Teaching style differences between male and female science teachers in qatari schools: Possible impact on student achievement

In Qatar's gender-segregated public schools, female students outperform male students in international science tests such as PISA and TIMMS. In contrast to the international trend for top performing countries, however, female students report lower levels of interest in science-based careers than males. One possible factor that may contribute to this discrepancy is the difference in teaching styles between female teachers and their male counterparts. In this paper we focus on results obtained from 105 classroom observations (39 males and 66 females) selected from 50 different public schools as part of two independent research projects to study the motivation factors and attitudes toward and interest in science among Qatari students. In addition, 40 semi-structured interviews of students, teachers and administrators were conducted. The observations were guided using an adopted Reformed Teaching Observation Protocol (RTOP) evaluation rubric consisting of 13 teaching traits which provides a standardized mean for detecting the degree to which science classroom instruction is reformed through a focus on Lesson Design, Content, Pedagogic Knowledge and classroom culture. Female teachers provided better delivery during theory classes, whereas male teachers demonstrated better performance in laboratory-based classes. - 2019 by the authors.The NPRP 8-503-5-065 team members would like to thank the Qatar National Research Fund for the generous support of this research through the National Priority Research Program. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this report are those of the principle investigators and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Qatar National Research Fund; QNRF has not approved or endorsed its content. We would also like to thank the many students, teachers, administrators, and staff who made this study possible. We deeply appreciate their contributions and professionalism.Scopu

Comparing Likert Scale Functionality Across Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Groups in Science Education Research: an Illustration Using Qatari Students’ Responses to an Attitude Toward Science Survey

Surveying is a common methodology in science education research, including cross-national and cross-cultural comparisons. The literature surrounding students’ attitudes toward science, in particular, illustrates the prevalence of efforts to translate instruments with the eventual goal of comparing groups. This paper utilizes survey data from a nationally representative cross-sectional study of Qatari students in grades 3 through 12 to frame a discussion around the adequacy and extent to which common adaptations allow comparisons to be made among linguistically or culturally different respondents. The analytic sample contained 2,615 students who responded to a previously validated 32-item instrument, 1,704 of whom completed the survey in Modern Standard Arabic and 911 in English. The purpose of using these data is to scrutinize variation in the performance of the instrument between groups of respondents as determined by language of survey completion and cultural heritage. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was employed to investigate issues of validity associated with the performance of the survey with each group, and to evaluate the appropriateness of using this instrument to make simultaneous comparisons across the distinct groups. Findings underscore the limitations of group comparability that may persist even when issues of translation and adaptation were heavily attended to during instrument development

Primary congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries and relation to atherosclerosis: an angiographic study in Lebanon

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Most coronary artery anomalies are congenital in origin. This study angiographically determined the prevalence of different forms of anomalous aortic origins of coronary anomalies and their anatomic variation in a selected adult Lebanese population. Correlation between these anomalies and stenotic coronary atherosclerotic disease was also investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>4650 coronary angiographies were analyzed for anomalous aortic origin. These anomalies were clustered in four main groups: anomalous left circumflex (LCX) coronary artery, anomalous right coronary artery, anomalous left main coronary artery and anomalous left anterior descending coronary artery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty four patients had anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries. Of these, anomalous LCX coronary artery was the most common (19 of 34 patients). The second most common anomaly was anomalous RCA origin (9 of 34 patients.) The incidence of coronary stenosis in non-anomalous vessels was 50%. However, a significantly smaller percentage (17.46%; 6 of 34 patients) of anomalous vessels exhibited significant stenosis, reminiscent of atherosclerotic disease. Of these six vessels, five were LCX coronary artery arising from right coronary sinus or from early branch of right coronary artery. The sixth was right coronary artery arising from left coronary sinus.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The incidence of congenital coronary anomalies in Lebanon is similar to other populations where the most common is the LCX coronary artery. Isolated congenital coronary anomalies do not increase the risk of developing coronary stenosis or atherosclerosis. Angiographic detection of these anomalies is clinically important for coronary angioplasty or cardiac surgery.</p

Factors affecting age-appropriate timeliness of vaccination coverage among children in Lebanon [version 1; referees: 2 approved]

