CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS FOR TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION IN JORDANIAN HEALTHCARE SECTOR

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of creativity and innovation on the critical success factors of total quality management TQM implementation in the Jordanian healthcare sector. A survey conducted through distributing 377 questionnaires to healthcare managers working at six different Jordanian hospitals. 292 questionnaires were returned and the response rate was 77.4%. One way- ANOVA test was used to examine the difference in the patterns of creativity and innovation among healthcare managers with respect to the critical success factors of TQM implementation, and multiple regression analysis was conducted to test the impact of independent variable on dependent variables. The results found that there is a statistically significant difference between the different patterns of creativity and innovation concerning the critical success factors of TQM implementation. Additionally the study concluded for a positive and significant effect for the patterns of creativity and innovation on the critical success factors of TQM implementation (β=1.54, t=5.09, p=0.000)

THE IMPACT OF CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION ON THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT BENEFITS AMONG HEALTHCARE MANAGERS IN JORDAN

This study aims to investigate the effect of creativity and innovation on the level of knowledge and understanding of total quality management TQM benefits in healthcare sector. A survey conducted through selfadministered questionnaires distributed among healthcare managers working in six Jordanian hospitals. The questionnaire consisted of three parts; demographic variables, creativity and innovation data, and TQM level of knowledge and understanding data. Study sample included 292 respondents. The results found that there is a statistically significant impact for the patterns of creativity and innovation on the overall level of knowledge and understanding of TQM benefits in the Jordanian healthcare secto

Effect of fallow and non-fallow with sugarbeet on maize (Zea mays L.) performance in Guneid Sugar Scheme

يعتبر ترك الأرض بورٵ (بدون زراعة) لفترة محددة من أهم مكونات الدورة الزراعية لتحسين خواص التربة و قد يستعاض عنه بزراعة محصول بقولي حولي لتثبيت النيتروجين. يقترح زراعة بنجر السكر بمشروع سكر الجنيد وبعض مشاريع السكر الأخرى بالسودان للاستفادة من الأرض التي لا تجود فيها زراعة قصب السكر و لخلق نوع من الدورة الزراعية. بنجر السكر محصول حولي يشغل الأرض لفترة محددة و باقي العام يمكن زراعة محصول علفي حولي مثل الذرة الشامية. هدفت هذه الدراسة لمعرفة تأثير البور على إنتاجية علف غلة الذرة الشامية. نفذت التجربة في الفترة ما بين نوفمبر 2014 و مارس 2016 بمعاملتين (1) تركت قطع أرض بورٵ من نوفمبر 2014 حتى نوفمبر 2015 و (2) زرعت قطع أرض أخرى بمحصول بنجر السكر من نوفمبر 2014 و حتى أبريل 2015 ثم تركت بورا حتى نوفمبر 2015. زرعت كل القطع بمحصول الذرة الشامية في نوفمبر 2015 و لم تضاف أي أسمدة للتجربة وحصدت في مارس 2016. أستخدم التصميم العشوائي الكامل لجمع بيانات عن نمو وإنتاجية غلة وعلف الذرة الشامية. أظهرت نتائج الدراسة تفوق كامل للمحصول الذى زرع بالأرض البور على الأرض التي زرعت ببنجر السكر في كل الصفات المقاسة. كانت نسبة الزيادة كالآتي: 68 و 91 و 29 و 84 و 154 و 227% لصفات طول النبات وطول الكوز وعدد الكيزان للفدان و وزن المائة حبة و إنتاجية العلف الأخضر للفدان و إنتاجية الحبوب للفدان على التوالي. كانت إنتاجية الأرض من البور و الغير بور من العلف الأخضر 15.5 و 6.1 طن للفدان على التوالي، أما عن الغلة فكانت 0.72 و 0.22 طن للفدان. التوصية بترك الأرض بورا تقابل بعدة مشاكل منها الناحية الاقتصادية وإقناع المزارع بترك أرضه بورٵ لمدة عام كامل. كما أن الأرض البور تعتبر مرعى للحيوانات مما يسبب مشكل كتصلب التربة و تكوين طبقات غير نافذة. عليه يجب الإجابة على هذه الملاحظات قبل التوصية. إلا أنه في مشاريع السكر الأخرى في السودان و التي تعتمد سياسة زراعة قصب سكر بعد قصب سكر بدون أي بور وليس بها مزارعين، يجب اعتماد فترة بور مناسبة لاستعادة خصوبة التربة كما أنه في حالة زراعة محاصيل شرهة التغذية كقصب السكر و بنجر السكر يجب إتباع معاملة تسميديه واعي

