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Sami Sheikh Ali,1 Khalid A Kheirallah,2 Ghazi Sharkas,1 Mohammed Al-Nusair,2 Abdel-Hameed Al-Mistarehi,2 Mahmoud Ghazo,1 Ali Zeitawi,1 Saverio Bellizzi,3 Mohannad Ramadan,3 Jomana W Alsulaiman,4 Hamed Alzoubi,5 Adel Belbesi,1 Mohammed Z Allouh6,7 1Epidemics Management, Jordan Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan; 2Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Emergency Program, World Health Organization, Jordan Country Office, Amman, Jordan; 4Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan; 5Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University, Mutah, Jordan; 6Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 7Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab EmiratesCorrespondence: Khalid A Kheirallah, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box: 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan, Tel +962 7 9611 9094, Email kkheiral@gmail.com Mohammed Z Allouh, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P. O. Box: 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, Tel +971 3 713 7551, Email m_allouh@uaeu.ac.aeBackground: Population-based serosurveillance is a cornerstone to furthering our understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic at the community levels. In Jordan, four waves (phases) of seroprevalence epidemiological investigations were conducted using representative population-based national samples. This study aims to estimate the population-based seropositivity, herd immunity, and vaccination coverage at the fourth wave.Methods: Multistage sampling technique was implemented to recruit a nationally representative sample for the fourth wave of the seroprevalence investigation (June to August 2021). Electronically collected data utilized a questionnaire on background demographics, chronic diseases, and COVID-19 vaccination history. Also, blood samples were collected to detect the presence of total Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG using Wantai/ELISA assays. Prevalence estimates were presented using percentage and 95% Confidence Intervals (C.I.).Results: There were 8821 participants included in this study, with a mean age of 31.3 years, and 61.7% were females. COVID-19 national seroprevalence and vaccination coverage estimates were 74.1% (95% C.I.: 73.1– 74.9%) and 38.4% (95% C.I.: 37.1– 39.6%), respectively. Among children, seroprevalence estimates were similar to unvaccinated adults. Among COVID-19 adults, 57.2% were vaccinated. Among vaccinated participants, 91.5% were seropositive, while among unvaccinated, 63.2% were seropositive. By age group, seroprevalence ranged between 53.0% and 86.9%. Seroprevalence estimates were significantly different by gender, vaccination status and dose, and residence.Conclusion: The reported interplay between seropositivity and vaccination coverage estimate seems insufficient to provide herd immunity levels to combat new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Children and healthcare workers seem to be an epidemiologically influential group in spreading COVID-19. As the globe is still grappling with SARS-CoV-2 infection, national seroepidemiological evidence from Jordan calls for more focus on vaccination coverage, especially among epidemiologically vulnerable groups, to optimize herd immunity.Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, seropositivity, seroprevalence, herd immunity, vaccination, Middle East, Jordan

