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Hala M AlOmari,1 Hanady Bani Hani,1 Sara Alhanbali,1 Zainab Aladasi,1 Mohammad AlMasri2 1Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; 2Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, JordanCorrespondence: Hala M AlOmari, Email h_omari@ju.edu.joObjective: The aim of this study was to investigate adults’ habits regarding personal listening devices (PLDs), associated factors such as tinnitus and hearing threshold shift, and their knowledge of safety measures, including the use of hearing protectors in noisy environments.Design: A cross-sectional survey was designed and distributed online.Study Sample: Participants between the ages of 18 and 40 years were invited to complete the survey. The online survey was filled out by 274 individuals with an average age of 24.2 years (SD= 5.1 years). Based on age, the participants were grouped into young adults (18– 23 years old, 151 participants) and adults (24– 40 years old, 123 participants). The estimation of noise exposure was calculated based on self-reported responses of PLD use. Two categories emerged from this calculation: the participants with exposure lower than 80 dB were in the low exposure category (N: 196, 62.9 dB), while the participants with exposure higher than 80 dB were in the high exposure category (N: 78, 89.9 dB).Results: Based on the age categories, most of the questionnaire answers were similar between the young adults and the adults, revealing similar habits in using their PLDs. However, the investigation based on exposure revealed differences, as the participants with high exposure levels were more likely to have hobbies that involved noise, and they were less likely to obtain hearing evaluations. Among the participants, 30% used their devices at the maximum volume level and on a daily basis. 33.5% reported experiencing worsening in hearing, 2.4% reported persistent tinnitus, 94.1% knew that hearing protectors were available but only 20.7% reported using hearing protectors.Conclusion: The study concludes that adults are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening habits. A discrepancy between knowledge and practice is apparent and needs to be addressed in young adults by increasing awareness of hearing loss, hearing protection and annual hearing evaluation.Keywords: recreation, noise exposure, tinnitus, listening habits, hearing protectors

Mohammad Al Masri,1 Hala AlOmari,2 Lina AbuKhader3 1Audiology and Speech Pathology Department, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan; 2Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; 3Middle East Hearing Association, Amman, JordanCorrespondence: Mohammad Al Masri, Head of the Audio-Vestibular Department, Audiology and Speech Pathology Department, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan, Tel +962797157576, Email Masri333@gmail.com; masri@ammanu.edu.joObjective: This study aimed to establish and validate a Jordanian Arabic version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI-JA) equivalent to the original DHI in English (DHI-E).Methods: The THI-E questionnaires were translated into formal Jordanian Arabic by two bilingual volunteer audiologists. The final version, curated by the author, was administered to 20 participants with normal balance and 64 patients experiencing dizziness at the Middle East Hearing and Balance Centre.Results: The results demonstrated excellent internal consistency and reliability of DHI-JA. A highly significant correlation was observed between the total scores and sub-scores of DHI-JA and DHI-E.Conclusion: This study concludes that the DHI-JA is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the severity of dizziness and balance disorders in the Jordanian Arabic-speaking population.Keywords: dizziness handicap inventory, Arabic dizziness handicap inventory, vertigo, balance disorder

Abstract Background Although prior research has estimated the overarching cost burden of heart failure (HF), a thorough analysis examining medical expense differences and trends, specifically among commercially insured patients with heart failure, is still lacking. Thus, the study aims to examine historical trends and differences in medical costs for commercially insured heart failure patients in the United States from 2006 to 2021. Methods A population-based, cross-sectional analysis of medical and pharmacy claims data (IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus for Academic) from 2006 to 2021 was conducted. The cohort included adult patients (age > = 18) who were enrolled in commercial insurance plans and had healthcare encounters with a primary diagnosis of HF. The primary outcome measures were the average total annual payment per patient and per cost categories encompassing hospitalization, surgery, emergency department (ED) visits, outpatient care, post-discharge care, and medications. The sub-group measures included systolic, diastolic, and systolic combined with diastolic, age, gender, comorbidity, regions, states, insurance payment, and self-payment. Results The study included 422,289 commercially insured heart failure (HF) patients in the U.S. evaluated from 2006 to 2021. The average total annual cost per patient decreased overall from $9,636.99 to $8,201.89, with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of -1.11% (95% CI: -2% to -0.26%). Hospitalization and medication costs decreased with an AAPC of -1.99% (95% CI: -3.25% to -0.8%) and − 3.1% (95% CI: -6.86–0.69%). On the other hand, post-discharge, outpatient, ED visit, and surgery costs increased by an AAPC of 0.84% (95% CI: 0.12–1.49%), 4.31% (95% CI: 1.03–7.63%), 7.21% (95% CI: 6.44–8.12%), and 9.36% (95% CI: 8.61–10.19%). Conclusions The study’s findings reveal a rising trend in average total annual payments per patient from 2006 to 2015, followed by a subsequent decrease from 2016 to 2021. This decrease was attributed to the decline in average patient costs within the Medicare Cost insurance category after 2016, coinciding with the implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015. Additionally, expenses related to surgical procedures, emergency department (ED) visits, and outpatient care have shown substantial growth over time. Moreover, significant differences across various variables have been identified.

