Emotional intelligence and its relationship to stress coping styles among Palestinian university students. الذكاء الانفعالي وعلاقته بأساليب مواجهة الضغوط لدى طلبة الجامعات الفلسطينية

The study aimed to demonstrate the level of emotional intelligence and its relationship to the methods of coping with stress among Palestinian university students in Gaza. The researchers used the descriptive analytical approach. The study sample included (381) students. The emotional intelligence questionnaire prepared by the researchers was used, and the methods of coping with psychological stress were used by Carver and his colleagues, Carver et al. al, as it was applied and codified on the Palestinian environment to be suitable for application. The research reached the following results: the level of emotional intelligence came with a relative weight (65.672), that is a (medium) degree, while the level of application of methods of coping with psychological stress came with a relative weight (68.836), that is a ( Medium degree , and the presence of a direct statistically difference between self-evaluation, emotional control, social skills, and emotional intelligence, and the level of application of coping methods for psychological stress among students, and in the emotional intelligence domain, there are significant differences due to the gender variable, and in favor of (males).In addition, there are differences according to the university variable in favor of Al-Azhar University, while there are no differences according to the emotional intelligence domain according to the variable (academic level _ cumulative average), but in the domain of coping with psychological stress, there are no differences due to the variable of gender, academic level, and university, while there are significant differences In the level of applying methods of coping with psychological stress due to the accumulative average variable, and in favor of (good)

Sonographic Association of Uterine Artery Pulsatility Index with Hypertension During Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Background: Hypertension (HTN) in pregnancy is the second most basic reason for maternal death and cause obstetric complications in 5-10% of all pregnancies. HTN directly affects the blood flow of uterine artery.  Doppler screening test is a valuable method to do safe and non-invasive detection and has high reliability in the detection of uterine artery blood flow characteristics. Objective: The purpose of the present study is to find association between predictive value of uterine artery pulsatility index in normal and hypertensive pregnancy during third trimester. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with the sample size of 138 patients by selecting the convenient sampling from Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore. The pulsatility index of uterine artery of all the women with normal singleton pregnancy and hypertensive during third trimester of pregnancy were obtained using Doppler ultrasound. Data was analyzed with the help of Anova .The results were derived by mean, frequency and standard deviation . Results: The significance between groups was 0.002. The mean values of right and left uterine artery pulsatility index of 36 hypertensive patients were 1.40 and 1.41 and standard deviation 0.4 and 0.5 respectively whereas the mean values of right and left uterine artery pulsatility index of 102 normal patients were 0.739 and 0.77 and standard deviation 0.23 and 0.5 respectively Conclusion: Our study concluded that there was an association between uterine atery pulsatility index and hypertension during pregnancy. The uterine artery pulsatiltiy index has increased with hypertension in third trimester of pregnancy. Keywords: Hypertension, Pulsatility Index, Doppler Ultrasound DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/72-07 Publication date:March 31st 202

Comparative Efficiency of Soil and Foliar Applied Zinc in Improving Yield and Yield Components of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Variety Kiran-95

