speaking ability with interest in learning

Genetic background modifies amyloidosis in a mouse model of ATTR neuropathy

AbstractPenetrance and age of onset of ATTRV30M amyloidotic neuropathy varies significantly among different populations. This variability has been attributed to both genetic and environmental modifiers. We studied the effect of genetic background on phenotype in two lines of transgenic mice bearing the same ATTRV30M transgene. Amyloid deposition, transthyretin (TTR), megalin, clusterin and disease markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, apoptosis, and complement activation were assessed with WB and immunohistochemistry in donor and recipient tissue. Our results indicate that genetic background modulates amyloid deposition by influencing TTR handling in recipient tissue and may partly account for the marked variability in penetrance observed in various world populations

Neuronal migration and ventral subtype identity in the telencephalon depend on SOX1

Little is known about the molecular mechanisms and intrinsic factors that are responsible for the emergence of neuronal subtype identity. Several transcription factors that are expressed mainly in precursors of the ventral telencephalon have been shown to control neuronal specification, but it has been unclear whether subtype identity is also specified in these precursors, or if this happens in postmitotic neurons, and whether it involves the same or different factors. SOX1, an HMG box transcription factor, is expressed widely in neural precursors along with the two other SOXB1 subfamily members, SOX2 and SOX3, and all three have been implicated in neurogenesis. SOX1 is also uniquely expressed at a high level in the majority of telencephalic neurons that constitute the ventral striatum (VS). These neurons are missing in Sox1-null mutant mice. In the present study, we have addressed the requirement for SOX1 at a cellular level, revealing both the nature and timing of the defect. By generating a novel Sox1-null allele expressing β-galactosidase, we found that the VS precursors and their early neuronal differentiation are unaffected in the absence of SOX1, but the prospective neurons fail to migrate to their appropriate position. Furthermore, the migration of non-Sox1-expressing VS neurons (such as those expressing Pax6) was also affected in the absence of SOX1, suggesting that Sox1-expressing neurons play a role in structuring the area of the VS. To test whether SOX1 is required in postmitotic cells for the emergence of VS neuronal identity, we generated mice in which Sox1 expression was directed to all ventral telencephalic precursors, but to only a very few VS neurons. These mice again lacked most of the VS, indicating that SOX1 expression in precursors is not sufficient for VS development. Conversely, the few neurons in which Sox1 expression was maintained were able to migrate to the VS. In conclusion, Sox1 expression in precursors is not sufficient for VS neuronal identity and migration, but this is accomplished in postmitotic cells, which require the continued presence of SOX1. Our data also suggest that other SOXB1 members showing expression in specific neuronal populations are likely to play continuous roles from the establishment of precursors to their final differentiation

The evolutionary dynamics of variant antigen genes in Babesia reveal a history of genomic innovation underlying host-parasite interaction

Babesia spp. are tick-borne, intraerythrocytic hemoparasites that use antigenic variation to resist host immunity, through sequential modification of the parasite-derived variant erythrocyte surface antigen (VESA) expressed on the infected red blood cell surface. We identified the genomic processes driving antigenic diversity in genes encoding VESA (ves1) through comparative analysis within and between three Babesia species, (B. bigemina, B. divergens and B. bovis). Ves1 structure diverges rapidly after speciation, notably through the evolution of shortened forms (ves2) from 5′ ends of canonical ves1 genes. Phylogenetic analyses show that ves1 genes are transposed between loci routinely, whereas ves2 genes are not. Similarly, analysis of sequence mosaicism shows that recombination drives variation in ves1 sequences, but less so for ves2, indicating the adoption of different mechanisms for variation of the two families. Proteomic analysis of the B. bigemina PR isolate shows that two dominant VESA1 proteins are expressed in the population, whereas numerous VESA2 proteins are co-expressed, consistent with differential transcriptional regulation of each family. Hence, VESA2 proteins are abundant and previously unrecognized elements of Babesia biology, with evolutionary dynamics consistently different to those of VESA1, suggesting that their functions are distinct

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the breast: case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor is a rare soft tissue sarcoma of ectomesenchymal origin. It is the malignant counterpart of benign soft tissue tumors like neurofibromas and schwannomas and may often follow them. Common sites include deeper soft tissues, usually in the proximity of a nerve trunk. Breast is an extremely rare location of this lesion and presentation as a breast lump in the absence of pain or previous benign neural tumor is even rarer.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 38-year-old female presented with complaints of painless, hard breast lump for three months which was clinically suspected to be a ductal carcinoma with inconclusive fine needle aspiration cytology. Histopathology revealed a malignant spindle cell tumor which was confirmed to be malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor on the basis of immunopositivity for vimentin, neurone specific enolase and S-100.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>To the best of our knowledge only six such case reports have been published in literature. The differential diagnosis of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor should be considered by the clinician as well as the pathologists in the work-up of a breast neoplasm as treatment and prognosis of this rare malignancy is different.</p

A variant in LIN28B is associated with 2D:4D finger-length ratio, a putative retrospective biomarker of prenatal testosterone exposure

The ratio of the lengths of an individual's second to fourth digit (2D:4D) is commonly used as a noninvasive retrospective biomarker for prenatal androgen exposure. In order to identify the genetic determinants of 2D:4D, we applied a genome-wide association approach to 1507 11-year-old children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) in whom 2D:4D ratio had been measured, as well as a sample of 1382 12- to 16-year-olds from the Brisbane Adolescent Twin Study. A meta-analysis of the two scans identified a single variant in the LIN28B gene that was strongly associated with 2D:4D (rs314277: p = 4.1 108) and was subsequently independently replicated in an additional 3659 children from the ALSPAC cohort (p = 1.53 106). The minor allele of the rs314277 variant has previously been linked to increased height and delayed age at menarche, but in our study it was associated with increased 2D:4D in the direction opposite to that of previous reports on the correlation between 2D:4D and age at menarche. Our findings call into question the validity of 2D:4D as a simplistic retrospective biomarker for prenatal testosterone exposure