The Real Estate Sector in Jordan Reality and Prospects

The successive migrations of Jordan have had a clear impact on overall demographic, social and economic changes in general. And the real estate sector in particular. The population of Jordan according to the general census of population and housing was 979,900,000 in 2015 and those with Jordanian nationality 6613584 people, or less than 67.5% of those on Jordanian soil, the Dependency ratio was high 62% and the proportion of the urban population was 90.3% and the rural population was 9.7%. and the total number of households was 2032.8 thousand families, the number of Jordanian families within the 1372000 families and the families involved in the real estate product were 1239 thousand families. As a result of this demographic growth Residential need rose before the Gulf war, which were within the 21000 unit to 33000 residential unit to 55000 units annually in 2011 after Syrian asylum. This resulted in a significant increase in property prices statistical data showed that real estate asset price index in Jordan rose from 81.3 points in 2007 to 121.2 points in 2016 and residential real estate prices have risen in the last ten years by 54% and the land within the organization is one of the reasons for this high ratio which reached  more than 66%, with these rises in property prices which is not accompanied by a positive impact .As a result of the above many problems represent the imbalance in the real estate sector, notably: 1- The trend of many households to spend on housing at the expense of basic needs and that weaker demand for production and services and limited the increase in incomes if we know that the salaried employees 86.9% proportion in the Jordanian economy and the saving ratio in 2014-2016 years is negative. 2. the high cost of housing and the inability of a large segment of citizens to buy real estate. 3. the gap between housing product and demand in the real estate market. 4. the Real estate sales declined by more than 35% 5. difficult housing conditions and lending guarantees and weak sustainability programmes of support for housing finance. 6. stumbled in repayment of loans by investors which threatens the credit sector and predicts financial crisis in Jordan. Keywords: Real Estate, Economic Growth, Population, Housing Unit, Real Estate Investment

The Effect of Electronic Auditing In Reducing The Burden of Electronic Environment Complexity of Accounting Information System on The Auditor

This study aims to show the effect of Electronic Auditing in reducing the burden of Electronic Environment Complexity of Accounting Information System on the Auditor. So as to achieve the study objectives, a questionnaire has been prepared consisting of 17 paragraphs related to the capacity of Electronic Auditing System in reducing the complexity of Electronic Environment that external auditors face when they are asked to audit accounts of a company that uses Electronic Accounting Information System. The complexity of Electronic Environment has been determined through an interview made with a number of programmers of Accounting Information System and number of Auditors who use Electronic System in auditing, 100 questionnaires were distributed on external auditors working in Auditing offices in Amman that were chosen randomly. Out of the total   questionnaires 92 have been collected valid to be analyzed with 92% response. The study reached to a conclusion that  there is an effect to the Electronic Auditing System in reducing the burden of Electronic Environment Complexity of Accounting Information System on the Auditor regarding to the increasing Trust Factor and the dealing with multi–generation of Electronic Accounting Information System, and in following up mistakes and sorting them out directly…etc. The two researchers recommend that auditors increase their interest in Electronic Auditing Field, because of its impact in reducing the burden of Electronic Environment Complexity of Accounting Information System on the Auditor, and confirming the accuracy and authenticity of data from Accounting Information Systems. Keywords: Electronic Auditing, Accounting Information System, Complexity of Electronic Environment.

Carbohydrates and lipids metabolic enzymes inhibitory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic potentials of Anchusa ovata Lehm. from Palestine

Introduction: Throughout history, therapeutically active plant products have received substantial attention due to their valuable role in the discoveries of specific medications. The aim of this study was to assess, for the first time, the antimicrobial, antioxidant, antilipase, anti-α-amylase and cytotoxic properties of four fractions derived from Anchusa ovata Lehm. (AO) leaves. Methods: Antioxidant, antilipase and anti-amylase potentials of (AO) were established using DPPH (1,1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl), p-nitrophenyl butyrate and dinitro-salicylic acid procedures, respectively, while antimicrobial activity was conducted using broth microdilution assay against eight Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacterial strains in addition to one fungal strain. Moreover, the MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)- 2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium] cytotoxic assay was utilized against cervical cancer cells (HeLa). Results: The methanol fraction of AO showed potential antioxidant, antilipase, and α-amylase inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 9.55 ± 0.13, 53.7 ± 0.41 and 16.55 ± 1.84 μg/ml, respectively compared with the positive controls Trolox, Orlistat and Acarbose that had IC50 values of 3.23 ± 0.92, 12.3 ± 0.35 and 28.18 ± 1.22 μg/ml, respectively. Moreover, the hexane, acetone, and methanol fractions had wide ranges of antimicrobial potential. In addition, the cytotoxic activity outcomes which showed the best activity was for the aqueous followed by acetone, hexane and methanol fractions with IC50 values of 1.04, 2.72, 3.96 and 17.67 mg/ ml, respectively. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate a wide range of biological characteristics for each AO plant fraction. This profiling information about the methanol fraction provided important data for further research and pharmaceutical applications.The authors would like to acknowledge the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at An-Najah National University for facilitating the accomplishment of the current study

