Spiritual Intelligence and Its Relation to Psychological Endurance Among Faculty Members at Jadara University

The current study is aiming at recognizing the relation between spiritual intelligence and psychological endurance among faculty members of Jadara University along with calculating differences according to sex, academic degree, years of experience and marital status through a sample of 124 persons. In order to achieve study objectives, researchers used the spiritual intelligence scale developed by Amram and translated by Al-Issal along with the psychological endurance scale developed by Connor and Davidson and translated by Al-Talla’. Results indicated positive correlation of statistical denotation between spiritual intelligence and psychological endurance among faculty members of Jadara University while indicating that faculty members have high level of spiritual intelligence and psychological endurance. Results also clarified lack of difference of statistical denotation in the averages of spiritual intelligence in all aspects among faculty members according to study variables (sex, academic degree, years of experience and marital status), while indicating differences of statistical denotation in the averages of psychological endurance in all aspects among faculty members referring to sex among females. Results indicate lack of differences of statistical denotation in the averages of psychological endurance according to study variables (sex, academic degree, years of experience and marital status), as well as the potential of predicting total degree for estimating psychological endurance through the total degree of spiritual intelligence among faculty members at Jadara University. Keywords: spiritual intelligence, psychological endurance, faculty members DOI: 10.7176/ADS/83-08 Publication date:July 31st 202

The Effect of Utilizing Microbiological Parameters on Water Quality Index Values Implemented at Wadi Al-Arab Dam Reservoir, North-Jordan.

The aims of this study are to investigate the effect of using microbiological parameters, particularly Escherichia coli on water quality index values that has been implemented at Wadi Al-Arab Dam Reservoir (WADR) in Northern Jordan and to evaluate its water suitability for domestic purposes. For these purposes, the study period from January 2009 through December 2014, one sample on a monthly basis was used in the calculation of WQI. Firstly, computed the WQI for the seventy two samples that were analyzed for different physico-chemical parameters such as pH, Electrical Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Suspended Solids, ions of Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride, Sulfate, Bicarbonate, Ammonium, Nitrite and Nitrate in various  seasons (winter, spring, summer and autumn). Secondly, performing the previous calculations taking into account the Escherichia coli (species of bacteria) counts. The analyzed results (by WQI method) have been used to depicting water quality for the two approaches. Based on physico-chemical parameters, the calculated values for WQI over the 6-year study period from 2009 to 2014 were 83.4, 80.6, 59.33, 78.0, 89.3, and 85.4, respectively. On the other hand, the WQI values were 41.7, 40.1, 43.5, 44.2, 51.0 and 44.7, respectively, as a result of incorporated microbiological parameters in WQI calculations that significantly contribute to decrease the WQI values over the 6-year study period. The analysis shows that the water quality rank of the (WADR) is varies from good to marginal based on physico-chemical parameters only, and from poor to marginal based on physico-chemical and microbiological parameters. In comparison with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Jordanian Standards (JS 286:2008). The results signify that the (WADR) is not polluted based on the physical and chemical characteristics of water. However, from microbiological perspective the water is not safe for domestic use and needs further treatment. Keywords: reservoir, seasonality, Irbid, Wadi Al-Arab Dam, Water Quality Index, microbiology, Jordan

The Effect of Soiling and Periodic Cleaning on the Performance of Solar Power Plants in Ma’an, Jordan

Environmental variables such as soiling in the outdoor environment can affect the overall efficiency of solar plants in arid regions with scarce rain negatively. The reduction in power is caused by reducing the amount of solar energy absorbed by the solar panel itself. The cleaning process of the photovoltaic can contribute to a significant cost of the plant operation cost. The objective of this work is to study the effect of soiling and the periodic cleaning process of solar cells in Ma’an district, Jordan. Yearly degradation and performance were studied in outdoor exposure between January and November of 2017. The study found that based on a one cleaning process per month, the worst scenario will cause a power degradation of 2.99% with an average of 2.22% for the whole period of the study. Keywords:Solar energy in Jordan, Soiling and Cleaning, Performance ratio, Degradation, Photovoltaic solar panel

New Media and Crisis Management in Jordan: COVID 19 Perspective

The study aimed at identifying the relationship between the most effective digital media in managing the Corona crisis in Jordan; and the contribution of digital media in managing the (Covid 19) crisis. To achieve the aims of the study, the researcher adopted the quantitative survey method using an electronic questionnaire designed to collect data. It was distributed to an intentional sample of 50 employees (males and females) from the communication and media staff in the Jordanian government institutions. The study concluded that the most effective digital communication technologies in managing the Corona crisis were press conferences (media briefings), press coverage through digital platforms, electronic news, video reports and community initiatives through social media platforms. The results also showed that digital media contributed to managing the Corona crisis in Jordan by relying on effective and organized digital crisis communication, which helped to coordinate efforts with the relevant health and security authorities in the country about the disease developments and the decisions related, besides the immediate responses to inquiries and questions of reviewers and callers about preventive health procedures and measures of safety from the Corona virus. In light of these results, the study recommended that media briefings in crises through digital media should be adopted due to their effectiveness in managing health crises facing countries, as one of the most effective methods of digital communication technologies

Cerebral small vessel disease genomics and its implications across the lifespan

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are the most common brain-imaging feature of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), hypertension being the main known risk factor. Here, we identify 27 genome-wide loci for WMH-volume in a cohort of 50,970 older individuals, accounting for modification/confounding by hypertension. Aggregated WMH risk variants were associated with altered white matter integrity (p = 2.5×10-7) in brain images from 1,738 young healthy adults, providing insight into the lifetime impact of SVD genetic risk. Mendelian randomization suggested causal association of increasing WMH-volume with stroke, Alzheimer-type dementia, and of increasing blood pressure (BP) with larger WMH-volume, notably also in persons without clinical hypertension. Transcriptome-wide colocalization analyses showed association of WMH-volume with expression of 39 genes, of which four encode known drug targets. Finally, we provide insight into BP-independent biological pathways underlying SVD and suggest potential for genetic stratification of high-risk individuals and for genetically-informed prioritization of drug targets for prevention trials.Peer reviewe

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Cerebral small vessel disease genomics and its implications across the lifespan

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are the most common brain-imaging feature of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), hypertension being the main known risk factor. Here, we identify 27 genome-wide loci for WMH-volume in a cohort of 50,970 older individuals, accounting for modification/confounding by hypertension. Aggregated WMH risk variants were associated with altered white matter integrity (p = 2.5×10-7) in brain images from 1,738 young healthy adults, providing insight into the lifetime impact of SVD genetic risk. Mendelian randomization suggested causal association of increasing WMH-volume with stroke, Alzheimer-type dementia, and of increasing blood pressure (BP) with larger WMH-volume, notably also in persons without clinical hypertension. Transcriptome-wide colocalization analyses showed association of WMH-volume with expression of 39 genes, of which four encode known drug targets. Finally, we provide insight into BP-independent biological pathways underlying SVD and suggest potential for genetic stratification of high-risk individuals and for genetically-informed prioritization of drug targets for prevention trials.</p