A field study was undertaken to evaluate the comparative efficacy of zinc application through soil and foliar spray on growth and yield of wheat variety Kiran-95 at Soil Chemistry Section, Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam during Rabi 2013-14. The experiment was laid out in three replicated randomized complete block design. The treatments comprised Control (No Zinc), Soil applied Zinc 5.0 kg ha-1 at tillering stage, Soil applied Zinc 10.0 kg ha-1 at tillering stage, Soil applied Zinc 5.0 kg ha-1 at tillering + 5.0 kg ha-1 at booting stage, Foliar applied Zinc 0.2% at tillering stage, Foliar applied Zinc 0.4% at tillering and Foliar applied Zinc 0.2% at tillering stage + 0.2% at booting stage. The statistical analysis of data suggested that soil and foliar applied zinc affected significantly (P<0.05) growth and yield traits of wheat variety Kiran-95. The results illustrated that Soil applied Zinc 5.0 kg ha-1 at tillering + 5.0 kg ha-1 at booting stage produced maximum plant height (99.0 cm), tillers (410.7 m-2), spike length (13.1 cm), spikelets per spike (23.0), grains per  spike (45.1), seed index (43.4 g), biological yield (9354.4 kg ha-1) and grain yield (5123.4 kg ha-1), closely followed by Foliar applied Zinc 0.2% at tillering stage + 0.2% at booting stage with 97.6 cm plant height, 408.8 tillers m-2, 13.0 cm spike length, 22.8 spikelets per spike, 45.0 grains per spike, 43.2 g seed index, 9273.4 kg ha-1 biological yield and 5080.7 kg ha-1 grain yield. The performance of wheat variety Kiran-95 ranked 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th almost in all the growth and yield parameters particularly grain yield (kg ha-1) when fertilized with Soil applied Zinc 10.0 kg ha-1 at tillering stage, Foliar applied Zinc 0.4% at tillering, Soil applied Zinc 5.0 kg ha-1 at tillering stage and Foliar applied Zinc 0.2% at tillering stage.  However, minimum growth and yield traits were registered in Control (No Zinc). Furthermore, the results concluded that although numerically maximum growth and yield values were recorded in Soil applied Zinc 5.0 kg ha-1 at tillering + 5.0 kg ha-1 at booting stage but statistically the differences between Soil applied Zinc 5.0 kg ha-1 at tillering + 5.0 kg ha-1 at booting stage and Foliar applied Zinc 0.2% at tillering stage + 0.2% at booting stage were non-significant. Hence, Foliar applied Zinc 0.2% at tillering stage + 0.2% at booting stage were found the most economical treatment for obtaining optimum yield of wheat variety Kiran-95. Keywords: Wheat, Comparative Efficiency, Soil, Foliar, Zinc, Improving Yield and Yield Component

EFFECT OF WASTE POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE BOTTLE FIBERS ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF RECYCLED CONCRETE

The use of beverage containers, most of which are made of polyethylene terephthalate bottles, results in several problems with regard to sustainability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and contrast the impact on the mechanical characteristics of concrete caused by the incorporation of polyethylene terephthalate bottle fibres in varying amounts. These fibres were generated by cutting bottles into precise dimensions (width of 5 mm and length of 25 mm), and they were used in various concentrations such as 0,25 %; 0,5 % and 1,0 % by volume of concrete with different amounts of recycled aggregate. To verify the reliability of the outcomes of the experiment, a statistical analysis was performed. According to the results, the concrete that contained 0 % recycled coarse aggregate and varying amounts of plastic fibres had a greater degree of workability compared with concrete that had either 50 % or 100 % recycled coarse aggregate. The comprehensive test findings demonstrated that the addition of polyethylene terephthalate fibres decreased compressive and split tensile strength. The study concluded that certain parameters, such as plastic fibres, curing days, and recycled aggregate, interacted together in a synergistic manner to impact the compressive and splitting tensile strengths of the concrete, with proposed equations for their prediction

EFFECT OF WASTE POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE BOTTLE FIBERS ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF RECYCLED CONCRETE

The use of beverage containers, most of which are made of polyethylene terephthalate bottles, results in several problems with regard to sustainability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and contrast the impact on the mechanical characteristics of concrete caused by the incorporation of polyethylene terephthalate bottle fibres in varying amounts. These fibres were generated by cutting bottles into precise dimensions (width of 5 mm and length of 25 mm), and they were used in various concentrations such as 0,25 %; 0,5 % and 1,0 % by volume of concrete with different amounts of recycled aggregate. To verify the reliability of the outcomes of the experiment, a statistical analysis was performed. According to the results, the concrete that contained 0 % recycled coarse aggregate and varying amounts of plastic fibres had a greater degree of workability compared with concrete that had either 50 % or 100 % recycled coarse aggregate. The comprehensive test findings demonstrated that the addition of polyethylene terephthalate fibres decreased compressive and split tensile strength. The study concluded that certain parameters, such as plastic fibres, curing days, and recycled aggregate, interacted together in a synergistic manner to impact the compressive and splitting tensile strengths of the concrete, with proposed equations for their prediction

Genes Involved in Oxidative Stress Pathways Are Differentially Expressed in Circulating Mononuclear Cells Derived From Obese Insulin-Resistant and Lean Insulin-Sensitive Individuals Following a Single Mixed-Meal Challenge.