Rahaf K Sharif,1 Faisal F Aljahdali,1 Hind M Aljabri,1 Lugean K Alomari,1 Renad A Sagim,1 Duaa M Alamri,1 Merai A Alshehri,2 Rayan Abdullah Alshigari3 1College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Glaucoma Section, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Faisal F Aljahdali, College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Email faisalfahadaljahdali@gmail.comBackground: Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma (PACG), is caused by narrowing the iridocorneal angle and increases the risk of blockage in the trabecular meshwork. Phacoemulsification and laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) effectively control IOP elevation and widen the angle. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared Phacoemulsification and LPI Effectiveness for PACG.Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared Phacoemulsification and LPI for individuals with PACG. We sought to evaluate the following outcomes: mean IOP, number of glaucoma medications, visual acuity (VA), visual field (VF) progression, peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS), Shaffer gonioscopy grading, central corneal thickness (CCT), central endothelial cell density (CECD), and poor response to surgery. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used to represent continuous outcomes, while the risk ratio (RR) was used to represent dichotomous outcomes.Results: 5 RCTs that enrolled 917 participants were deemed eligible. The phacoemulsification group showed statistically significance lower mean CCT and CECD and lower risk of poor response to surgery compared to LPI (SMD = − 1.10; 95% − 1.50, − 0.70; P< 0.001, SMD − 366.12; 95% − 652.59, − 79.65; P=0.01, and RR 0.35; 95% 0.23, 0.54; P< 0.001 respectively). There were no significant improvement in IOP and number of medications between both groups (SMD = − 0.74; 95% CI = − 2.26, 0.78; P=0.34, and SMD − 17.58; 95% CI = − 50.28, 15.12; P=0.29 respectively). Finally, there were also no significant differences in VA, VF progression, PAS, and mean Shaffer gonioscopy grading between both groups.Conclusion: Phacoemulsification showed statistically significant lower mean corneal thickness, central endothelial cell density, and lower risk of poor response to surgery compared to LPI. However, there were no significant differences in mean IOP, number of medications, VA, VF progression, PAS, and mean Shaffer gonioscopy grading between Phacoemulsification and LPI.Keywords: phacoemulsification, laser, iridotomy, glaucoma

Bader A Al-Mehmadi,1 May Musaad M Alelaiwi,2 Haya Sulaiman A Alnumayr,3 Basil Saeed Alghamdi,4 Bandar Abdullah Alomari,4 Hayat Saleh Alzahrani5 1Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah, 11952, Saudi Arabia; 2College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah, Saudi Arabia; 3College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Internal Medicine, King Fahad Hospital, Medina, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Hayat Saleh Alzahrani, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia, Tel +96611822000, Email Hsaalzahrani@pnu.edu.sa; hayatsalzahrani@gmail.comPurpose: The aim of this study is to determine the general population’s knowledge on the different symptoms of rheumatic diseases, the key factors for diagnosis delays from the patient’s perspective, the length of delay from the onset of symptoms to the diagnosis, and the effect this holds on the disease activity, response to therapy, and the development of complications and nonreversible deformities in patients diagnosed with rheumatic diseases.Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Our target study population were the residents of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected via an online questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS.Results: The overall prevalence of rheumatic disease in our cohort was 8.7%. Joint pain (75.7%), joint swelling (47.1%) and morning stiffness (32.9%) were the first and most common presenting symptom. Persistence of symptoms (N=32, 45.7%) and symptom worsening (N=21, 30.0%) was the predominant cause to visit rheumatologist. The duration between first symptom and rheumatic disease diagnosis is significantly longer for patients aged < 50 years compared to that of those with ≥ 50 years of age. Results show that 36.4% of patients aged ≥ 50 years had delayed diagnosis due to late appointment compared with 5.7% of patients aged < 50 years. In addition, patients with longer duration of symptoms were likely to have more visits to the rheumatologist. Most of the participants of < 50 years significantly agreed that rheumatologists treat autoimmune diseases, only a few approved that they treat muscle problems.Conclusion: Most participants in our study have lesser knowledge about their symptoms and they did not know where to consult for the treatment of their disease. This caused unnecessary delays and worsening and aggravation of the symptoms. There is an increased need to organize an awareness campaign in the general population regarding autoimmune and rheumatic diseases.Keywords: rheumatic diseases, delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, referrals, consultations, Saudi Arabia

This study systematically develops error estimates tailored to a specific set of general quadrature rules that exclusively incorporate first derivatives. Moreover, it introduces refined versions of select generalized Ostrowski’s type inequalities, enhancing their applicability. Through the skillful application of Hayashi’s celebrated inequality to specific functions, the provided proofs underpin these advancements. Notably, this approach extends its utility to approximate integrals of real functions with bounded first derivatives. Remarkably, it employs Newton-Cotes and Gauss-Legendre quadrature rules, bypassing the need for stringent requirements on higher-order derivatives.