Meloxicam and study of their antimicrobial effects against phyto- and human pathogens

Recently, the design of new biological metal-ligand complexes has gained a special interest all over the world. In this research, new series of mixed ligand complexes from meloxicam (H2mel) and glycine (Gly) were synthesized. Structures of the compounds were investigated employing elemental analyses, infrared, electronic absorption, 1H NMR, thermal analyses, effective magnetic moment and conductivity. The estimated molar conductivity of the compounds in 1*10-3 M DMF solution indicates the non-electrolyte existence of the examined complexes. Additionally, the effective magnetic moment values refer to the complexes found as octahedral molecular geometry. The data of the infrared spectra showed the chelation of H2mel and Gly with metal ions from amide oxygen and nitrogen of the thyizol groups of H2mel and through nitrogen of the amide group and oxygen of the carboxylic group for Gly. Thermal analyses indicated that the new complexes have good thermal stability and initially lose hydration water molecules followed by coordinated water molecules, Gly and H2mel. The kinetic parameters were calculated graphically using Coats-Redfern and Horowitz-Metzeger methods at n = 1 and n 6= 1. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed at B3LYP levels. The optimized geometry of the ligand and its complexes were obtained based on the optimized structures. The data indicated that the complexes are soft with n value in the range 0.114 to 0.086, while n = 0.140 for free H2mel. The new prepared complexes were investigated as antibacterial and antifungal agents against some phyto- and human pathogens and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data showed that complex (A) has the lowest MIC for Listeria and E. coli (10.8 ug/mL)

Synthesis of tacrine analogues derived from n-aryl-5-amino-4-cyanopyrazoles

Synthesis of eleven tacrine analogues derived from N-aryl-5-amino-4-cyanopyrazoles, by a Friedländer type reaction, is described. Their structures were confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and/or mass spectrometry.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and FEDER (POCTI-SFA-3-686

Heterocyclic synthesis with nitriles: synthesis of pyrazolopyrimidine and pyrazolopyridine derivatives

The reaction of N1-substituted-5-amino-4-cyanopyrazoles with malononitrile and diethylmalonate occurs with formation of 6-substituted pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines, and pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines respectively. The structures of the products and conceivable mechanisms are discussed.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - SFRH/BPD/31490/2006Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) - POCTI-SFA-3-68

Albumin nanoparticles Preparation, Characterization and In-Vitro Safety Evaluation

The goal of this study was to prepare and characterize albumin nanoparticles to be later used as a drug delivery system. The utilization of nanoparticles as a delivery system for antimicrobial drugs has arisen recently which solve many problems and enhance the traditional treatment with this antimicrobial drugs. In this study, nanoparticles of bovine serum albumen were successfully obtained using a coacervation process (separation of proteins in two liquid phases in colloidal systems). The prepared nanoparticles were nearly spherical in shape and have smooth surface as determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The sizes of the obtained nanoparticles were 70 ± 10 nm with negative surface zeta potential. Additionally, the in vitro safety of albumin nanoparticles has been demonstrated. Both cytotoxicity and genotoxicity studies indicated that, there is no observed toxic effect of nano-albumin on lymphocyte cell line. Also, the results showed that the albumin nanoparticles enhances and promotes the response of immune system

New insights into colloidal gold flakes: structural investigation, micro-ellipsometry and thinning procedure towards ultrathin monocrystalline layers

