Moroccan EFL Secondary School Teachers’ Perceptions and Practices of Learner-Centered Teaching in Taroudant Directorate of Education, Morocco

The present paper reports on a qualitative study that (a) investigated Moroccan EFL secondary school teachers’ perceptions of LCT, (b) assessed how these perceptions affect their actual teaching practices, and (c) surveyed the different constraints to the implementation of LCT in Moroccan EFL classes. Structured open-ended interviews and non-participant classroom observations were used to collect data from four EFL secondary school teachers belonging to three public secondary schools in the provincial directorate for national education in Taroudant, Morocco. First, teachers were interviewed to obtain information related to their perceptions and understanding of LCT as well as the challenges facing its implementation. Then, they were observed to gain complementary data about teachers’ practices of LCT. The results have revealed that teachers do hold right perceptions and good understanding of LCT. Yet, due to constraints such as the standardized curriculum and examination, lack of materials and large class size, teachers find themselves obliged to keep different traditional practices

Type 2 Diabetes : how informed are the general public? A cross-sectional study investigating disease awareness and barriers to communicating knowledge in high-risk populations in London

Abstract Background Preventing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is one of the biggest health challenges currently facing the UK, with the NHS spending £14 billion each year on treating the disease and associated symptoms. Aims The aim of this study was to determine the public’s awareness about the symptoms, risk factors and lifestyle choices, commonly associated with T2DM. This study also aimed to determine whether the level of awareness varies if the questions are asked in different languages, primarily those spoken by ethnic minorities. Methods This was a cross sectional, multisite study conducted in London, UK, involving 399 participants, who were non-diabetic, aged between 25 and 74 years old and living in one of four selected London boroughs. Descriptive statistics, Chi square and Fisher’s Exact Tests were used to highlight and summarise the key findings of this study. Results A response rate of 23.7% (n = 399/1683) for the English questionnaire was achieved. Overall, 59.4% (n = 237/399) of the cohort were able to identify a minimum of three T2DM symptoms and thus, were considered to have adequate or good awareness. Whereas, 60.6% (n = 242/399) were able to identify a minimum of six T2DM risk factors and were considered to have adequate or good awareness. More participants could correctly identify that obesity was a risk factor of T2DM when they were asked the question in their spoken language, rather than English (p < 0.01). When participants were asked about their current lifestyle choices, there were high levels of inactivity, smoking and alcohol consumption reported. Conclusion Despite approximately half of participants demonstrating adequate or good awareness about the symptoms, risk factors and lifestyle choices commonly associated with T2DM, yet the study still highlights gaps in awareness among the remaining proportion of participants. Future prevention interventions should be tailored to address these existing gaps in awareness

Factors associated with perceived stress in Middle Eastern university students.

OBJECTIVE University students face high levels of stress-related factors, such as an unfamiliar environment, challenging workload, and uncertainty about their ability to succeed. Participants: A total of 370 students in Qatar who consented to participate between February 2017 and February 2018. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed perceived stress [using a validated 4-point perceived stress scale (PSS-4)], as well as diet, exercise, body mass index, sleep, and life satisfaction. Results: Among students aged 18-39 (mean = 20.1 ± 3.0 years), PSS-4 scores varied between 0 and 16 (mean = 7.4 ± 3.4). Elevated stress was significantly associated with female sex, country of origin, residing off-campus, eating when bored, lack of self-discipline, disturbed sleep, and low levels of life satisfaction. Furthermore, students with PSS-4 scores above the median level were 2.3 times likelier to report difficulty concentrating on academic work. Conclusion: Elevated stress levels are present in university students in Qatar. Strengthening coping skills may improve health and academic performance

Comparative Hepatotoxicity of Aflatoxin B1 among Workers Exposed to Different Organic Dust with Emphasis on Polymorphism Role of Glutathione S-Transferase Gene