Ahlam J Alhemedi,1 Motaz Ghazi Qasaimeh,2 Nour Abdo,1 Lina Elsalem,3 Dina Qaadan,4 Esraa Alomari,5 Qudama lssa,1 Mohammed Alhadeethi,1 Hamza Mazin Abdul Kareem,1 Ayham Almasri,1 Osama Elkhateeb,1 Abdallah Y Naser5 1Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 2Department of General Surgery and Anesthesia, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan; 3Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 4Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan; 5Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isra University, Amman, JordanCorrespondence: Ahlam J Alhemedi, Assistant Professor in Family Medicine, Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan, Tel +00962796555971, Email ajalhmedy@just.edu.joBackground: University students encounter stressors that make them more susceptible to depression than the general population. Depression negatively impacts mental and physical health. Our study assessed the prevalence of depression among university students in Jordan and its associated predictors after the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional online survey study in the first quarter of 2022 by sending an online questionnaire to university students aged 18 years and older. This study assessed the symptoms of depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated predictors of depression.Results: A total of 535 university students participated in this study. The mean depression score for the study participants was 13.9 (SD: 7.1) out of 27, representing a moderate level of depression. Among the participants, 26.2% had moderate, 19.3% had moderately severe, and 25.8% had severe depression. Students who drink three or more cups of coffee per day, have had an evaluation of their psychological state by specialists before, and have been diagnosed with any mental illness were more likely to have a higher depression score compared to others (p< 0.05). On the other hand, students who were aged 24 years and older and those who practiced regular exercise were less likely to have a higher depression score compared to others (p< 0.05).Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of depression among university students in Jordan. This result is vital for decision-makers to implement a plan to prevent and manage this mental health issue.Keywords: depression, Jordan, prevalence, students, university

Global Software Development (GSD) is a contemporary approach to software development that offers numerous advantages, including enhanced cost-effectiveness and timely delivery. It enables access to a vast pool of skilled developers and facilitates the exchange of best practices and innovative ideas within the software industry. However, effective project management plays a vital role in ensuring successful product development. Organizations that achieve project success consistently adhere to well-defined project management methodologies, resulting in desired outcomes within predefined time frames and allocated resources. The success rate of software projects significantly increases with diligent software management efforts. Nevertheless, the distributed nature of GSD presents significant challenges related to collaboration, information dissemination, and process control, which ultimately impede effective development and compromise software quality. In this study, we identify various challenges associated with the GSD process and propose strategies to overcome obstacles to effective project management. Additionally, we introduce a comprehensive framework designed to enhance managerial activities in GSD.

Biometric recognition is essential for identifying people in security, surveillance, and mobile device authentication. Iris recognition (IR) biometrics is exact because it uses unique iris patterns to identify individuals. Iris segmentation, which isolates the iris from the rest of the ocular image, determines iris identification accuracy. The main problem is concerned with selecting the best deep learning (DL) algorithm to classify and estimate biometric iris biometric iris. This study proposed a comprehensive review of DL-based methods to improve biometric iris segmentation and recognition. It also evaluates reliability, specificity, memory, and F-score. It was reviewed with iris image analysis, edge detection, and classification literature. DL improves iris segmentation and identification in biometric authentication, especially when combined with additional biometric modalities like fingerprint fusion. Besides, that DL in iris detection requires large training datasets and is challenging to use with noisy or low-quality photos. In addition, it examines DL for iris segmentation and identification efforts to improve biometric application understanding. It also suggests ways to improve precision and reliability. DL may be used in biometric identification; however, further study is needed to overcome current limits and improve IR processes.

The investigation related to the serviceability analysis, particularly in terms of crack spacing prediction, has remarkably increased recently. In addition, the prediction of serviceability analysis is highly dependent and influenced by different physical and material factors that contribute to the crack spacing of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. As a result, the cracking phenomenon has not been fully grasped due to these factors’ wide variety and complexity. Recently, soft computing techniques have gained considerable popularity due to their capability of learning and producing generalized solutions and exhibiting desirable performance in terms of time, effort, and cost. However, the literature on crack spacing prediction using various machine learning approaches is limited and insufficient. Therefore, this article is dedicated to estimating the primary crack spacing of RC structures using different machine learning methods. As a part of the study, the findings of these approaches will be computed and compared to the benchmark experimental results. Besides, the results of the developed models will be compared against that of available approaches in the literature to highlight their reliability. Furthermore, a parametric assessment will be conducted to emphasize the most influencing input parameter on the primary crack spacing of RC structures.

