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Existing studies argue that anti-immigrant sentiment stems from threat perception. Yet, conventional theoretical approaches cannot fully explain hostility toward immigrants in the Middle East and North Africa, where low-skilled foreign workers occupy an inferior social and legal status vis-a-vis natives under the kafala system. Building on existing studies of immigration politics, we theorize how immigration policies can either facilitate or prevent the social mobility of foreign workers. Exploring immigration attitudes in 14 Middle East and North Africa countries using an original dataset that matches survey responses with host country-specific factors, we find that extreme rights-restricting immigration policies (such as the kafala system) encourage wealthier natives to be more hostile than their lower-class counterparts. Our study suggests that anti-immigrant sentiment is context-specific and influenced by local institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principal goal of pharmacogenomics (PGx) is to achieve the highest drug efficacy while maintaining a low toxicity profile. Historically, health care systems used to target treatment for all individuals with the same diagnosis using a standardized medication or dose that fits all. However, a recent pattern in medicine has emerged focusing on personalized and precision medicine. For effective implementation of PGx, there is a need for more collaborations between all the stakeholders in the healthcare system to integrate the pharmacogenetics concept into practice. When it comes to the knowledge and attitudes towards pharmacogenomics, the majority of medical professionals, including pharmacists and physicians, appear to lack appropriate knowledge and training. Across the Middle East and Arab Region, only few studies have addressed this topic. The current review objective is to shed light on pharmacists' and physicians' knowledge and attitudes towards PGx practice in the UAE, Arab and the Middle East region as compared to the rest of the world. Moreover, highlighting the role of the pharmacists in the application of PGx services and the educational challenges that are faced. Proposed solutions to improve the knowledge gaps will also be discussed. We also aim to provide the international readers as well as the local researchers with a summary of the trends and distribution of the results across these countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary describes a multi-national project which addresses gaps in the design and delivery of health and education services in Arabic-speaking countries in relation to early language development, with a focus on Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories. This includes: (1) co-production with early years professionals and NGOs of approaches to support early language development; (2) development and standardisation of tools to identify monolingual and multilingual Arabic-speaking children at risk of poor language development; and (3) examination of language development in refugee communities. The importance of inter-professional partnership and the inclusion of families in planning support for oral language development is highlighted. Arabic versions of the Communicative Development Inventory (CDI) Toddler were developed, and data collected from 1074 Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian monolingual infants aged 8–30 months. Data from 201 age-matched Palestinian infants in Lebanese refugee camps highlight inequalities resulting from limited maternal educational opportunities. Data from 230 multilingual Lebanese 2-year-olds enable the interpretation of CDI scores as a function of language exposure. This work contributes to the promotion of robust language development for all Arabic-speaking children. This commentary focusses on sustainable development goal (SDG) 3, SDG 4, SDG 10 and SDG 17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the status of early childhood education (ECE) in 18 countries of the Middle East and North Africa region. International inputs relevant to ECE; Academic and professional qualifications of ECE teachers; Proposed indicators for monitoring and evaluating ECE services on the regional level.

[Display omitted] • SPME-GC–MS analysis of G. bruguieri roots identified 100 volatile constituents. • OPLS-DA posed 2ethyl-6methylpyrazine and 5methyl-2furfural as roasting markers. • Levels of coumarin, flavone, biflavonoid and furanolignan were estimated by q-NMR. • Moghat from Siwa, Egypt was the most enriched in primary and secondary metabolites. Glossostemon bruguieri Desf. (Moghat, Sterculiaceae), is a shrub well-known for its thick long-tapering dark colored roots, grown in the Middle East and North Africa. Studies on Glossostemon have focused on its nutritive value and health benefits attributed to its phenolic content with no extensive analysis of secondary metabolome. NMR metabolite fingerprinting of 12 G. bruguieri root specimens of different origins using 1D and 2D experiments identified 12 major primary and secondary metabolites. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) of NMR aromatic regions was competent in discriminating between roots origin based on moghatin and pinoresinol levels. Quantification of 1H NMR spectra revealed enrichment of Siwa specimens in sugars i.e. , sucrose and inositol (17.89 and 12.06 μg/mg, respectively), as well as some secondary metabolites viz. moghatin, pinoresinol, takakin and fraxetin (7.73, 4.55, 3.81 and 3.03 μg/mg, respectively), posing it for future incorporation in nutraceuticals. However, much less is known regarding aroma and roasting impact on root chemical composition. Volatile profiles of 15 unroasted and roasted specimens were analyzed using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to mass spectrometry. 100 Volatile constituents were identified dominated by aldehydes, ethers and mono- and sesquiterpenes, whereas esters were abundant in roasted roots. OPLS-DA identified 2-ethyl-6-methylpyrazine and 5-methyl-2-furfural as roasting descriptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few recent comparative data exist on smoking habits in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate smoking patterns in a large general population sample of individuals aged ≥ 40 years in ten countries in the region (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates), together with Pakistan, using a standardised methodology. A random sample of 457,258 telephone numbers was generated and called. This identified 65,154 eligible subjects, of whom 62,086 agreed to participate. A screening questionnaire was administered to each participant, which included six questions relating to cigarette consumption and waterpipe use. The age- and gender-adjusted proportion of respondents reporting current or past smoking of cigarettes or waterpipes was 31.2% [95% CI: 30.9-31.6%]. This proportion was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in men (48.0%) than in women (13.8%), but no relevant differences were observed between age groups. Smoking rates were in general lowest in the Maghreb countries and Pakistan and highest in the Eastern Mediterranean countries, ranging from 15.3% in Morocco to 53.9% in Lebanon. Consumption rates were 28.8% [28.4-29.2%] for cigarette smoking and 3.5% [3.4-3.6%] for waterpipe use. Use of waterpipes was most frequent in Saudi Arabia (8.5% of respondents) but remained low in the Maghreb countries (< 1.5%). Cumulative cigarette exposure was high, with a mean number of pack · years smoked of 18.5 ± 20.5 for women and 29.1 ± 26.2 for men. In conclusion, smoking is a major health issue in the MENA region., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)