Background: The effect of immunization does not only depend on its completeness, but also on its timely administration. Routine childhood vaccinations schedules recommend that children receive the vaccine doses at specific ages. This article attempts to assess timeliness of routine vaccination coverage among a sub-sample of children from a survey conducted in 2016. Methods: This analysis was based on data from a cross-sectional multistage cluster survey conducted between December 2015 and June 2016 among caregivers of children aged 12-59 months in all of Lebanon using a structured survey questionnaire. The analysis used Kaplan–Meier curves and logistic regression to identify the predictors of age-appropriate immunization. Results: Among the 493 randomly selected children, timely administration of the third dose of polio vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP)-containing vaccine and hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine occurred in about one-quarter of children. About two-thirds of children received the second dose of a measles-containing vaccine (MCV) within the age interval recommended by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). Several factors including socio-demographic, knowledge, beliefs and practices were found to be associated with age-appropriate vaccination; however, this association differed between the types and doses of vaccine. Important factors associated with timely vaccination included being Lebanese as opposed to Syrian and being born in a hospital for hepatitis B birth dose; believing that vaccination status was up-to-date was related to untimely vaccination. Conclusions: The results suggest that there is reason for concern over the timeliness of vaccination in Lebanon. Special efforts need to be directed towards the inclusion of timeliness of vaccination as another indicator of the performance of the EPI in Lebanon

Effect of nocturnal hypoxemia on glycemic control among diabetic Saudi patients presenting with obstructive sleep apnea

BackgroundObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disease that is associated with an increased incidence of type II diabetes mellitus (DM) if left untreated. We aimed to determine the association between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and both nocturnal hypoxemia and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) among a Saudi patients with OSA.MethodsA cross-sectional study that enrolled 103 adult patients diagnosed with DM and confirmed to have OSA by full night attended polysomnography between 2018 and 2021. Those who presented with acute illness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)/restrictive lung diseases causing sleep-related hypoxemia, or no available HbA1c level within 6 months before polysomnography were excluded from the study. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses between HbA1c levels and parameters of interest were tested.ResultsSixty-seven (65%) of the studied population had uncontrolled DM (HbA1c ≥7%). In univariate regression analysis, there was a significant positive association between HbA1c, and sleep time spent with an oxygen saturation below 90% (T90), female gender, and body mass index (BMI) (p&lt;0.05) but not AHI, or associated comorbidities (p&gt;0.05). In the multivariate analysis, HbA1c was positively associated with increasing T90 (p&lt;0.05), and ODI (p&lt;0.05), but not with AHI (p&gt;0.05).ConclusionNocturnal hypoxemia could be an important factor affecting glycemic control in patients with OSA suffering from DM irrespective of the severity of both diseases

Obeticholic acid for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: interim analysis from a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial

Background Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common type of chronic liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis. Obeticholic acid, a farnesoid X receptor agonist, has been shown to improve the histological features of NASH. Here we report results from a planned interim analysis of an ongoing, phase 3 study of obeticholic acid for NASH. Methods In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, adult patients with definite NASH,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score of at least 4, and fibrosis stages F2–F3, or F1 with at least oneaccompanying comorbidity, were randomly assigned using an interactive web response system in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive oral placebo, obeticholic acid 10 mg, or obeticholic acid 25 mg daily. Patients were excluded if cirrhosis, other chronic liver disease, elevated alcohol consumption, or confounding conditions were present. The primary endpointsfor the month-18 interim analysis were fibrosis improvement (≥1 stage) with no worsening of NASH, or NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis, with the study considered successful if either primary endpoint was met. Primary analyses were done by intention to treat, in patients with fibrosis stage F2–F3 who received at least one dose of treatment and reached, or would have reached, the month 18 visit by the prespecified interim analysis cutoff date. The study also evaluated other histological and biochemical markers of NASH and fibrosis, and safety. This study is ongoing, and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02548351, and EudraCT, 20150-025601-6. Findings Between Dec 9, 2015, and Oct 26, 2018, 1968 patients with stage F1–F3 fibrosis were enrolled and received at least one dose of study treatment; 931 patients with stage F2–F3 fibrosis were included in the primary analysis (311 in the placebo group, 312 in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 308 in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). The fibrosis improvement endpoint was achieved by 37 (12%) patients in the placebo group, 55 (18%) in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group (p=0·045), and 71 (23%) in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group (p=0·0002). The NASH resolution endpoint was not met (25 [8%] patients in the placebo group, 35 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group [p=0·18], and 36 [12%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group [p=0·13]). In the safety population (1968 patients with fibrosis stages F1–F3), the most common adverse event was pruritus (123 [19%] in the placebo group, 183 [28%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 336 [51%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group); incidence was generally mild to moderate in severity. The overall safety profile was similar to that in previous studies, and incidence of serious adverse events was similar across treatment groups (75 [11%] patients in the placebo group, 72 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 93 [14%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). Interpretation Obeticholic acid 25 mg significantly improved fibrosis and key components of NASH disease activity among patients with NASH. The results from this planned interim analysis show clinically significant histological improvement that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. This study is ongoing to assess clinical outcomes