Anuj Bhardwaj,1,2 Rudra Kumar Gupta,1 Ayfer Atav Ates,3 Dian Agustin Wahjuningrum,2 Burçin Ar&inodot;can,4 Taher AlOmari,5 Alexander Maniangat Luke,6,7 Ajinkya M Pawar2,8 1Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, College of Dental Science and Hospital, Indore, India; 2Department of Conservative Dentistry, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia; 3Department of Endodontics, Istinye University, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul, Turkey; 4Department of Endodontics, Bahçe&scedil;ehir University, School of Dental Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey; 5Department of Conservative Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Al-Ramtha, Jordan; 6Department of Clinical Science, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; 7Center of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; 8Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai, 400008, IndiaCorrespondence: Dian Agustin Wahjuningrum, Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, 60132, Indonesia, Email dian-agustin-w@fkg.unair.ac.id Alexander Maniangat Luke, Department of Clinical Science, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, J1 Building C Block, Al-Jurf 346, Ajman, United Arab Emirates, Email a.luke@ajman.ac.aePurpose: This prospective single-blind, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial was aimed to compare the effect of three different rotary instrumentation systems ProTaper Next (PTN), Self-Adjusting File (SAF) and XP-endo Shaper (XPS) on postoperative pain and analgesic intakes.Patients and Methods: A total of 159 molars diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were randomly divided into three study groups according to the instrumentation techniques: PTN (n = 54), SAF (n = 52), and XPS (n = 53). The preoperative pain scores were taken before the onset of treatment in the groups. After a single appointment for root canal treatment, the patients were asked to rate the level of their pain according to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of 100 mm at 6, 24, 48, and 72-hour post-treatment intervals. Ibuprofen was prescribed to be taken while experiencing pain; patients were requested to note the number of pills consumed at intervals after treatment.Results: The patients in SAF and XPS groups had lower mean VAS scores than the PTN group at 24-, 48-, and 72-hour intervals (p < 0.05). The most common analgesic intake was optimally seen in the PTN group at a 6-hour interval. All shaping procedures caused postoperative pain, whose intensity decreased with time.Conclusion: The SAF and XPS groups had a lesser intensity of pain as well as minimum analgesic intakes as compared to the PTN group. All instrumentation systems moderately caused pain, and the PTN group experienced the highest pain among others.Keywords: postoperative pain, ProTaper next, randomized clinical trial, root canal treatment, XP-endo shaper, patient satisfaction

Abdulsalam M Halboup,1,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3,4 Omar F Khabour,5 Mahmoud A Alomari,6 Moath Refat,7 Abdulrazzaq Y Al-Khazzan,1 Ammar Ali Saleh Jaber,8 Usman Abubakar9 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen; 2Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia; 3Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; 4Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 5Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 6Department of Rehabilitation, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 7Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xi’an Jiaotong, University, Xi’an, China; 8Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacotherapeutics, Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 9Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice, Qatar University, Doha, QatarCorrespondence: Abdulsalam M Halboup, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen, Tel +967774960247, Email a_halboob@yahoo.com; a.halboup@student.usm.myBackground: Following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) declaration as a pandemic, Yemen has started applying preventive measures to prevent its spread. This study aims to identify the perception regarding the nature of the COVID-19 disease, susceptibility to severe forms of the disease, and its relationship to seasonal influenza among the population of Yemen.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of the public in Yemen. The relationship between participants’ sociodemographic factors and their responses was assessed by the chi-square test.Results: A total of 748 participants agreed to participate in the study. Regarding the nature of the diseases, nearly half of the participants (48.8%, n=352) believed that COVID-19 is a naturally occurring human virus that is a serious and fatal disease (61.2%, n=448). The majority (74.9%; n=518) did not agree that bacteria cause COVID-19. More than half of the participants (57.5%, n=423) believed this disease is transmitted to humans through a host animal. Regarding the vulnerable groups to develop severe COVID-19 infection, most of the participants pointed out that the elderly (94.3%, n=705), people with chronic diseases (89.9%, n=669), and pregnant women (53%, n=365) were more susceptible to severe diseases. Regarding symptoms, the majority (61.9%, n=458) of the participants agreed that the symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to those of seasonal influenza. Additionally, the majority (81.9%, n=579) agreed that some individuals develop more severe symptoms than seasonal influenza, particularly those with chronic illness. Gender, age, and education were found to be associated with participants’ perceptions regarding the nature of the virus and susceptibility to severe disease.Conclusion: Participants demonstrate a good understanding of the nature and susceptibility to complications associated with COVID-19 disease and its relationship to influenza. However, the respondents with a lower level of education might require additional educational campaigns to improve their awareness of the disease.Keywords: public perception, COVID-19, susceptibility, complications, Yemen

