The Predictive Ability of the Dimensions of the Future Time Perspective in Self-regulated Learning among Yarmouk University Students

The study aimed to identify the most common dimensions of the future time perspective and to know the level of self-regulated learning among Yarmouk University students. It also aimed to investigate the predictive ability of the dimensions of the future time perspective in self-regulated learning. The study sample consisted of 704 students, 335 males and 369 females, who were selected based on a convenience sample method from among the students enrolled in the compulsory university requirements during the summer semester of the academic year 2017/2018. To achieve the objectives of the study, the Zimbardo and Boyed’s (1999) measure was used to measure the future time perspective, and Purdie’s scale for measuring self-regulated learning. The results showed that the future dimension was the most common among the sample of the study, and that the level of self-regulated learning was moderate, whether at the total score or the various dimensions. The study concluded that the dimensions of the future time perspective explained 18.8% of the variance in self-regulated learning

Accurate Reader Identification for the Arabic Holy Quran Recitations Based on an Enhanced VQ Algorithm

The Speaker identification process is not a new trend; however, for the Arabic Holy Quran recitation, there are still quite improvements that can make this process more accurate and reliable. This paper collected the input data from 14 native Arabic reciters, consisting of “Surah Al-Kawthar” speech signals from the Holy Quran. Moreover, this paper discusses the accuracy rates for 8 and 16 features. Indeed, a modified Vector Quantization (VQ) technique will be presented, in addition to realistically matching the centroids of the various codebooks and measuring systems’ effectiveness. Note that the VQ technique will be utilized to generate the codebooks by clustering these features into a finite number of centroids. The proposed system’s software was built and executed using MATLAB®. The proposed system’s total accuracy rate was 97.92% and 98.51% for 8 and 16 centroids codebooks, respectively. However, this study discussed two validation tactics to ensure that the outcomes are reliable and can be reproduced. Hence, the K-mean clustering algorithm has been used to validate the obtained results and discuss the outcomes of this study. Finally, it has been found that the improved VQ method gives a better result than the K-means method

Metastatic Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast Masquerading as a Primary Renal Malignancy

Breast cancer is known to metastasise to different organs in the body, but an initial presentation of breast cancer with loin pain secondary to a metastatic renal mass is extremely rare. We report a 58-year-old woman who presented with recurrent left loin pain due to a metastatic deposit of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. The detection of a renal mass on computed tomography led to the assumption of a renal pelvic malignancy. The diagnostic dilemma posed by the detection of a breast mass during staging and the usefulness of immunohistochemistry in the confirmation of diagnosis are discussed

Telecardiology Application in Jordan: Its Impact on Diagnosis and Disease Management, Patients’ Quality of Life, and Time- and Cost-Savings

Objectives. To assess the impact of live interactive telecardiology on diagnosis and disease management, patients’ quality of life, and time- and cost-savings. Methods. All consecutive patients who attended or were referred to the teleclinics for suspected cardiac problems in two hospitals in remote areas of Jordan during the study period were included in the study. Patients were interviewed for relevant information and their quality of life was assessed during the first visit and 8 weeks after the last visit. Results. A total of 76 patients were included in this study. Final diagnosis and treatment plan were established as part of the telecardiology consultations in 71.1% and 77.3% of patients, respectively. Patients’ travel was avoided for 38 (50.0%) who were managed locally. The majority of patients perceived that the visit to the telecardiology clinic results in less travel time (96.1%), less waiting time (98.1%), and lower cost (100.0%). Telecardiology consultations resulted in an improvement in the quality of life after two months of the first visit. Conclusions. Telecardiology care in remote areas of Jordan would improve the access to health care, help to reach proper diagnosis and establish the treatment plan, and improve the quality of life

A Dynamic System for Tracking Biopsy Needle in Two Dimensional Ultrasound Images

Ultrasound imaging is widely used to track needle insertion during biopsy surgical procedures. However, the task of tracking the needle tip in ultrasound images is a challenging task that depends on the experience of the physician. To address this limitation, we present different tracking algorithms based on the Kalman filter and particle filter to achieve effective needle tip tracking during biopsy needle insertion procedures. The results showed that the Kalman filter can achieve effective needle tip tracking with an average ± standard deviation error of 1.46 ± 0.92 mm. In comparison, the particle filter can track the needle tip with an average ± standard deviation error of 1.17 ± 0.88 mm when the number of particles is set to 3000

Association of Adiponectin and rs1501299 of the ADIPOQ Gene with Prediabetes in Jordan

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a worldwide health problem caused by resistance to insulin action. This chronic debilitating diseaseis preceded by a stage, known as prediabetes, in which a healthy lifestyle can delay the disease. The discovery of biochemical changes in prediabetes is important to identify individuals at risk of developing T2DM and in explaining disease pathogenesis. Adiponectin is secreted by fat cells and is linked with insulin resistance. Adiponectin levels are dysregulated in prediabetic subjects. This relationship had not been tested in Jordan. We recruited 130 subjects with prediabetes and 130 control subjects. We measured serum levels of adiponectin and genotyped subjects for three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ADIPOQ gene; rs266729, rs1501299 and rs2241766. In multivariate analysis, we found that serum adiponectin lowers the risk of prediabetes (p = 0.002; odds ratio (OR), 0.764; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.646–0.905). The rs1501299 SNP of the ADIPOQ gene was associated with prediabetes in our population (p = 0.041). Specifically, in multivariate analysis, the GT genotype of rs1501299 increased the risk of prediabetes (p = 0.010; OR, 2.350; 95% CI, 1.231–4.486) as well as the TT genotype (p = 0.006; OR, 4.774; 95% CI, 1.551–14.693). Our findings indicate that serum adiponectin and SNPs in the ADIPOQ gene are associated with prediabetes in Jordan