Identification of P. aeruginosa binding molecules for complement component C3 and surfactant protein A

[eng] Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major opportunistic pathogen and a leading cause of severe nosocomial pneumonia and sepsis. Surfactant proteins and the complement system play a critical role in the host defense against P. aeruginosa infections. Nevertheless, the bacterial targets of the surfactant protein A (SP-A), the major surfactant protein in the lung, and the component C3, the central component of the complement system, remain poorly investigated. The objectives of this study were; i) to characterize the interaction between SP-A and a collection of chronic isogenic sequential isolates from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients to identify the SP-A-binding molecules of P. aeruginosa and the mechanism adopted by these isolates to resist the SP-A mediated clearance and ii) to identify novel C3 binding molecules of P. aeruginosa as well as to characterize new strategies that this pathogen uses to elude the complement system effects. Research content: To achieve the first objective, we used a combination of in vitro approaches, including binding assays with human purified SP-A, mass spectrometry analysis, genetic loss of function/gain of function of selected bacterial genes and phagocytosis assays with human macrophages. We characterized the interplay between SP-A and a collection of isogenic sequential isolates from seven CF patients. We identified outer membrane protein OprH as a novel ligand for SPA on P. aeruginosa. Late isolates from CF patients bound significantly less SP-A than their respective early isolates. This difference could be associated with a reduction in the expression of OprH. Binding of SP-A to OprH promoted phagocytic killing, thus late isolates from CF patients were at least two-fold more resistant to SP-A mediated killing by human macrophages than their respective early isolates. Our second objective, the identification of novel P. aeruginosa C3 binding molecules, arose from a study originally designed to investigate the role of PhoQ in P. aeruginosa bloodstream infections. We observed that a PhoQ-deficient mutant was avirulent in a murine model of systemic infection and did not cause bacteremia. In the presence of blood concentrations of Mg2+, a PhoQ mutant bound more C3 and was more susceptible to complement-mediated opsonophagocytosis than the parent strain, suggesting a direct effect of the Mg2+ on the modulation of expression of a bacterial component by the PhoP/PhoQ system. Ligand blot analysis, C3 binding experiments and opsonophagocytosis assays identified this component as the outer membrane protein OprH. Conclusion: We have shown that OprH is a novel P. aeruginosa SP-A-acceptor molecule on CF isolates. We postulate that reduction of OprH expression is a previously unrecognized adaptation of P. aeruginosa to CF lung that facilitates the escape of the microorganism from the SP-A-mediated phagocytic killing. Moreover, this study identifies PhoQ as an essential Mg2+ sensor for P. aeruginosa to avoid complement-mediated opsonophagocytosis due to the direct control that exerts on the expression of OprH, a previously unrecognized C3 binding molecule of P. aeruginosa.[spa] Introducción: Pseudomonas aeruginosa es uno de los principales patógenos causantes de neumonía nosocomial grave y sepsis. Las proteínas surfactantes y el sistema del complemento juegan un papel crítico en la defensa del huésped frente a las infecciones por P. aeruginosa. Sin embargo, las dianas bacterianas de la proteína surfactante A (PS-A), la principal proteína surfactante del pulmón, y de C3, el componente central del sistema del complemento, no han sido investigadas adecuadamente. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron: i) caracterizar la interacción entre la PS-A y una colección de aislados crónicos isogénicos de pacientes con fibrosis quística (FQ) para identificar las moléculas de unión de la PS-A en P. aeruginosa y el mecanismo adoptado por estos aislados para resistir la muerte mediada por la PS-A e ii) identificar nuevas moléculas de P. aeruginosa que unen C3, así como también caracterizar las estrategias que este patógeno utiliza para evadir los efectos del sistema del complemento. Contenido de la investigación: Para alcanzar el primer objetivo, se utilizó una combinación de distintas aproximaciones metodológicas in vitro incluyendo ensayos de unión con PS-A humana purificada, análisis de espectrometría de masas, pérdida genética de función / ganancia de función de genes bacterianos seleccionados y ensayos de fagocitosis con macrófagos humanos. Se caracterizó la interacción entre la PS-A y una colección de aislamientos secuenciales isogénicos de siete pacientes con FQ. Se identificó la proteína de membrana externa OprH como un nuevo ligando de PS-A en P. aeruginosa. Los aislados tardíos unieron significativamente menos PS-A que los aislamientos