Strolling is a complex activity that requires the synchronization of the brain, anxiety, and muscles, as well as rhythmic movement of the lower limbs. Gait may be abnormal if coordination is disrupted. As a result, exoskeletons should be used to treat it effectively. The connection and other systems contained in the exoskeletons could be used to mimic the behavior of the human lower leg. These mechanisms are created utilizing complex traditional methods. This study proposes a new gait-inspired method based on a genetic algorithm (GA) for synthesizing a four-bar mechanism for exoskeletons. For each phase of the gait, the trajectory is calculated and merged using optimization algorithms. Each phase of the trajectory passes through 10 precision points, for an entirety of 20 precision points in 1 gait cycle. For the problem under consideration, it is discovered that the GA outperforms other literature techniques. Finally, the proposed design for a lower limb exoskeleton is depicted as a solid model. Furthermore, the generated link-age accurately tracks all the transition points, and the simulation of the planned linkage for one gait cycle has been illustrated using a stick diagram.

In the theory of line graphs of undirected graphs, there exists an important theorem linking the incidence matrix of the root graph to the adjacency matrix of its line graph. For directed or mixed graphs, however, there exists no analogous result. The goal of this article is to present aligned definitions of the adjacency matrix, the incidence matrix, and line graph of a mixed graph such that the mentioned theorem is valid for mixed graphs.

This study synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using a facile microwave-assisted chemical route and evaluated them as potential anticancer candidates against breast and colon cancer cell lines. Numerous spectral characterization tools were used to study the optical properties, structure, and morphology of the prepared AuNPs. UV-Vis spectroscopy showed a characteristic peak at 517 nm, which confirms the formation of AuNPs. The crystalline structure of NPs was studied by X-ray diffraction, and the NPs’ shape and size were calculated with Field emission transmission electron microscopy. The synthesized AuNPs were found to be uniform in size in the range of 2–6 nm. A variety of biological tests, including MTT, scratch, real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and comet assays were adopted to assess the anticancer potential of these AuNPs in the studied cancer cell models. The findings suggested a cell-dependent cytotoxicity of AuNPs. Different cell viability of 40.3 and 66.4% were obtained for MCF-7 and HCT-116, respectively, at 5 µg/mL of AuNPs. The scratch assay showed AuNPs impede cell migration in a concentration-dependent manner in the MCF-7 cell line. On the other hand, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of apoptotic (p53, Bax, and caspase-3) and anti-apoptotic (BCl-2) genes revealed upregulation and downregulation of these genes, respectively, probably leading to its cytotoxicity. At 5 µg/mL concentration of AuNPs, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was found to be increased by 26.4 and 42.7%, respectively, in MCF-7 and HCT-116 cells. Similarly, comet assay demonstrated AuNPs induced DNA damage in the studied cancer cell lines. These findings suggest that the observed anticancer efficacy of AuNPs was driven by ROS generation. The synthesized AuNPs appeared to be a promising therapeutic against cancer cells. However, our in vitro data need to be confirmed and validated in ex vivo and in vivo models so that this NP can be further exploited for human use.

The widespread occurrence of drug-resistant bacteria has increased interest in alternatives to antibiotics for combatting bacterial infections, among which bacteriophages play an important role. The ability of phage proteins to induce an anti-phage immune response can significantly limit the effectiveness of treatment, which was the basis for the study described in this article. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of bacteriophages on the induction of an anti-phage humoral response in calves.

Abdullah Yousef,1 Waleed Albuali,1 Mohammed AlOmari,1 Abdullah AlMutairi,1 Hamad W Albuali,2 Faisal O AlQurashi,1 Hassan M Alshaqaq2 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 2College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Waleed Albuali, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Tel +96638966877 ext. 1616, 1226, Email wbuali@iau.edu.sa; wbuali0000@gmail.comBackground: Organophosphate (OP) poisoning is one of the most common etiologies of poisoning in the pediatric age group.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the demographic characteristics, clinical features, clinical course, and outcomes of children with toxicity from organophosphates admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit.Methods: A retrospective review of hospital medical records of all children aged 14 years and younger who were admitted to the PICU with a provisional diagnosis of organophosphate poisoning at King Fahad Hospital of the University (KFHU), Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia, between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2018, was conducted. Patients with incomplete medical record information or with suspicion or evidence of one or more agents other than organophosphate were excluded from the study.Results: Thirty-one patients were enrolled in the study. The median age of the study population was 2 years, and 19 (61%) were males. The majority of patients (68%) had more than one route of organophosphate exposure. Skin exposure was reported in 26 patients (84%). Only three patients (10%) had suicidal organophosphate exposure from organophosphates, while the majority (28 patients; 90%) had accidental poisoning. Bronchorrhea was the most prevalent presenting feature, reported in 28 patients (90%). 17 patients (55%) were treated with intravenous atropine and (45%) were used a combination of pralidoxime with atropine for treatment. Five patients (16%) developed acute respiratory distress syndrome. Twelve patients (39%) needed endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation secondary to respiratory failure.Conclusion: The presenting features of organophosphate poisoning differ widely in children. Risk factors for mortality for PICU patients with organophosphate poisoning include delayed hospital arrival by more than 1 hour, inhalational route of exposure, need for mechanical ventilation, and high lactate levels in the first 24 hours post-exposure.Keywords: organophosphate, poisoning, toxicology, pediatric, intensive care