Background: Oxidative stress induced by nutritional overload has been linked to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, which is associated with metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes and diabetic vascular complications. Postprandial changes in expression of oxidative stress pathway genes in obese vs. lean individuals, following intake of different types of meals varying in macronutrient composition have not been characterized to date. Here we aimed to test whether/how oxidative stress responses in obese vs. lean individuals are modulated by meal composition. Methods: High-carbohydrate (HC), high-fat (HF), or high-protein (HP) liquid mixed meals were administered to study subjects (lean insulin-sensitive, n = 9 and obese insulin-resistant, n = 9). Plasma levels of glucose and insulin, lipid profile, urinary F2-isoprostanes (F2-IsoP), and expression levels of genes of oxidative stress pathways were assessed in mononuclear cells (MNC) derived from fresh peripheral blood, at baseline and up to 6-h postprandial states. Differences in these parameters were compared between insulin-sensitive/resistant groups undergoing aforementioned meal challenges. Results: Obese individuals exhibited increased pro-oxidant (i.e., CYBB and CYBA) and anti-oxidant (i.e., TXN RD1) gene expression in the postprandial state, compared with lean subjects, regardless of meal type (P interaction for group × time < 0.05). By contrast, lean subjects had higher expression of NCF-4 gene (pro-oxidant) after HC meal and SOD1 gene (anti-oxidant) after HC and HF meals (P interaction for group × meal < 0.05). There was an increase in postprandial level of urinary F2-IsoP in the obese (P < 0.05) but not lean group. Conclusions: These findings may represent an adaptive oxidative response to mitigate increased stress induced by acute nutritional excess. Further, the results suggest an increased predisposition of obese subjects to oxidative stress. Chronic nutritional excess resulting in increases in body weight and adiposity might lead to decompensation leading to worsening insulin resistance and its sequel. Insights from this study could impact on nutritional recommendations for obese subjects at high-risk of cardiovascular diseases

Heredity of type 2 diabetes confers increased susceptibility to oxidative stress and inflammation.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Heredity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with greater risk for developing T2DM. Thus, individuals who have a first-degree relative with T2DM (FDRT) provide a natural model to study factors of susceptibility towards development of T2DM, which are poorly understood. Emerging key players in T2DM pathophysiology such as adverse oxidative stress and inflammatory responses could be among possible mechanisms that predispose FDRTs to develop T2DM. Here, we aimed to examine the role of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses as mediators of this excess risk by studying dynamic postprandial responses in FDRTs. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In this open-label case-control study, we recruited normoglycemic men with (n=9) or without (n=9) a family history of T2DM. We assessed plasma glucose, insulin, lipid profile, cytokines and F2-isoprostanes, expression levels of oxidative and inflammatory genes/proteins in circulating mononuclear cells (MNC), myotubes and adipocytes at baseline (fasting state), and after consumption of a carbohydrate-rich liquid meal or insulin stimulation. RESULTS: Postprandial glucose and insulin responses were not different between groups. Expression of oxidant transcription factor NRF2 protein (p<0.05 for myotubes) and gene (pgroup=0.002, ptime×group=0.016), along with its target genes TXNRD1 (pgroup=0.004, ptime×group=0.007), GPX3 (pgroup=0.011, ptime×group=0.019) and SOD-1 (pgroup=0.046 and ptime×group=0.191) was upregulated in FDRT-derived MNC after meal ingestion or insulin stimulation. Synergistically, expression of target genes of inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (pgroup=0.001, ptime×group=0.007) was greater in FDRT-derived MNC than in non-FDRT-derived MNC after meal ingestion or insulin stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings shed light on how heredity of T2DM confers increased susceptibility to oxidative stress and inflammation. This could provide early insights into the underlying mechanisms and future risk of FDRTs for developing T2DM and its associated complications

Reply to: ‘Browning capabilities of human primary adipose-derived stromal cells compared to SGBS cells’

10.1038/s41598-020-64706-wScientific Reports101963