isogénicos tempranos, respectivos. Esta diferencia pudo asociarse a una reducción en la expresión de OprH. La unión de PS-A a OprH facilitó la eliminación de P. aeruginosa por fagocitosis. De esta forma, los aislados tardíos fueron al menos dos veces más resistentes a la eliminación por fagocitosis mediada por PS-A que sus aislados tempranos respectivos. La identificación de nuevas moléculas de P. aeruginosa que unen C3 surgió como resultado de un estudio diseñado para investigar el papel de PhoQ en las bacteremias causadas por P. aeruginosa. Se observó que un mutante deficiente en PhoQ era avirulento en un modelo murino de infección sistémica y no causaba bacteriemia. En presencia de concentraciones sanguíneas de Mg2+, el mutante en PhoQ unió más C3 y fue más susceptible a la opsonofagocitosis mediada por el complemento que la cepa parental, lo que sugería un efecto directo del Mg2+ sobre la modulación de la expresión de un componente bacteriano por el sistema PhoP/PhoQ. Los experimentos de unión a C3 y los ensayos de opsonofagocitosis identificaron a este componente como la proteína de membrana externa OprH. Conclusión: OprH es una nueva diana para la unión de PS-A en los aislados de P. aeruginosa de pacientes con FQ. La reducción de la expresión de OprH es una adaptación, previamente desconocida, que P. aeruginosa adopta en el pulmón con FQ para evadir la eliminación por la fagocitosis mediada por la PS-A. Hemos identificado a PhoQ como un sensor de Mg2+ esencial para que P. aeruginosa evite la opsonofagocitosis mediada por el complemento debido al control directo que ejerce sobre la expresión de OprH, una diana de C3, previamente desconocida, en P. aeruginosa.[cat] Introducció: Pseudomonas aeruginosa és un dels principals patògens causants de pneumònia nosocomial greu i sèpsia. Les proteïnes surfactants i el sistema del complement juguen un paper crític en la defensa de l'hoste enfront de les infeccions per P. aeruginosa. Malgrat això, les dianes bacterianes de la proteïna surfactant A (PS-A), la principal proteïna surfactant del pulmó, i de C3, el component central del sistema del complement, no s'han investigat adequadament. Els objectius d'aquest estudi van ser: i) caracteritzar la interacció entre la PS-A i una col·lecció d'aïllats crònics isogènics de pacients amb fibrosis quística (FQ) per identificar les molècules d'unió de PS-A a P. aeruginosa i el mecanisme adoptat per aquests aïllats per resistir la mort mediada per la PS-A i ii) identificar noves molècules de P. aeruginosa que uneixen C3, així com caracteritzar les estratègies que aquest patogen utilitza per evadir els efectes del sistema del complement. [cat] Contingut de la recerca: Per aconseguir el primer objectiu, es va utilitzar una combinació de diferents aproximacions metodològiques in vitro incloent assajos d'unió amb PS-A humana purificada, anàlisi d'espectrometria de masses, pèrdua genètica de funció / guany de funció de gens bacterians seleccionats i assajos de fagocitosis amb macròfags humans. Es va caracteritzar la interacció entre la PS-A i una col·lecció d'aïllaments seqüencials isogènics de set pacients amb FQ. Es va identificar la proteïna de membrana externa OprH com un nou lligant de la PS-A a P. aeruginosa. Els aïllats finals van unir significativament menys PS-A que els aïllaments isogènics inicials, respectius. Aquesta diferència va poder associar-se a una reducció en l'expressió de OprH. La unió de PS-A a OprH va facilitar l'eliminació per fagocitosi de P. aeruginosa. D'aquesta forma, els aïllats finals van ser almenys dues vegades més resistents a l'eliminació per fagocitosi mediada per la PS-A que els aïllats originals respectius. La identificació de noves molècules de P. aeruginosa que uneixen C3 va sorgir com a resultat d'un estudi originalment dissenyat per investigar el paper de PhoQ en les bacteremias causades per P. aeruginosa. Es va observar que un mutant deficient en PhoQ era avirulent en un model murí d'infecció sistémica i no causava bacteriemia. En presència de concentracions sanguínies de Mg2+, el mutant de PhoQ va unir més C3 i va ser més susceptible a l'opsonofagocitosis mediada pel complement que la soca parental, la qual cosa suggeria un efecte directe del Mg2+ sobre la modulació de l'expressió d'un component bacterià pel sistema PhoP/PhoQ. Els experiments d'unió de C3 i els assajos d'opsonofagocitosis van identificar a aquest component com la proteïna de membrana externa OprH. Conclusió: OprH és una nova diana per a la unió de PS-A en els aïllats de P. aeruginosa de pacients amb FQ. La reducció de l'expressió de OprH és una adaptació, prèviament desconeguda, que P. aeruginosa adopta en el pulmó amb FQ per evadir l'eliminació per la fagocitosi mediada per la PS-A. Hem identificat a PhoQ com un sensor de Mg2+ essencial per a que P. aeruginosa eviti l'opsonofagocitosis mediada pel complement a causa del control directe que exerceix sobre l'expressió de OprH, una diana de C3, prèviament desconeguda, en P. aeruginosa