The aim of this paper is to present a new stable method for smoothing and differentiating noisy data defined on a bounded domain Ω⊂RN\Omega \subset {{\mathbb{R}}}^{N} with N≥1N\ge 1. The proposed method stems from the smoothing properties of the classical diffusion equation; the smoothed data are obtained by solving a diffusion equation with the noisy data imposed as the initial condition. We analyze the stability and convergence of the proposed method and we give optimal convergence rates. One of the main advantages of this method lies in multivariable problems, where some of the other approaches are not easily generalized. Moreover, this approach does not require strong smoothness assumptions on the underlying data, which makes it appealing for detecting data corners or edges. Numerical examples demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of the method even with the presence of a large amounts of noise.

In order to understand how faculty members, feel about using Moodle as a learning management system (LMS) tool for teaching and learning in Jordanian universities, a mixed-methods study was conducted. Surveys and interviews were used to gather the data. 270 professors from three Jordanian universities took part in the study. The results show that while the participating faculty members thought using Moodle in instruction was a useful teaching tool, they weren't happy with it. The Internet crisis, interaction, the need for education for electronic platforms, online tests, and self-regulation were among the difficulties mentioned by these participants. The potential use of Moodle in education is encouraged through pedagogical implication. In conclusion, the implementation of the Moodle system for distance learning has been very remarkable in recent years. The effectiveness of its use depends on the active involvement of business managers and the willingness of teachers to adopt e-learning. By addressing the challenges ahead and providing incentives for faculty, universities can ensure success and use of the system. As the use of the Moodle LMS continues to grow, it is important to focus on the development of the tool and provide ongoing support to improve its effectiveness and impact on distance education.

Four new symmetrical Schiff bases derived from 2,2’-diamino-4,4’-dimethyl-1,1’-biphenyl-salicylaldehyde have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and different spectroscopic techniques. The reaction of 2,2’-diamino-4,4’-dimethyl-1,1’-biphenyl with two equivalents of 5-tert-butyl-, 3,5-dinitro-, 3,5-dibromo- and 3-tert-butyl-salicylaldehyde yielded 2,2’-bis(5-tert-butyl-salicylideneamino)-4,4’-dimethyl-1,1’-biphenyl (A1) as well as the 3,5-dinitro- (A2), 3,5-dibromo- (A3) and 3-tert-butyl- (A4) substituted derivatives. The tetradentate ligands were then reacted with copper-, manganese- and zinc-acetate producing the tetra-coordinate metal complexes which were characterized by FTIR, UV-Visible spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility and elemental analysis. Zinc complexes were characterized by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory were carried out to fully optimize and examine the molecular geometries of complexes. Subsequently, IR vibrational and UV-Vis absorption spectra were computed and correlated with the observed values and the results are in good agreement with the experimental data. The anticancerous and antiproliferative activity of the A3 ligand and its metal complexes were determined.

Omar F Khabour,1 Mahmoud A Alomari,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3 Mahmoud A Alfaqih4 1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Physical Education, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanCorrespondence: Mahmoud A AlomariDepartment of Physical Education, Qatar University, Doha, QatarTel +974 4403-5158Email malomari@qu.edu.qaBackground: COVID-19 was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic and had spread to most of the globe. In the current study, perception regarding the nature of the COVID-19 disease, susceptibility to its complications, and its relationship to seasonal influenza was investigated among the Jordanian population.Methods: This was a survey-based cross-sectional study among public in Jordan.Results: A total of 1863 participants agreed to participate in this questionnaire-based study. The results showed that more than half (55%) of the sample believed that COVID-19 is a naturally occurring virus which causes a serious and possibly fatal disease (50.7%). The majority (62.9%) did not accept that this disease is actually caused by bacteria, or is similar to seasonal influenza. Interestingly, 45.0% of the sampled population felt that the COVID-19 virus was engineered in the lab. Most of the participants (95%) agreed that the elderly or individuals with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease were more susceptible to severe COVID-19 infections. With respect to symptoms, about two-thirds of the participants (65.2%) felt that the symptoms of COVID-19 are to a large extent similar to those of seasonal influenza. In addition, the majority (82.7%) believed that only some COVID-19 patients develop symptoms that can be described as severe. Factors such as age, gender, and education were found to modulate some of the perceptions of Jordanians regarding different aspects of COVID-19 disease.Conclusion: The majority of Jordanians have a good perception about the nature, cause and symptoms of COVID-19 disease.Keywords: perception, COVID-19, susceptibility, complications, Jordan