بعض خصائص ادمصاص جزئيات ديسايل ودوديسايل كبريتات الصوديوم (كمواد مستحلبة) على سطح دقائق اللاتكس المحضرة بدون مادة مستحلبة

The adsorption characteristics of sodium decyl and dodecyl sulphates on polystyrene latex particles have been investigated. The study involves the addition of known amounts of the surfactant to an emulsifier-free latex, allowed to equilibrate at 33°C, and separating the two phases by a high speed centrifugation. The remaining concentration of the emulsifier is complexed with a solution of methylene blue and extracted by an organic solvent . the absorption of the organic phase is then measured at 610 nm. The adsorption isotherm is determined from the concentration profile from which the amount of emulsifier adsorbed is calculated. Knowing the average particle size, and consequently, number concentration of latex particles, allows the calculation of the moleculer area, Ag of the emulsifier in the saturated monolayer at the interface. This was found to be as 62A°2 for the decyl sulphate and 37A °2 for dodecyl sulphate in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl. The limiting molecular area, Ao were, respectively, 59 and 28 A° . The presence of electrolyte displaces the isotherms to lower equilibrium concentrations and, greatly, reduces the extent of hydrolysis of the surfactants.تم في هذا البحث تعيين منحني الادمصاص لكل من المادتين المستحلبتين ، على سطح دقائق لاتكس البولي ستايرين المحضر بدون إضافة مادة مستحلبة ، وذلك بتعيين تركيز المادة المستحلبة الموجود في حالة توازن مع تركيزها السطحي ( المدمص ) على سطح دقائق اللاتكس . ‏تم حساب التراكيز بعد إضافة المادة المستحلبة (عند تراكيز أولية مختلفة) وتركها في تماس مع اللاتكس، في درجة حرارة 33م ، الى حين حصول حالة التوازن ومن ثم فصل دقائق البوليمر بواسطة الطرد المركزي، وقياس التركيز بواسطة المطياف الضوئي بعد اضافة صبغة المثيلين الزرقاء واستخلاص المركب المعقد بواسطة مذيب عضوي . ‏ومن معرفة معدل قطر الجزئيات (تم قياسه بواسطة جهاز التشتت الضوئي ) وحساب تركيز الجزيئات والمساحة السطحية الكلية، تم حساب المساحة السطحية الجزيئية للمركب المستحلب (التي تشغلها جزيئة واحدة من المركب ) على سطح دقائق البوليمر، حيث وجد بأن جزيئة دوديسايل كبريتات الصوديوم تشغل ماحة قدرها 62 ‏أنجستروم وتشغل جزيئة دوديسايل كبريتات الصوديوم مساحة قدرها37 ‏أنجستروم بوجود 0.1 مولاري من محلول كلوريد الصوديوم . في حين تشغل كل جزيئة منها مساحة سطحية محددة بمقدار 59 و 28 ‏أنجستروم على التوالي ( المساحة السطحية المحددة هي المساحة التي تشغلها كل جزيئة من المادة المستحلبة على فرض أن جميع الجزيئات المضافة الى السطح يتم ادمصامها ) . ‏تبين ايضا بأن وجود الالكتروليت يعمل على إزاحة المنحنيات نحو تراكيز توازن واطئة ويقلل من احتمالية حصول التحلل المائي الجزئي للمركبات المستحلبة