Khalid A Kheirallah,1 Sarah H Al-Zureikat,1 Abdel-Hameed Al-Mistarehi,1 Jomana W Alsulaiman,2 Mohammad AlQudah,1 Adi H Khassawneh,1 Liliana Lorettu,3 Saverio Bellizzi,4 Fawaz Mzayek,5 Iffat Elbarazi,6 Ilene A Serlin7 1Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan; 3Psychiatric Clinic, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; 4World Health Organization (WHO), Jordan Country Office, Amman, Jordan; 5School of Public Health, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA; 6Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; 7International Institute for Advanced Training in Dance Movement Therapy, San Francisco, CA, USACorrespondence: Khalid A Kheirallah, Department of Public Health, Community Medicine, and Family Medicine, Medical School of Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box: 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan, Tel +962 7 9611 9094, Email kakheirallah@just.edu.jo Abdel-Hameed Al-Mistarehi, Department of Public Health, Community Medicine, and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O.Box: 630001, Irbid, 22110, Jordan, Tel +962 7 9828 4360, Email awalmistarehi18@med.just.edu.joBackground: Syrian refugee women not only suffered the refuging journey but also faced the burden of being the heads of their households in a new community. We aimed to investigate the mental health status, traumatic history, social support, and post-traumatic growth (PTG) of Syrian refugee women.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured interviewer-administered survey between August and November 2019. Syrian refugee women who head their households and live outside camps were eligible. The survey included items investigating socio-demographic characteristics and conflict-related physical trauma history. The Refugee Health Screener-15 (RHS-15) scale was used to screen for emotional distress symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with a score range of 0− 4 and higher scores indicating emotional distress. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was utilized to assess the perceived support from family, friends, and significant others (score range 1− 7), with scores of 3− 5 and 5.1− 7.0 representing moderate and high support, respectively. The PTG Inventory (PTGI) scale investigated the positive transformation following trauma; the score range was 0− 5, and the cutoff point of ≥ 3 defined moderate-to-high growth levels.Results: Out of 140 invited refugee women, 95 were included, with a response rate of 67.9%. Their mean (SD) age was 41.30 (11.75) years, 50.5% were widowed, and 17.9% reported their husbands as missing persons. High levels of conflict-related traumatic exposure were found, including threats of personal death (94.7%), physical injury (92.6%), or both (92.6%); and a history of family member death (92.6%), missing (71.6%), or injury (53.7%). The mean (SD) RHS-15 score was above average (2.08 (0.46)), and most women (90.5%) were at high risk for depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. The mean (SD) MSPSS score was 5.08 (0.71), representing moderate social support, with friends’ support being the highest (5.23 (0.85)). The mean (SD) PTGI score was 2.44 (0.48), indicating low growth, with only 12.6% of women experiencing moderate-to-high growth levels. Spiritual change and personal strength had the highest sub-scores, with moderate-to-high growth levels experienced by 97.9% and 84.2%, respectively. Most women were more optimistic and religious, had feelings of self-reliance and better difficulties adapting, and were stronger than they thought. Statistically significant correlations of MSPSS and its subscales with RHS-15 and PTGI were detected.Conclusion: Significant but unspoken mental health problems were highly prevalent among Syrian refugee women and an imminent need for psychological support to overcome traumatic exposure. The role of social support seems to be prominent and needs further investigation.Keywords: refugee, women, Syrian, mental health, social support, trauma growth, Jordan, MSPSS, RHS-15, PTGI

In this paper, forced responses are investigated in a one degree-of-freedom linear system subjected to periodic excitation and coupled to a nonlinear energy sink including nonlinear damping with time delay.

The objective of this paper is to show how the generalized orthogonal decomposition named smooth decomposition can be used to analyze the energy pumping phenomenon in the context of vibration reduction under wide-band random excitation.

This article discusses the lessons learned from Jordan's response to the Syrian refugee crisis. The civil war in Syria, which began in 2011, has resulted in the displacement of 5.2 million Syrian refugees across several countries, including Jordan. The influx of refugees has had significant economic, social, and environmental implications for Jordan. The government of Jordan has implemented policies to provide healthcare to Syrian refugees, but funding for these efforts has been insufficient. The article emphasizes the need for a shift in priorities towards strengthening the health system and development cooperation, as well as the importance of international support in addressing refugee crises. The experiences and lessons from Jordan can be applied to other countries facing similar challenges. [Extracted from the article]