This study aimed to investigate a potential list of variables that may have an impact on the saturation flow rate (SFR) associated with different turning movements at signalized intersections in Jordan. Direct visits to locations were conducted, and a video camera was used. Highway capacity manual standard procedure was followed to collect the necessary traffic data. Multiple linear regression was performed to classify the factors that impact the SFR and to find the optimal model to foretell the SFR. Results showed that turning radius, presence of camera enforcement, and the speed limit are the significant factors that influence SFR for shared left- and U-turning movements (LUTM) with R2 = 76.9%. Furthermore, the presence of camera enforcement, number of lanes, speed limit, city, traffic volume, and area type are the factors that impact SFR for through movements only (THMO) with R2 = 69.6%. Also, it was found that the SFR for LUTM is 1611 vehicles per hour per lane (VPHPL),which is less than the SFR for THMO that equals to 1840 VPHPL. Calibration and validation of SFR based on local conditions can improve the efficiency of infrastructure operation and planning activities because vehicles’ characteristics and drivers’ behavior change over time.

Mahmoud A Alomari,1 Omar F Khabour,2 Karem H Alzoubi3 1Department of Physical Education, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, JordanCorrespondence: Mahmoud A Alomari Department of Physical EducationQatar University, Doha, QatarEmail malomari@qu.edu.qaBackground: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has compelled implementing confinement measure across the globe. These measures can potentially lead to many changes in lifestyle. However, no studies examined the effect of COVID-19-induced confinement on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB).Methods: During April and May of 2020, the current study surveyed changes in PA and SB induced by COVID-19 confinement.Results: The participants of the study were 1844. Among the participants who were regularly involved in PA, the majority (41.8– 42.2%) of the participants reported a “decrease” (p< 0.05) in walking, jogging, and sports while the majority (46.3– 53.1%) reported a “no change” (p< 0.05) in swimming, cycling, and weight lifting. With regard to the SB, most of the participants reported an “increase” in watching TV (72.3%), using electronics (82.7%), and logging to social media (81.9%). Additionally, gender, job type, obesity, and being worried to contract the disease were associated (p< 0.05) with changes in PA. On the other hand, age, gender, obesity, job type and income were related (p< 0.05) to changes in SB.Conclusion: Results of the current study might enhance knowledge about the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle, particularly PA and SB. Subsequently, it can also be used to establish strategies to enhance engagement in activities during the current and future pandemics.Keywords: physical activity, sedentary behavior, confinement, COVID-19, pandemic

Given any digraph D, its non-negative spectrum (or N-spectrum, shortly) consists of the eigenvalues of the matrix AA T, where A is the adjacency matrix of D. In this study, we relate the classical spectrum of undirected graphs to the N-spectrum of their oriented counterparts, permitting us to derive spectral bounds. Moreover, we study the spectral effects caused by certain modifications of a given digraph.

Given the adjacency matrix A of a digraph, the eigenvalues of the matrix AAT constitute the so-called non-negative spectrum of this digraph. We investigate the relation between the structure of digraphs and their non-negative spectra and associated eigenvectors. In particular, it turns out that the non-negative spectrum of a digraph can be derived from the traditional (adjacency) spectrum of certain undirected bipartite graphs.

Nihaya A Al-sheyab,1,2 Mahmoud A Alomari,3 Audai A Hayajneh,4 Smita Shah5 1Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Adult Health Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 5Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia Background and aims: There is an urgent need to address the role of healthy diet and behaviors promoting health among school adolescents in order to tailor appropriate interventions in Jordanian schools. This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of Students As LifeStyle Activists (SALSA) survey alongside Jordanian adolescents’ attitudes and perceived barriers to healthy eating and physical activity. Methods: This study uses baseline data from a randomized controlled trial recruiting school students from 29 male and 27 female public high schools that have grades 7 and 8. Cronbach’s alpha and principal components analysis/factor analysis were used to check reliability and validity. Numbers, percentages, and chi square were used to explore healthy diet and physical activities preferences among Jordanian school students and determine gender differences for all evaluated items. Results: The Arabic version-SALSA survey has acceptable Cronbach’s alpha values (>0.78) for most of its scales. Five scales were derived from the Arabic version-SALSA survey using principal components analysis/factor analysis (factors loading above 0.3). A higher proportion of female students agreed that “healthy food makes you more comfortable” compared to male students (44% vs 36%, P