AIM: The study aimed to investigate effects of organic dust exposure from different sources on aflatoxin B1-albumin adducts (AFB1/Alb), and role of glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphism in hepatotoxicity of (AFB1) among exposed workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Liver enzymes, AFB1/Alb, and GST polymorphism were estimated in 132 wheat flour dust and 87 woods sawmill workers, and 156 controls.RESULTS: Results revealed that AFB1/Alb and liver enzymes were significantly elevated in exposed workers compared to controls, and were significantly higher in sawmill workers compared to flour workers. AFB1/Alb in flour and sawmill workers with GSTT1 and GSTM1&amp;GSTT1 null genotypes were significantly higher than controls, and in sawmill workers with GSTM1&amp;GSTT1 null than flour workers. Liver enzymes (ALT and AST) in sawmill workers were significantly higher than flour workers and controls in all GST polymorphism; except in GSTT1 polymorphism, where these enzymes were significantly higher in the two exposed groups than controls.CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, organic dust exposure may cause elevation in AFB1/Alb and liver enzymes of exposed workers, and GST gene polymorphism plays an important role in susceptibility to hepatic parenchymal cell injury; except in workers with GSTT1&amp;GSTM1 null genotype, gene susceptibility seemed to have little role and the main role was for environmental exposures

Mould Contamination of Fish and Fish Products with a Special Reference to its Public Health Significance: A Review

Fish and fish products represent major contributors to supply humans with part of their needs of the essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, omega -3-fatty acids, and other needed micronutrients. However, fish and fish products are highly perishable foods that can easily spoiled and decomposed, possibly because of its cross contamination from the surrounding environment. Fish attracts a vast array of microorganisms, of these; mould and yeast represent a major sector of these microbiota, which by turn van lead to rapid decomposition of fish or even produce several toxicological implications if ingested. In this review, we will highlight the available literature about mould contamination of fish and fish products with a special reference to its public health significance

SCREENING OF ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFONGICAL ACTIVITY IN MARINE MACROALGAE AND MAGNOLIOPHYTEA FROM THE COAST OF TUNISIA

Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial and antifongical activity of Hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of thirteen marine spices from Tunisian coastline (Chebba and Sfax): five pheophytea, five cholorophytea and three Magnoliophytea.Methods: These spices were tested against eight human pathogenic bacteria: Gram- (Escherichia coli, DH5 (alpha), listeria monocytogéne, Salmonella enterica, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Pseudomonas aerigunosa), Gram+ (Staphylococus aureus, Micrococcus luteus), and two human pathogenic yeast (Candida tropicalis, saccharomyces cerevisiae) and a fungi (Aspergillus niger), using the agar disk diffusion assay method.Results: The results of thirteen marine spices extracts collected from the coast of Tunisia have shown significant antimicrobial activity and the maximum inhibitory activities were observed in the brown algae, it was more active on bacteria than the fungi.Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed that the seaweeds and magnoliophytea from Tunisia appear to have immense potential as a source of antibacterial and antifongical compounds, they could be used in treating diseases caused by these organisms test.Â

Nutritional Composition and Phytochemical, Antioxidative, and Antifungal Activities of Pergularia tomentosa L.

Crude extracts from a medicinal Tunisian plant, Pergularia tomentosa L., were the investigated natural material. Butanolic extract of roots analyzed with IR spectra revealed the presence of hydroxyl, alcoholic, and carboxylic groups and sugars units. Analysis of some secondary metabolites, total phenolic, flavonoids, flavonols, and procyanidins, was performed using different solvents following the increased gradient of polarity. Fruits and leaves contained the highest amounts of all these compounds. Antioxidant properties were evaluated by the determination of free radical scavenging activity and the reducing power of methanolic extracts. Fruits and leaf extracts were the most powerful antioxidants for the two-assay in vitro system. Stems and fruits extracts exhibit an antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici which could become an alternative to synthetic fungicide to control Solanum species fungal diseases