Giuseppe Cardillo,1 Giuseppe Vito Viggiano,2 Vincenzo Russo,3 Sara Mangiacapra,4 Antonella Cavalli,5 Giampiero Castaldo,2 Federica Agrusta,2 Annamaria Bellizzi Snr,5 Maria Amitrano Snr,4 Mariateresa Iannuzzo,6 Clara Sacco,7 Corrado Lodigiani,7 Andrea Fontanella,6 Pierpaolo Di Micco6 For The FondenoxavidStudy Group1Medylab, Biochimica Avanzata Laboratory, Naples, Italy; 2UO Pronto Soccorso e Medicina D’urgenza, Semintensiva Covid, Ospedale Ramazzini Di Carpi — AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy; 3Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli Monaldi Hospital, Piazzale Ettore Ruggeri, Naples 80131, Italy; 4UOC Medicina, AO Moscati, Avellino, Italy; 5UOC Medicina-Covid, Presidio Opsedaliero Frangipane Di ArianoIrpino (AV), Naples, Italy; 6UOC Medicina, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli di Napoli, Naples, Italy; 7Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, ItalyCorrespondence: Pierpaolo Di Micco Email pdimicco@libero.itBackground: Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 around the world, great attention has been paid to the effects of such antithrombotic drugs as heparinoids, because they have antiviral action in vitro and antithrombotic actions in vivo. We conducted a retrospective analysis in inpatients with confirmed COVID-19 on the anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects of enoxaparin and fondaparinux at prophylactic doses.Methods: This retrospective cohort study used patients with confirmed COVID-19 during the first months of the Italian outbreak from February 18 to April 30, 2020. Our aim was to compare clinical characteristics, prophylactic treatment, markers of inflammation, and thrombotic outcomes in inpatients positive for SARS-CoV2 during hospitalization associated with thromboprophylaxis with enoxaparin (40 mg or 60 mg once daily) or fondaparinux (2.5 mg once daily). Statistical analysis was conducted with using MatLab R2016B and ad hoc functions.Results: There were no significatant differences in clinical characteristics between patients that used enoxaparin or fondaparinux as thromboprophylaxis for SARS-CoV2. No differences were found in D-dimer and fibrinogen levels either, which were used as markers of inflammation during the infection at testing on admission and after 3 weeks.Significant differences in CRP, IL6, and LDH were found in patients after 21 days’ treatment.Discussion: Increased levels of fibrinogen and D-dimer in patients with confirmed COVID-19 have been reported in several studies. Our results showed that anti-inflammatory effects of fondaparinux and enoxaparin after 3 weeks of prophylactic treatment were similar when levels of fibrinogen and D-dimer were considered. Furthermore, levels of CRP showed a decrease in patients treated with enoxaparin and fondaparinux, although the decrease in the fondaparinux group seems to be more relevant.Keywords: venous thromboembolism, fibrinogen, D-dimer, COVID-19, SARS-CoV2, fondaparinux, enoxaparin

Background: Annually, around 7.9 million children are born with birth defects and the contribution of congenital malformations to neonatal mortality is generally high. Congenital malformations in children born to mothers with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy has marginally been explored.Methods: Country incidence of congenital malformations was estimated using data on the 310 401 livebirths of the WHO Multicountry Survey which reported information from 359 facilities across 29 countries. A random-effect logistic regression model was utilized to explore the associations between six broad categories of congenital malformations and the four maternal hypertensive disorders "Chronic Hypertension", "Preeclampsia" and "Eclampsia" and "Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia".Results: The occupied territories of Palestine presented the highest rates in all groups of malformation except for the "Lip/Cleft/Palate" category. Newborns of women with chronic maternal hypertension were associated with a 3.7 (95 % CI 1.3-10.7), 3.9 (95 % CI 1.7-9.0) and 4.2 (95 % CI 1.5-11.6) times increase in odds of renal, limb and lip/cleft/palate malformations respectively. Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia was associated with a 4.3 (95 % CI 1.3-14.4), 8.7 (95 % CI 2.5-30.2), 7.1 (95 % CI 2.1-23.5) and 8.2 (95 % CI 2.0-34.3) times increase in odds of neural tube/central nervous system, renal, limb and Lip/Cleft/Palate malformations.Conclusions: This study shows that chronic hypertension in the maternal period exposes newborns to a significant risk of developing renal, limb and lip/cleft/palate congenital malformations, and the risk is further exacerbate by superimposing eclampsia. Additional research is needed to identify shared pathways of maternal hypertensive disorders and congenital malformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]