Nihaya A Al-Sheyab,1 Mahmoud A Alomari,2,3 Omar F Khabour,4 Khulood K Shattnawi,1 Karem H Alzoubi5 1Faculty of Nursing, Maternal and Child Health Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 2Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 3Department of Physical Education, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar; 4Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 5Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology. Irbid, 22110, Jordan Background: School students’ views and perceptions of informed parental consent and child assent about child participation in research in the Middle East are not known. Methods: Focus group interviews were conducted to understand high school students’ perspectives toward child and adolescent assents and consents in research including the importance of, and depth of information needed in consent and assent, and perception toward written vs verbal consent and assent. Results: The majority of students agreed that it is necessary to take parental approval and that they would not participate in research if their parents refused. Furthermore, the majority of male students agreed that if the research requires only questionnaires to be completed, then child’s approval is sufficient whereas measures, such as blood sugar screening required approval from both the parent and child. Females believed it is enough to provide parental consent to participate in research unless information provided is adequate, then child approval is enough. All students stressed the importance of including detailed information; however, parental consent needs to have more detailed information than child assent. Conclusion: Parts of the students’ perceptions were congruent, whereas other views were not congruent with proper conduct of pediatric research. Such a situation warrants further research and actions. Keywords: informed consent, adolescent, child, Jordan, Middle East

A free-form Sudoku puzzle is a square arrangement of m ×m cells such that the cells are partitioned into m subsets (called blocks) of equal cardinality. The goal of the puzzle is to place integers 1, . . , m in the cells such that the numbers in every row, column and block are distinct. Represent each cell by a vertex and add edges between two vertices exactly when the corresponding cells, according to the rules, must contain different numbers. This yields the associated free-form Sudoku graph. This article studies the eigenvalues of free-form Sudoku graphs, most notably integrality. Further, we analyze the evolution of eigenvalues and eigenspaces of such graphs when the associated puzzle is subjected to a ‘blow up’ operation, which scales the cell grid including its block partition.

In this work, we construct a new general two-point quadrature rules for the Riemann–Stieltjes integral ∫abf(t) du (t)$\int_a^b {f(t)} \,du\,(t)$, where the integrand f is assumed to be satisfied with the Hölder condition on [a, b] and the integrator u is of bounded variation on [a, b]. The dual formulas under the same assumption are proved. Some sharp error Lp–Error estimates for the proposed quadrature rules are also obtained.

In this work, Lp-error estimates of general two and three point quadrature rules for Riemann-Stieltjes integrals are given. The presented proofs depend on new triangle type inequalities of Riemann-Stieltjes integrals.

Firdos Alam Khan, Dana Almohazey, Munthar Alomari, Sarah Ameen Almofty Department of Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abstract: Nanoparticles have enormous applications in textiles, cosmetics, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. But due to their exceptional physical and chemical properties, particularly antimicrobial, anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties, nanoparticles have many potential applications in diagnosis as well as in the treatment of various diseases. Over the past few years, nanoparticles have been extensively used to investigate their response on the neuronal cells. These nanoparticles cause stem cells to differentiate into neuronal cells and promote neuronal cell survivability and neuronal cell growth and expansion. The nanoparticles have been tested both in in vitro and in vivo models. The nanoparticles with various shapes, sizes, and chemical compositions mostly produced stimulatory effects on neuronal cells, but there are few that can cause inhibitory effects on the neuronal cells. In this review, we discuss stimulatory and inhibitory effects of various nanoparticles on the neuronal cells. The aim of this review was to summarize different effects of nanoparticles on the neuronal cells and try to understand the differential response of various nanoparticles. This review provides a bird’s eye view approach on the effects of various nanoparticles on neuronal differentiation, neuronal survivability, neuronal growth, neuronal cell adhesion, and functional and behavioral recovery. Finally, this review helps the researchers to understand the different roles of nanoparticles (stimulatory and inhibitory) in neuronal cells to develop effective therapeutic and diagnostic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. Keywords: nanoparticles, neuron biology, neuroprotection, neurotoxicity

In literature the Dragomir-Fedotov functional is well known as

Educators used distance education to respond to the Corona pandemic. The research question focuses on teachers' perceptions toward the use of ICT competencies in distance education, taking training courses into account. The study included 206 primary school teachers from Jordan's northern schools. A questionnaire designed specifically for this study was used, and its validity and reliability coefficient of 0.82 was confirmed. The findings revealed statistically significant variations in the sign of the training courses variable in favor of the teachers who got training. It is frequently regarded as insufficient by teachers' perspectives on the application of ICT competencies. As a result, respondents understand the necessity for and importance of using ICT for distance preparation and teaching and consider it a vital component of their professional development. The findings recommended incorporating competencies linked to teaching online (electronic course management, computer applications, networking, and educational materials creation), into training programs.

The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly shifted the delivery of teaching and learning, particularly for adult English learners (ELs) and international students enrolled in US institutions. This study investigates EL perspectives of their English instructors during the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to remote learning in the spring of 2020 through a quantitative approach. Participants (N = 158) completed a perception questionnaire, and the results were analyzed through IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0.1. Results identify lower attendance and engagement tied to perceptions of limited instructor knowledge in online environments. In addition, they show perceptions of lower instructor effort, limited opportunities to connect with peers, and limited resources for students. These findings suggest the need for instructors with digital literacy skills and social and emotional skills in order to connect and strengthen class communities.