Radiology Department: A Potential Source of Multidrug-Resistant Microorganisms: A Cross-Sectional Study at Tertiary Hospital, Palestine

Introduction. Globally, healthcare facilities face a great challenge in the form of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Aside from the morbidity and mortality they cause, these illnesses are also extremely costly. Research on infection transmission in the medical field has been considerable, but not so much in the radiology department. Aim. This study aims to identify the presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microbes on surfaces that are frequently touched in computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), plain X-ray examination rooms, and portable radiography that are susceptible to contamination as well as to investigate the potential dangers of contracting MDR organisms to patients and healthcare providers. Materials and Method. In this study, 160 swab samples were collected from the radiology department during May and June 2022. Samples were obtained from 80 predefined surfaces twice within and outside of CT and MRI examination rooms as well as from US and plain X-ray machines and portable X-ray machines. Samples were taken at 7:00 a.m. using cotton swabs following the regular cleaning procedure. Bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs) per square centimeter were calculated after swabbing a 100 cm2 surface. Results. Nearly all of the surfaces tested had bacterial CFUs. The highest contamination rate was found on keyboards ranging from (1.2–8) CFU/cm2, the sides of patient tables (1.2–20) CFU/cm2, knee coil (2.4–3) CFU/cm2, and patient leg supports (1.2–8) CFU/cm2. A noticeable increase in the contamination was noticed in June compared to May, and this was consistent with the increase in the number of isolated patients in the hospital, the workload in the radiology department, and the number of patients referred to the hospital. In our study, none of the examined sites showed contamination with MDR Gram-negative bacteria such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamases producing Enterobacterales (ESPL) or Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE). On the other hand, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRS), vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus (VRS), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) were detected. Conclusion. All of the radiology department equipment and sites could be a source of bacterial infection including MDR, so the obligatory and committed disinfection protocol must be revised and implemented in the morning and between patients

Colistin Resistance among Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from Clinical Samples in Gaza Strip

Bacterial infections, especially drug-resistant infections, are a major global health issue. The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Enterobacteriaceae and the lack of new antibiotics have worrisome prospects for all of humanity. Colistin is considered the last-line drug for MDR Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), and it is often used for treatment of respiratory infections caused by MDR-GNB. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the incidence of colistin-resistant infections. The main objective of this study was to investigate the presence of colistin resistance among clinical GNB isolated from Gaza Strip hospitals. Clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates (100) were obtained from microbiology laboratories of the hospitals of different geographical locations in Gaza Strip Governorate over a period of six months. Samples were cultured, and bacterial identification was performed by standard microbiological procedures. Enterobacteriaceae isolates were tested for their antimicrobial susceptibility by the disk diffusion method and the MIC method for colistin. Varying degrees of susceptibility were observed for the isolates against the tested antimicrobials even within members of the same antimicrobial class. Amikacin was the most effective drug (74%), followed by chloramphenicol (48%), fosfomycin, and gentamicin (45%). High resistance was recorded against trimethoprim (85%) and tetracycline (83%). Only 59% of the tested isolates were interpreted as susceptible, while 41% was classified as resistant. The highest resistance to colistin was found to be among the Proteus spp. (63.2%), followed by Serratia spp. (57.1%). The lowest resistance was observed among Klebsiella isolates (31.6%). Only 39.0% of meropenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae was susceptible to colistin, while 45.8% of imipenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae was susceptible to colistin. The overall resistance to colistin was high (41%) among tested clinical isolates. Furthermore, 89% was MDR. These limit and complicate treatment options for the infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae in Gaza Strip. This calls for immediate actions to control and monitor the use of antimicrobials in general and colistin in particular