High-quality fabrication of plasmonic devices often relies on wet-chemically grown ultraflat, presumably single-crystalline gold flakes due to their superior materials properties. However, important details about their intrinsic structure and their optical properties are not well understood yet. In this study, we present a synthesis routine for large flakes with diameters of up to 70 μm and an in-depth investigation of their structural and optical properties. The flakes are precisely analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction and micro-ellipsometry. We found new evidence for the existence of twins extending parallel to the Au flake {111} surfaces which have been found to not interfere with the presented nanopatterning. Micro-Ellipsometry was carried out to determine the complex dielectric function and to compare it to previous measurements of bulk single crystalline gold. Finally, we used focused ion beam milling to prepare smooth crystalline layers and high-quality nanostructures with desired thickness down to 10 nm to demonstrate the outstanding properties of the flakes. Our findings support the plasmonics and nano optics community with a better understanding of this material which is ideally suited for superior plasmonic nanostructures

Anticancer effects of punicalagin and 5-fluorouracil on laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: an <i>in vitro</i> study

The purpose of this study was to assess the apoptotic effects of punicalagin alone and in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (Hep-2) cell line. Hep-2 cells were cultured and divided into four groups: Group 1 received no therapy and served as control, Group 2 received 5-FU only, Group 3 received punicalagin only, and Group 4 received a combination of 5-FU and punicalagin. After 48 hours of incubation, cellular changes were examined under an inverted microscope. The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay, caspase-3 gene level, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level were assessed. The control group showed the highest mean value of cancer cell proliferation rate (1.595±0.58), followed by the punicalagin group (1.263±0.447), then the 5-FU group (0.827±0.256), while the combination group showed the lowest proliferation rate (0.253±0.111). The combination group showed the highest mean value of caspase-3 concentration (3.177±0.736), followed by the 5-FU group (1.830±0.646), and punicalagin group (0.741±0.302), while the control group showed the lowest mean value (0.359±0.117). Regarding VEGF levels, the control group had a statistically significant higher mean value, followed by the punicalagin and 5-FU groups, and finally, the combination group which showed the lowest value. Punicalagin exerts an anticancer effect through anti-proliferative action and induction of apoptosis on Hep-2 cell line. Combining punicalagin with 5-FU potentiates its anti-proliferative, apoptotic, and anti-angiogenic actions. It, further, helps in mitigating the putative side effects of 5-FU by reducing the dose required for its therapeutic effects

Phenotypic effects of mutations observed in the neuraminidase of human origin H5N1 influenza A viruses

Global spread and regional endemicity of H5Nx Goose/Guangdong avian influenza viruses (AIV) pose a continuous threat for poultry production and zoonotic, potentially pre-pandemic, transmission to humans. Little is known about the role of mutations in the viral neuraminidase (NA) that accompanied bird-to-human transmission to support AIV infection of mammals. Here, after detailed analysis of the NA sequence of human H5N1 viruses, we studied the role of A46D, L204M, S319F and S430G mutations in virus fitness in vitro and in vivo. Although H5N1 AIV carrying avian- or human-like NAs had similar replication efficiency in avian cells, human-like NA enhanced virus replication in human airway epithelia. The L204M substitution consistently reduced NA activity of H5N1 and nine other influenza viruses carrying NA of groups 1 and 2, indicating a universal effect. Compared to the avian ancestor, human-like H5N1 virus has less NA incorporated in the virion, reduced levels of viral NA RNA replication and NA expression. We also demonstrate increased accumulation of NA at the plasma membrane, reduced virus release and enhanced cell-to-cell spread. Furthermore, NA mutations increased virus binding to human-type receptors. While not affecting high virulence of H5N1 in chickens, the studied NA mutations modulated virulence and replication of H5N1 AIV in mice and to a lesser extent in ferrets. Together, mutations in the NA of human H5N1 viruses play different roles in infection of mammals without affecting virulence or transmission in chickens. These results are important to understand the genetic determinants for replication of AIV in mammals and should assist in the prediction of AIV with zoonotic potential