Antiamylase, Antilipase, Antimicrobial, and Cytotoxic Activity of Nonea obtusifolia (Willd.) DC. from Palestine

Background. Medicinal plants are widely used in many cultures, traditions, and civilizations worldwide. Plants with high contents of the valuable biological compounds can efficiently cure many diseases. This study is aimed at assessing, for the first time, the anti-α-amylase, antilipase, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of Nonea obtusifolia (Willd.) DC. of five extracts from Palestine. Methods. The antimicrobial activity was estimated using well diffusion method for N. obtusifolia plant of five extracts against eight ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) and clinical isolates. The cytotoxic effects for these extracts were evaluated against HeLa (cervical) carcinoma cells using MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) assay. Moreover, the lipase and α-amylase inhibitory properties were determined using standard biomedical assays. Results. The acetone extract of N. obtusifolia plant showed a more potent α-amylase inhibitory compared with acarbose with IC50 values of 25.7±0.08 and 28.18±1.22 μg/ml, respectively. Additionally, the acetone and methanol extracts revealed moderate antilipase activity compared to orlistat with IC50 values of 30.19±0.11, 33.11±0.13, and 12.3±0.35 μg/ml, respectively. The methylene chloride extract was found to inhibit the growth of all the tested bacterial and fungal strains and also found to have potential cytotoxic effect against HeLa cancer cell line. Conclusion. This research work reports for the first time the biological activity of N. obtusifolia from Palestine, and the results were promising indicating that N. obtusifolia extracts contain valuable bioactive molecules that have a potential anti-α-amylase, antilipase, antibacterial, and antifungal cytotoxic potentials. Therefore, N. obtusifolia could have a medical significance in the future

REMOVAL OF POLLUTANTS USING RADIAL AND VERTICAL FLOW REGIME REACTORS

<p>Batch and continuous processes were conducted to study the adsorption of methylene blue dye on to three adsorbent materials, commercial activated carbon, chemically activated corncob carbon with phosphoric acid and ion exchange resin (akualite). Batch processes were established to show the effects of solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, agitation speed and initial dye concentration. Two isotherm models, Freundlich and Langmuir fitted with the experimental data found from batch processes, the Langmuir model fitted well than the Freundlich, with maximum adsorption capacities of 16.21, 30.95 and 77.52 mg/g and R2 of 0.952, 0.992 and 0.995 predicted by commercial activated carbon, corncob activated carbon akualite respectively. Series of column test for the three adsorbent materials at different three flow rates (0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 L/min) and three initial dye concentrations (15, 30 and 50 mg/l), the same volume of (775 ml) from adsorbent materials used for both radial and vertical reactors to make a comparison between the capacity of the adsorbent materials each with another and between the performance of radial and vertical flow regime reactors configurations on breakthrough curves behavior. Radial flow regime reactor showed good results in comparison with vertical flow regime reactor. </p> <br

Physicochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Whey Protein-Based Films Functionalized with Palestinian Satureja capitata Essential Oil

The present study aimed to produce bio-active packaging materials made of whey proteins (WPs) and essential oil (EO) extracted from Thymbra (Satureja capitata, L.), one of the most popular Palestinian wild plants. In this study, two different Thymbra leaves from Nablus and Qabatiya in Palestine were collected and analyzed for EOs by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Based on the analysis, two EOs, namely, TEO1 and TEO2, were extracted, and it was found that both samples primarily contain γ-terpinene and carvacrol, whereas p-cymene was detected only in TEO1. The antimicrobial activity of TEO1 and TEO2 was evaluated by microbroth microdilution assays against pathogenic bacteria and yeast. Based on the results, TEO1 exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against the test strains. Besides, TEO1 was chosen to functionalize WP-based films at different concentrations (0.1%, 0.4%, and 0.8% v/v of Film Forming Solutions). Film mechanical property investigation showed a marked reduction in the tensile strength and Young’s modulus at 0.8% TEO1. In contrast, its elongation at break value was significantly (p &lt; 0.05) increased due to the plasticizing effect of the EO. Moreover, the film transparency was found to be significantly (p &lt; 0.05) reduced by increasing TEO1 concentrations. Finally, microbiological investigations indicated that film antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria increased dose-dependently. The overall results open interesting perspectives for employing these films as preservative materials in food packaging